International Online Training Workshop on Rain Water Harvesting

International Online Training Workshop on Rain Water Harvesting TMT- Orange Knowledge Programme (OKP) Wageningen University & Research. Netherlands 27. 09. 2020 – 01. 10. 2020 The video lecture is available on Youtube on the link: https: //youtu. be/zdj. TVx. UZn 0 E

Importance of Meteorological /Agro Meteorological Data in Kurdistan Region Mohammed Azeez Saeed mohammed. aziz@su. edu. krd College of Basic Education Salahaddin University-Erbil-Kurdistan-Iraq

What is Agro-Meteorology? Agro meteorology is the study of weather and use of weather and Climate information to enhance or expand agricultural crops and to increase crop production. Agro meteorology mainly involves the interaction of meteorological and hydrological factors, on one hand agriculture, which encompasses horticulture, animal husbandry, and forestry on the other hand.

The Region The three Governorates Erbil, Dohuk, and Sulaimane are located in the northern part of the Republic of Iraq known as Kurdistan. The region lies between latitudes 34. 50 N and 37. 40 N and between longitudes 42. 40 E and 46. 30 E. The elevation of the region varies from 140 m to about 3600 m above sea level. The region is the major part of what is called the Fertile Crescent.

The Location The region is surrounded by five water bodies which are: 1 - The Mediterranean Sea, 2 -The Arab gulf, 3 -The Caspian Sea, 4 -The Red sea and 5 -The Black Sea. For historical reasons Kurdistan region is some times called the land between the five seas. Yet only the Mediterranean Sea and the Arab gulf have major influence on the climate of the region.

The Climate Kurdistan Region is almost mountainous and the climate is similar to that found in the mountains of western Iran. The climate of Kurdistan Region has been identified according to Koppen classification as arid and semi-arid continental climate (steppe - BSh and Mediterranean – Csa) The Climate is hot and dry in summer , Cold and wet in winter, with short spring and autumn seasons compared to summer and winter

The Winter • In winter, Iraq & Kurdistan Region falls under the influence of Mediterranean cyclones that moves east to northeast over the region. • The Arabian Sea cyclones move northward passing over the gulf carrying great amounts of moisture causing large amounts of precipitation over the region.

European Cyclones • Occasionally , the region is also becomes under the influence of European winter cyclones moving eastward to the southeast part of Turkey and extends over the mountainous region of Kurdistan, bringing substantial amounts of rain and snow.

The Summer • In summer, the region falls under the influence of sub-tropical high pressure belts and Mediterranean anticyclones. • The sub-tropical high pressure centers that moves from west to north and northeast passing over the Arabian Peninsula and brings sand dust to the region.

Meteorology Research Unit • In August 2007 a unit for meteorology research has been established Salahaddin university-Erbil. • The unit is considered as a part of the center for scientific. • Salahaddin University-Erbil has installed an automatic weather station which continuously records data on hourly bases. • The station is manufactured by ELE International. UK.

SU AWS at Gradarasha Agriculture Field

Objectives • The unit aims to supervise all meteorological/ agro meteorological, and Climatological stations and rainfall recording sites network established in Kurdistan. • The daily-recorded data by these stations will be collected, analyzed, processed and used by postgraduate students in related fields of interest. • Application of the data in determination of impact of climate on the infrastructure of the economy of Kurdistan will be the major task of the center.

Objectives • The unit will also act as a meteorological service advice center to provide valuable climatic information in Kurdistan to all Governmental and Private sectors in the region. • It will be the corner stone of future meteorological weather forecasting center in Kurdistan.

The Network The local weather and climate of a region is usually determined through data and information collection by meteorological stations. For this reason, a highly developed meteorological network is established in Kurdistan under supervision of the Ministry of Transportation and Ministry of agriculture.

Complete Automatic Agro meteorology Station, at Ankawa Nursery-Erbil (Lat. : 36. 21 o N, Long. : 44. 01 o. E, Altitude 434 m). The station is capable of recording 16 parameters instantaneously and transmitting to max distance of 20 kilometers to nearby office. The station is installed and set into operation by FAO- Agro meteorology Unit at December 1 st, 2002.

The Rainfall • In Kurdistan Region usually the precipitation occurs as rain at the lower elevations and snow and rain at higher elevation. • Precipitation increases from the southwest to the northeast with annual average ranging from 300 mm in the lower part to 1200 mm in the highlands of the region. • The precipitation seasons begins at mid October and continues to late May.

