Landsat data to estimate a model of water quality parameters in Tigris and Euphrates rivers - Iraq

Abstract

Tigris and Euphrates are the two main rivers that supply the water demanded by all the cities in Iraq. However, due to contentious deterioration, monitoring the water quality of these two rivers has become a necessity. Hence, there is need for a study concerning water quality modelling using satellite data for the rivers of Iraq. The main objective of this study is to create a new simple and accurate algorithm for the extraction of water quality parameters for the rivers of Iraq using Landsat 5 satellite data as a cheap and effective method for the monitoring of polluted rivers in Iraq. The area of study is located in the central region of Iraq. The water quality data archive was acquired in August 2007, and it represents the daily values for six physical and chemical water parameters: Dissolved Oxygen DO2, Total dissolved solids TDS, pH value, Orthophosphate PO4, Electrical conductivity E.C and Water temperature T. The parameter data were compared with the reflectance values of Landsat 5 bands using different band combinations of empirical algorithms. The results of the analysis showed a significant correlation between these models and water quality parameters with R2 > 0.83. The results of comparison between the predicted water quality parameters and those in the archive displayed more reliability for the models used, R2 = (0.73 – 0.97). The results of spatial analysis demonstrated the possibility of using the Landsat’s spectrum bands for the evaluation of the water quality for rivers in Iraq.