Spatiotemporal Analysis of Sulfur Dioxide (SO₂) and Sulfate (SO₄) Concentrations in Iraq (1991–2024(

Abstract

   This paper aims to analyze the spatial and temporal variation of sulfur dioxide (SO₂) and sulfate (SO4) concentrations in several meteorological monitoring stations in Iraq from 199 to 2024,  based on monthly and annual data. The results showed clear spatial variation. The southern (Basra and Amara) and central (Baghdad) stations recorded the highest concentrations, while the northern (Erbil, Sulaymaniyah, and Mosul) stations recorded the lowest values. It was also found that there was a temporal pattern represented by the increase in concentrations during the fall and spring seasons, and their relative decrease during the summer. This is attributed to the impact of industrial and oil activities, the combustion of fossil fuels, and the impact of climatic factors such as atmospheric stability and thermal inversion. These results confirm the importance of human and climate factors in determining the spread of this pollutant, and call for the adoption of environmental policies to reduce its emissions