Effect of Accumulated Rainfall on Aerosols’ Physical Properties Over Iraq

Abstract

Aerosols and rainfall have a significant role in atmospheric physical processes since they affect both the absorption and scattering of solar radiation and the composition of precipitation. Ultimately, this impacts the balance of radiation and water in the atmosphere. This study aims to clarify or understand the relationship between aerosols and rainfall accumulation in northern, central, and southern Iraq, where the annual and monthly mean values of aerosols index, Aerosol Optical Depth, Aerosol Angstrom Exponent, and the total rainfall. For the period from 2014 to 2023. The results showed considerable variation in aerosol index, and aerosol Optical Depth across different time and spatial scales, with higher amounts observed in southern Iraq, while northern of Iraq had lower values. the monthly mean value of the aerosol index was highest from March to June and found that the average monthly aerosol index value above Iraq from 1.19 ± 0.18 to 1.73 ± 0.18. The minimum values of aerosols index for the period from July to October. the average monthly Aerosol Angstrom Exponent values in Iraq increased from January to April then in November, and December, and decreased from May to August the monthly average values of Aerosol Angstrom Exponent varied from 0.29 ± 0.28 to 1.17 ± 0.28. During the study period, the aerosol index and aerosol Optical Depth had Reverse behavior with Aerosol Angstrom Exponent and accumulative rainfall. The results obtained in this study help us to understand the nature of the climate in Iraq and assist in future weather forecasts.