Modelling dynamic maps of atmospheric pressure and rainfall for the southern region of Iraq using GIS software

Abstract

The map represents the most important tool that has contributed and continues to contribute to the success of any geographical work or study. It represents the mirror that reflects the geographer's scientific material in all axes of the work accomplished. Accordingly, the relational relationship between the studied phenomena and their geographical surroundings is understood and realized. Therefore, the map represents the secret key to all types of geographical knowledge. In light of scientific and research developments, maps have kept pace with the process of development and modernity witnessed in the field of knowledge, until they have become an independent scientific beacon with their foundations and thoughtful rules for dealing with geographical space. Maps representing atmospheric pressure and rainfall data have become the most important tool in the field of geographical research. They are statistical tools that transform the highly complex statistical tables obtained from the relevant climatic stations into distributional patterns that the recipient can easily extrapolate. They have the potential to combine the maps of the two elements under study and consider them as a single block, because the results obtained from them are directly reflected in human activities. In the context of this study, the graphical and cartographic methods that have been used to plot the paths of both atmospheric pressure and rainfall undoubtedly confirm that the maps represent the mathematical method in their content that can explain the causes and consequences of what is related to these two climatic elements, from which the information is presented and conveyed to the user. This study focuses on identifying the best types and methods for cartographic and graphical presentation of the data. Since the subject of the study is related to climate maps, the map is used to depict the climate and its various elements, providing a clear image of their distribution and the extent of variation and difference between elements, and thus determining the factors that affect that variation. As the dynamic feature of geographical phenomena is clearly known, its analysis and interpretation by using a geographic information system (GIS) is somewhat ambiguous and cannot provide all information, as this study, when drawing these maps, relies on the data collected from the climatic stations spread in the study area