Impact of land surface changes on air temperatures in Baghdad

Abstract

An intercomparison of daily minimum and maximum surface air temperatures in 2000 and 2015 over Baghdad suggests that the rate of urbanization is obvious in reflection the rate of the change in housing and agricultural areas. Since 2003 Baghdad has experienced a very rapid urbanization process leading to a negative effects in local climate, which investigate in terms of daily data of minimum and maximum surface air temperatures at 2 m. Both these temperatures are increased by 3 °C for minimum temperature and 2 °C for maximum temperature during 2000 and 2015. Finally, diurnal temperature range clearly increased during the second half of the year 2015.