Patterns of aerosols-clouds interactions over Iraq using MODIS satellite data during (2008-2017)

In this work, annual patterns of aerosols and cloud parameters and their anomalies were examined during the period 2008-2017 for selected cities in Iraq. Specifically, Mosul, Baghdad, Rutba and Basrah. The results indicate that the north western and south western parts, which are the sources of the majority of dust storms in Iraq, have a high aerosol optical depth AOD and an aerosol index AI corresponding with low angstrom exponent AE. The AOD ranges from 0.25 to 0.35 in.Mosul, Baghdad, and Rutba and more than 0.4 in.Basrah. In Basrah, AI is around 2 and in Baghdad it is around 1.5. The value of AI in Mosul and Rutba is less than 1.25. AE ranges from 0.7 to 0.8 for Baghdad and Mosul, while it is 0.3 for Rutba, and around 0.6 for Basrah. The result also indicates that the patterns of cloud optical thickness COT, precipitation PPT are opposite to water vapor WV. COT, PPT have higher values in the northern areas and decreased towards the south, while the WV has a higher value in the southern areas and decreased towards the north. High CF values also concentrated in the upper mountain areas and decreased gradually towards the south areas. The northeast and southeast are characterized by the highest CER values, while the desert north west and southwest desert areas have the lowest CER. The four cities have nearly the same value of CER about 12. CF was around 0.35, 0.3, 0.23, and 0.25 for Mosul, Baghdad, Rutba, and Basrah respectively. It is clear from the figure that Mosul recorded the highest value of COT, about 24, Rutba around 15, around 17 for Basrah, and Baghdad around 13. And PPT was around 375, 175, 110, and 125 for Mosul, Baghdad, Rutba and Basrah. WV was 1 for Mosul, 1.5 for Baghdad and Basrah, and around 1.02 for Rutba. The cloud parameters in general fluctuate between negative and positive values during most of the ten year period (2008-2017). Two dust storms that occurred over Iraq in early March 2011 and mid-April 2009 were analyzed to explore how thick sand and dust storms affect the properties of aerosols, clouds, water vapor, and precipitation. To study how accumulated precipitation during one month can affect the parameters of aerosols, clouds, and water vapor, two cases of severe precipitation were considered. In each case, parameters were analyzed during the month of the event and one month earlier and one month after the event.