2024, Vol. 4, Issue 2, Part B
The impact of climate elements on the surface area of Sawa Lake using remote sensing data
Author(s): Hussein Saeb Al-Khaiqani and Ayad Kadhim Ali Al-Husseni
Abstract: Sawa Lake is a significant historical and environmental landmark, with unique characteristics that have elevated it to the status of global natural heritage. The lake has changed dramatically over the last decade, resulting in a considerable drop in surface area. The current study employs remote sensing data and meteorological observations from 1994 to 2024 to investigate and analyze the likely causes of the region's significant fall in water levels. The MNDWI index showed that Lake Sawa's surface area increased in 1994, 2004, and 2014, reaching 4.31, 4.39, and 4.55 km². Between 2014 and 2024, the lake's area declined by 4.00 km², with the lowest reported surface area being 0.31 km² in 2024. This suggests that the lake's surface area decreased by more than 92% during the research. To better understand the potential causes of this reduction, additional research into climate changes and their impact on the region was accomplished. The climate change analysis for the periods 1994-2003, 2004-2013, and 2014-2023 noticed that temperature was the most significant changing factor, with an upward trend. The average minimum and maximum temperatures for the three periods were [(17.23, 32.68), (17.88, 32.72), and (19.04, 33.31)] °C, respectively. This temperature rise coincided with the lake's deterioration, thereby contributing to its surface area reduction through increased water losses owing to evaporation and higher water consumption for agricultural operations in the region, which increased by 238%. Because the region's primary water source is groundwater, the number of wells required to cover the water shortfall increased, resulting in higher water extraction rates. This lowered local groundwater thresholds and reduced levels in locations that rely on natural water flow, such as Lake Sawa, raising concerns that the lake may dry up and perish in the future years.
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How to cite this article:
Hussein Saeb Al-Khaiqani, Ayad Kadhim Ali Al-Husseni. The impact of climate elements on the surface area of Sawa Lake using remote sensing data. South Asian J Agric Sci 2024;4(2):101-108.