Drought Analysis in The Kurdistan Region-Iraq Using Standardized Precipitation Indices (SPI): A Case Study with in Duhok, Erbil and Sulaimaniyah Regions.

Drought indices are frequently utilized to identify, observe, and assess drought occurrences. The Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) represents one of among the most commonly utilized drought measures. This article analyzes drought occurrences for three chosen meteorological stations in the Kurdistan region, including Duhok, Erbil, and Sulaimaniyah governorates, and analyzes the impact of theoretical distribution choices on SPI values. The annual time-scale SPI formula was calculated for the period (1980-2023) in Governorates. Analysis with SPI method results showed that the extremely wet represents only in Erbil governorate in frequency 2-year with probability events (4.55%). Drought represented from mildly drought to sever drought in each governorate. Mildly drought show in Erbil governorate in 16-year frequency with (36.36%) probability events. Also, in Sulaimaniyah governorate in 13-year frequency with (30.23%) probability events. However, in Duhok governorate in 15-year frequency with (34.09%) probability events. The moderate drought shows in governorates such as 7-year frequency with (15.91%) probability events, 4-year frequency with (90.30%) probability events, and 6-years frequency with (13.64) probability events, respectively. The severe drought also shows in governorates such as 1-year frequency with (2.27%) probability events, 3-year frequency with (6.98%) probability events, and 2-year frequency with (4.55%) probability events, respectively.