Air Pollution Quality Assessment of Kirkuk Governorate using Remote Sensing and Geographic Information Systems Techniques

Abstract

The ecological quality of Kirkuk city is an important indicator to assess the level of urbanization and sustainable development in the region. This study aims to assess the Environmental Index (EI) of Kirkuk using a pressure-state-response (PSR) framework, which integrates a set of statistical indicators, remote sensing techniques, and satellite data from Sentinel. These indicators were employed to accurately monitor and track environmental changes through Geographic Information Systems (GIS), providing a modern tool to guide sustainable development decisions and continuous monitoring of environmental quality. The results showed variation in environmental indicators associated with human activities and different weather conditions. Despite high concentrations of pollution in central urban areas, environmental conditions were seen to improve in some areas of the city, reflecting the impact of intense social and economic pressures. The study contributes to enhancing the scientific understanding of the dynamic relationships between human activity and climate change and its impact on ecosystems, emphasizing the importance of periodic monitoring and analysis of these indicators to support effective environmental policies and achieve sustainable development in the city of Kirkuk..