Articles | Volume 19, issue 3
https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-19-1487-2015
https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-19-1487-2015
Research article
 | 
24 Mar 2015
Research article |  | 24 Mar 2015

Identifying water mass depletion in northern Iraq observed by GRACE

G. Mulder, T. N. Olsthoorn, D. A. M. A. Al-Manmi, E. J. O. Schrama, and E. H. Smidt

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Cited articles

Ali, M. H.: Transboundary waterways and streams along the Iraq-Iran border lines\ldots the reality and future, Tech. Rrep., Baghdad University, Baghdad, 2007.
Ali, S. S. and Stevanovic, Z.: Time Series Analysis of Saraw Springs - SE of Sulaimaniya, Iraqi Kurdistan Region, in: Advances in Research in Karst Media, edited by: Andreo, B., Carrasco, F., Durán, J. J., and LaMoreaux, J. W., 89–94, Springer, Leipzig, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-12486-0, 2010.
Ali, S. S., Stevanovic, Z., and Al-Jabbari, M. H.: Auto and Cross Correlation Analysis of Bestansur spring- Sharazoor Plain Iraqi Kurdistan Region, in: Proceeding of 3rd scientific conference of the College of Science, University of Baghdad, 1941–1948, 2009a.
Ali, S. S., Stevanovic, Z., and Jemcov, I.: The Mechanism and Influence on Karstic Spring Flow – Sachinar Spring Case Example, Sulaimaniya, NE Iraq, Iraqi Bull. Geol. Mining, 5, 87–100, 2009b.
Allen, R. G., Pereira, L. S., Raes, D., and Smith, M.: FAO Irrigation and Drainage Paper No. 56, Tech. Rep. 56, FAO, Rome, Italy, available at: http://www.fao.org/docrep/x0490e/x0490e00.htm (last access: 3 January 2015), 1998.
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Short summary
From 2007 to 2009, northern Iraq suffered a severe drought and GRACE satellite observations indicate a water loss of about 146mm equivalent water height (EWH) in the same period. To identify the main causes of this water loss, we developed a model based on geology, remote sensing and stream flow data. Our findings indicate that anthropogenic groundwater extraction has a minor influence in this region, while a decline in lake mass and natural depletion of groundwater play a key role.