The Government Meteorology Services essentially ‘Government’ activities in that a high proportion of the work is of benefit to the general public rather than the individual. For example there is widespread concern about impact of weather and climate on agriculture crop production, planning, transportation, agro meteorological crop forecasting philosophy and increasing aridity through climate change. Strong Government intervention through extension, regulation, incentives and rehabilitation programs are necessary to address such concerns.

The Economy The meteorology program supports all economic, agricultural, and industrial production and activities. It assists services to the community to help develop sustainable and economically viable production systems, improve production and quality, reduce losses and risks, decrease costs, increase efficiency in the use of water, labor and energy, conserve natural resources and decrease pollution by agricultural chemicals or other agents that contribute to the degradation of the environment (air pollution, water and soil contamination).

Meteorological Events Major meteorologically associated events such as extended droughts have made planners in many regions aware of the importance of timely and practical meteorological information, necessary for the success of many national projects and enterprise. As an applied science, meteorology benefits and contributions are sought in virtually all countries around the globe

Rainfall

Rainfall Recorder installed in Kurdistan

Rainfall Isohyets, Kurdistan

Isothermal lines of annual average daily values of surface air temperatures

FAO Due to the importance of the climatic data on Agriculture crops production and its impact on life in general and its effect on the infrastructure of the economy of Kurdistan, in December 1999, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United nations(FAO) coordination office for three Governorates of Kurdistan has established Agro meteorology Unit to provide services of agro meteorology information to the agriculture sector in the region.

FAO REPRESENTATION IN IRAQ FAO Coordination Office For Northern Iraq Agro-Meteorology Unit Hourly Mean Monthly Average Parameters Country: IRAQ Latitude : Bakrajo Automatic Station 35 o 32' 44" N Longtitude: 45 o 21' 55" E Month / Year: Jan-Dec 01 -03 averaged Reference Evapotranspiration ETo, mm/month Altitude : 752 meters Month Relative Humidity % Air Temperature C Wind Speed m/Sec Wind Direction Degree Precipitation mm Sunshine Hours January 67. 80 6. 90 2. 00 164. 65 73. 30 6. 05 38. 40 2. 78 896. 40 February 69. 15 7. 45 173. 85 73. 90 6. 30 40. 90 3. 02 899. 90 March 63. 85 12. 05 2. 00 187. 10 67. 30 6. 65 78. 40 4. 49 889. 75 April 59. 75 16. 80 1. 75 204. 25 29. 50 7. 15 106. 25 5. 62 873. 85 May 38. 05 22. 20 1. 95 195. 30 11. 50 9. 85 172. 75 6. 90 871. 80 June 20. 85 30. 10 2. 35 198. 00 0. 20 12. 20 243. 35 7. 95 862. 65 July 20. 20 33. 45 2. 45 197. 60 0. 50 12. 35 269. 65 7. 69 882. 95 August 10. 20 15. 85 1. 00 110. 85 0. 90 6. 10 114. 15 3. 27 453. 05 September 10. 45 14. 20 1. 00 121. 25 0. 00 5. 40 89. 65 2. 62 446. 35 October 17. 30 11. 50 1. 00 102. 80 17. 10 3. 65 61. 55 1. 69 433. 45 November 28. 80 7. 05 1. 00 82. 75 21. 60 3. 55 30. 20 1. 23 440. 30 December 40. 25 3. 10 1. 00 85. 65 100. 40 1. 75 12. 95 0. 82 446. 45 annual 37. 22 15. 05 18. 95 152. 00 396. 20 6. 75 1258. 20 4. 01 699. 74 Radiation Kw. h/m 2. day Surface Pressure mb Note: Reference Evapotranspiration ETo were calculated using Penman-Monteith Equation Through Cropwat 5. 7 English version Programme developed by Prof Martin Smith at FAO-Headquarter-Rome in October 1991.

FAO The Unit has started by rehabilitating: 8 existed meteorological stations in the three Governorates. Installed : 24 manual agro meteorological stations, 9 automatic stations, 6 complete automatic stations, 94 rain gauges, and 18 rainfall data loggers systems. The installation of these stations created an excellent agro meteorology/meteorological network in Kurdistan , which is considered to be unique in all Middle East. These sites are well geographically distributed covers all the area in accordance to the world meteorological organization standards.

The Program • We focus on impact of climatic parameters on food security program in Kurdistan, by determining: • Crop water requirements, • Irrigation requirements, and • field water supply for major strategic crops, • which have great effect on small and marginal farmer’s economy. • In addition, crop forecasting which is the art of crop yields(tons/hectare) and production before the harvest actually takes place, typically a couple of months in advance, through the crop phenology activities are the major issues of the program.

