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Environmental Control of the Sand Dunes in Iraq

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Environmental Degradation in Asia

Part of the book series: Earth and Environmental Sciences Library ((EESL))

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Abstract

Mesopotamia (Iraq) is considered as one of the fertile lands extending back thousands of years. Despite the presence of the two rivers (Tigris and Euphrates), vast desertification and degradation effects were encountered during the past forty years. Four large sand dune fields extending along five governorates (Missan, Al-Mithana, Thi-Qar, Al-Qadisiyah, and Al-Najaf) were studied in the field, and by GIS technique. The creeping sand dunes affected roads, railways, farmlands, archaeological sites, and artificial and natural irrigation channels. Monitoring these sand dune fields shows a pronounced expansion causing more severe and harsh consequences. One possible remedy for limiting the disastrous consequences is establishing vegetation belts along the main wind direction that will restrain the sand dunes accumulation and migration.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geology, College of Science, University of Baghdad, Baghdad, Iraq

    Hasan K. Jasim, Ahmed J. Al-Shakeri & Thamer A. Al-Shimmary

Authors
  1. Hasan K. Jasim
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  2. Ahmed J. Al-Shakeri
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  3. Thamer A. Al-Shimmary
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Hasan K. Jasim .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Petroleum and Mining Engineering Department, Tishk International University, Erbil, Iraq

    Ayad M. Fadhil Al-Quraishi

  2. University of Zakho, Zakho, Duhok, Iraq

    Yaseen T. Mustafa

  3. Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt

    Abdelazim M. Negm

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Jasim, H.K., Al-Shakeri, A.J., Al-Shimmary, T.A. (2022). Environmental Control of the Sand Dunes in Iraq. In: Al-Quraishi, A.M.F., Mustafa, Y.T., Negm, A.M. (eds) Environmental Degradation in Asia. Earth and Environmental Sciences Library. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-12112-8_5

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