Spatial Variation of the Energy Balance and its Impact on Vegetation Degradation and Dust Storm Frequency in Anbar Governorate: A Vision Toward a Sustainable Environment

Abstract

This research employs a spatial-physical approach to analyze the disruption in the thermodynamic system of the climate in Al-Anbar Governorate for the period (1980-2024). It aims to decode the causal relationship between the radiation energy balance disturbance and the ecological degradation of vegetation cover, ultimately explaining the exacerbation in dust storm frequencies. The study adopted an integrative methodology, combining climatic analysis of time series from seven meteorological stations with Remote Sensing algorithms to extract the Vegetation Index (NDVI) for the years 1994 and 2024. Analytical treatments revealed a structural shift in the radiation balance; the extremely high levels of solar radiation, combined with an absolute summer rainfall deficit, led to a disruption in the (Bowen Ratio). This converted the incoming energy into sensible heat, causing severe mechanical desiccation of the soil. The spatial analysis of (NDVI) proved a massive environmental degradation, with 98.4% of the lands transforming into "very sparsely vegetated" areas by 2024. Statistical correlation analysis confirmed a strong direct relationship (+0.91) between this vegetative degradation and the severe spike in dust storm frequencies, peaking in Al-Rutba and Al-Nukhaib stations. The study concluded with several sustainable recommendations to mitigate this environmental depletion.