Table of Contents
What is the climate and vegetation of Iraq?
Vegetation in Iraq reflects the dominant influence of drought. Some Mediterranean and alpine plant species thrive in the mountains of Kurdistan, but the open oak forests that formerly were found there have largely disappeared. Hawthorns, junipers, terebinths, and wild pears grow on the lower mountain slopes.
What kind of climate does Iraq have?
Iraq’s climate is mainly of the continental and subtropical semi-arid type, except for the north and northeastern mountainous regions that have a Mediterranean climate.
What is the weather and climate like in Iraq?
Iraq has a hot, dry climate characterized by long, hot, dry summers and short, cool winters. The climate is influenced by Iraq’s location between the subtropical aridity of the Arabian desert areas and the subtropical humidity of the Persian Gulf.
How is Iraq affected by climate change?
Climate change in Iraq is resulting in effects that are making Iraq’s environmental, security, political, and economic challenges worse. Rising temperatures, intense droughts, declining precipitation, desertification, salinization, and the increasing prevalence of dust storms have undermined Iraq’s agricultural sector.
Is Iraq mostly desert?
Western and southern Iraq is a vast desert region covering some 64,900 square miles (168,000 square km), almost two-fifths of the country. The western desert, an extension of the Syrian Desert, rises to elevations above 1,600 feet (490 metres).
What environmental problems does Iraq have?
Iraq faces serious environmental problems, ranging from poor water quality, soil salinity, air pollution, and conflict pollution to the deterioration of key ecosystems, climate change impacts and threat of water shortages.
Why is Iraq so dry?
The combination of rain shortage and extreme heat makes much of Iraq a desert. Because of very high rates of evaporation, soil and plants rapidly lose the little moisture obtained from the rain, and vegetation could not survive without extensive irrigation.
What is the geography of Iraq?
Iraq can be divided into four geographical regions: the Tigris-Euphrates alluvial plains in central and southeastern Iraq; Al-Jazeerah, an upland region in the north between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers; deserts in the west and south, covering about two-fifths of the country; and highlands in the north and northeast …
Is Iraq land fertile?
Hence we are obliged to coin a term and call it the Fertile Crescent. In current usage, the Fertile Crescent includes Israel, Palestine, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Egypt, and Jordan, as well as the surrounding portions of Turkey and Iran. In addition to the Tigris and Euphrates, riverwater sources include the Jordan River.
How does Iraq depend on the environment?
Iraq is very dependent on the surface water (Tigris and Euphrates Rivers) crossing its borders from neighbouring countries. All basin countries (Iran, Iraq, Syria and Turkey) have developed large-scale projects, most often unilaterally without consultation with the other riparians.
Why is Iraq a desert?
Is Iraq good for farming?
Approximately 22 percent (9.5 million ha) of Iraq is suitable for agriculture production, yet only about 5 million ha are currently cultivated. Crop production is the major source of income for the majority of farmers (about 75 percent), while the rest depend on livestock or mixed crop and livestock production systems.
Where does Iraq get its water?
Iraq receives most of its water from two rivers, the Euphrates and Tigris, whose sources are in Turkey. The rest it buys from Iran. Iraq and Turkey have signed a number of agreements on supplying water; the last was in 2009 but it was never implemented in full.
What are the environmental problems in Iraq?
What type of climate does Iraq have?
Iraq’s climate is mainly of the continental and subtropical semi-arid type, except for the north and northeastern mountainous regions that have a Mediterranean climate. The country generally experiences winters that vary between cool and cold, and summers are dry with variations between hot and extremely hot temperatures.
What is happening to Iraq’s environment?
“In southern Iraq, you have an environment that has been damaged by years of conflict, poor environmental management and weak governance. When you add climate change into the mix, you have the perfect storm.”
What is the vegetation like in Iraq?
Plant and animal life. Vegetation in Iraq reflects the dominant influence of drought. Some Mediterranean and alpine plant species thrive in the mountains of Kurdistan, but the open oak forests that formerly were found there have largely disappeared.
What is the weather like in Iran?
mostly desert; mild to cool winters with dry, hot, cloudless summers; northern mountainous regions along Iranian and Turkish borders experience cold winters with occasionally heavy snows that melt in early spring, sometimes causing extensive flooding.