Journal of Environmental and Sustainability Science
• Open Access
Water Quality Dynamics and Pollution Status of the Musi River, South Sumatra: A Field-Based Assessment
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Drought is one of the most severe environmental hazards affecting water resources, agriculture, and ecosystems, particularly in arid and semi-arid regions. Iraq is highly vulnerable to climate change and reduced water inflows from the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, resulting in increasing drought severity and land degradation. This study analyzes the spatiotemporal distribution of drought in Afaj District, Al-Qadisiyah Governorate, southern Iraq, using Sentinel-2 satellite imagery and remote sensing indices including the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), Normalized Difference Water Index (NDWI), and Normalized Difference Drought Index (NDDI) for the years 2019 and 2025.
Satellite data with 10 m spatial resolution were processed to assess vegetation health, surface moisture, and drought intensity. Statistical analysis revealed a strong positive correlation between NDVI and NDWI (r ≈ 0.69) and strong negative correlations between NDDI and both NDVI and NDWI, confirming the reliability of these indices for drought monitoring. Land cover analysis showed significant environmental changes, with bare land increasing by approximately 28% between 2019 and 2025, while vegetation and water-covered areas declined.
The results indicate a substantial intensification of drought conditions, with areas experiencing moderate to high drought severity increasing from 48% in 2019 to 75% in 2025. These changes highlight the growing risks of desertification, agricultural decline, and ecosystem degradation in southern Iraq. The study demonstrates that integrated remote sensing indices provide an effective approach for monitoring drought dynamics and supporting sustainable water and land management strategies.
Keywords
Musi River, water quality, pollution index, agricultural runoff, tropical river, estuaryReferences
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