Assessment of the Ecosystem in Diyala Governorate Using Spectral Indices

Abstract

The research aims to study the spatial modeling of the morphometric characteristics of the basins feeding the Mosul Dam Lake, which is located in the undulating and semi-mountainous region of northern and northwestern Iraq within Nineveh Governorate. The study area basin occupies a total area of (1559.68 km²). In this research, the natural geographical elements represented by geological formations, climate, soil, and natural vegetation, as well as the course of geomorphological processes and the characteristics of the drainage network in the Mosul Dam Lake basin, were identified .The impact of these factors on the geomorphology and characteristics of the basins varied. The geological structure and its associated lithological diversity,such as the AqraK, Bekhme formation, characterized by its (solubility), the Shiranish formation, and residual soils containing gypsum and carbonates—had a profound effect on the varied response to chemical weathering and dissolution factors. This is in addition to the structural deformations the study area was subjected to, including folds and joints, which directly influenced the direction of the drainage network.Furthermore, the characteristics of the drainage network for the sub-basins were identified, represented by spatial characteristics, where the lengths of the basins ranged between (11.16 - 96.34) km, and the average width ranged between (2.08 - 8.6) km; shape characteristics, where the circularity ratio ranged between (0.06 - 0.43) and the elongation ratio between (0.24 - 0.66); and relief characteristics, with the relief ratio ranging between (6.1 - 131). As for the morphometric characteristics of the total drainage basin network, it recorded a mean bifurcation ratio of (9.24), a drainage density of (0.21), and a stream frequency of (0.043) streams/km². This reflects the dominance of highly ermeable formations that enhance deep infiltration and activate subsurface karst processes.