Sarah A. A. Measuring wind erosion in Muthanna Governorate using climate equations

Abstract

The research aims to measure wind erosion in Al-Muthanna Governorate, located in the southwestern part of Iraq, as it is bordered to the north by Al-Qadisiyah Governorate, to the east by Basra and Dhi Qar Governorates, to the west by Najaf Governorate, and to the south it is bordered by Saudi Arabia. It extends astronomically between two circles of latitude (31° 42' - 29° 05') North and between arcs of longitude (46° 32' - 43° 50') East, Some mathematical equations and statistical methods were used and applied to the study data extending from (1988-2021) to measure wind erosion in the study area  Among these equations are : A- Shabil equation, C=386   by applying this equation the wind erosion in the area of study is very high after comparing it with the criteria set by Chepil for wind susceptibility on wind erosion ,B- equation of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the International Organization (FAO) in 1979 is as follows   Through applying this equation, it was revealed that there is a noticeable difference in the values ​​of the climatic susceptibility to wind erosion between the stations of the study area, as the lowest values ​​of the climatic susceptibility to wind erosion were recorded. The wind rate at Nasiriyah station in the winter season is (7.14). This is due to the increase in the actual value of rain, in which the monthly rates of rain are higher than the monthly rates of evaporation, which led to an increase in the moisture content of the soil, which worked to consolidate it and increase its resistance to wind erosion, while the highest values ​​of climatic susceptibility were recorded in the winter season. In summer, the rate is (39.68) and this is due to the lack of rain during the summer months and the high values ​​of evaporation, which made the soil dry and loose, so it is easy for the wind to move it. As for the Samawa station, the lowest values ​​of climatic susceptibility to wind erosion in the winter were recorded at a rate of (1.85). This is due to the increase in the actual value of rain, in which the monthly rates of rain are higher than the monthly rates of evaporation, which led to an increase in the moisture content of the soil, which worked to consolidate it and increase its resistance to wind erosion, while the highest values ​​of climatic susceptibility to wind erosion were recorded in the spring at a rate of (11.52), and this is due to the presence of high wind speeds during the spring seasons led to an increase soil susceptibility to wind erosion   C- Wind pressure equation: P=V² × 0.006   The highest average wind pressure was in the summer (1.97 kg/m), while the lowest average wind pressure was recorded in the winter (0.74 kg/m). As for the Samawa station, the annual average wind pressure was (0.69 kg/m), as the highest average pressure was recorded. Wind in the spring is (0.89 kg/m), while the lowest average wind pressure was recorded in the winter is (0.29 kg/m) and the research reached several results, the most notable of which were:

• The study area is characterized by climatic conditions represented by high temperatures and low rainfall evaporation increased, which was reflected in the activity of the wind erosion process.


• What is flawed with the Shabil equation is that it did not take into account the soil and its properties. It also excluded evaporation rates, which by increasing or decreasing them affect erosion, in addition to the inability to extract monthly rates of wind induction.


• The results of applying the Shabil equation to measure wind erosion showed that wind erosion is very high at Nasiriyah and Samawa stations during the study period this is due to the nature of the areas in which it allows the wind to move without anything obstructing it.