The Program • The research unit continuously held trainings in collaboration with expertise at the University in an effort to improve the knowledge of local meteorology staff and increase their ability to understand: • The operation of the meteorological stations, • Maintenance and methodology of data collection. • The trainings covers an overview of the role of meteorology in developing and increase of agriculture crop production in the region, meteorology instruments, meteorology data analysis, operation. • This include data collection, analysis, dissemination and technical documentation of meteorology network, proper use of meteorological instruments, accuracy, and quality of the data reading. • Calculation of reference evapo-transpiration using FAO Penman-Monteith equation through FAO tools such as: • Cropwat and • Agro. Met. Shell.

Trainings

Field Trips In addition, the unit organizes field activities and trainings for university students (agriculture, Physics, Biology and Geography specialists). The use of meteorology in agriculture crop development, and on the climatic hazards and warning of expected winter frosts in protection of agriculture products using early warning system. T his early warning system is planned to be established through satellite communication systems by sending SMS mobile phone messages to the participated and subscribed farmers. Local TV and radio broadcastings will also be used for this purpose.

Postgraduate studies The unit accepts postgraduate students and awards both M. Sc. and Ph. D. degrees in: Meteorology, Agro meteorology, Solar Radiation and Related topics in accordance to the University standards. Providing the community with well graduated and qualified cadre in meteorology/Agro meteorology.

Trainings

The Major Activities of Agro meteorology Unit are: • Collection of Agro meteorological data from Manual stations. Twice a day. • Collection of hourly values of agro meteorology data from automatic weather stations. Three times a month. • Archiving, Processing recorded agro meteorological data in a database. • Providing Local authorities, by daily agro meteorology information.

Activities • Preparation of daily reports on agro meteorology condition of the three northern Governorates. • Seasonal reports on crop water requirements, irrigation requirements, field water supply, and irrigation scheme for most strategic crops, which have great effect on farmer’s income. • Training agriculture staff on maintenance and operation of agro meteorological instruments and improving their ability in data recording to ensure quality and reliability of the recorded data. • Issuing monthly agro meteorology bulletin in both English and local languages, as well as climate brief of the agriculture season.

The Strategy • The strategy is to insert and involve the science of meteorology in all aspects of life in Kurdistan and to improve the ability of the community to understand the direct link of weather and environment on the daily activity and economy. The strategy is also to develop a sustainable meteorological/Agro meteorological network system. • The unit will secure a reasonable understanding of the impact of climatic information in improving of agriculture crop production, building design, construction of roads, bridges and dams in Kurdistan. • Graduation of highly qualified students in this field will be achieved. Early warning system is established and agro meteorological information transmitted to the farmers through mobile phone.

Problems to be Addressed • 1 -Real data collection through establishing sustainable meteorological observatories network. • 2 - The necessity of meteorological and climatological data for planning and operational activities of the transportation sector imposes the awareness for rehabilitation and implementation of the related infrastructure. • 3 - Complete and well established meteorological stations are to provide the whole community with important information needed for timely scheduling the daily activities and other plans.

Continued • 4 - Reduce unexpected expenses, ( by establishing early warning system) which could occur as a result of unforeseen extreme weather conditions i. e. extended hail fall, frost and frost days which have great effect on transportation especially in the mountain regions on upslope and down slope roads during winter months. • 5 - Determination of drought condition trend cycles facing the region which has negative impact on agriculture crop production in the region.

References • Saeed, M. A. ANALYSIS OF CLIMATE AND DROUGHT CONDITIONS IN THE FEDRAL REGION OF KURDISTAN. • Saeed, M. A. INVESTIGATION OF PRECIPITATION VARIABILITY IN THE FEDRAL REGION OF KURDISTAN – IRAQ. • Saeed, M. A. DETERMINATION OF AGRICULTUREAL CROP WATER REQUIREMENTS IN KURDISTAN REGION FROM CLIMATIC DATA. • Saeed, M. A. STUDY AND ANALYSIS OF GLOBAL AND EXTRATERRESTERIAL SOLAR RADIATION OVER KURDISTAN REGION-IRAQ. • http: //www. agrometeorology. org/topics/history of agrometeorology/agrometeorology in kurdistan of Iraq • http: //www. agrometeorology. org/news & highlights/Establishing an agrometeorological network in the Kurdistan region of Iraq • http: //www. agrometeorology. org/news & highlights/Establishing & using a new automatic weather station at Erbil, the capital of Kurdistan, Iraq

THANK YOU SUPAS SHUKRAN