choosing suitableasites for water harvesting process in al-rakash basin, west of karbala governorate by using remote sensing

Abstract

The research area is roughly 420 square kilometers in size and is situated inside the Karbala Governorate from the southern region of Wadi Alubaidh to the northern extension of the Razzaza Lake District, has elevations ranging from 43 to 214 m above sea level. The predominant climate in this area is described as desert, with a tendency toward exceptionally dry weather. The region receives 108.2 mm of rainfall on average each year. The average yearly temperature is 31.8 ºC due to the climatic conditions. A noteworthy 18.46mm water surplus, or 17% of the total reported rainfall, is noted. Careful evaluations of the Rakash Basin's linear, aerial, and relief features were necessary to perform a comprehensive amorphometric study. The streams in the Rakash Basin can be categorized as seventh order streams, according to this analysis. An important hydrogeological feature of the area is the existence of aquifers, with the Al-Dammam Formation emerging as the main water-bearing layer. An estimated 13.87 mm of groundwater recharge (GR) accounts for roughly 15.09% of all recorded rainfall. The majority of groundwater flow patterns originate in the west and southwest and eventually converge in the east and northeast. An average value of 0.0033 reflects this hydraulic gradient. Based on the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP), Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) have been combined in a complete approach. Making appropriate maps for groundwater recharge (GWR) and water harvesting (WH) locations is the goal. This method evaluates the relative importance of the factors affecting site selection in addition to outlining possible sites for these activities