- All Journals
- Al-Qadisiyah University
- Basrah University
- Kirkuk University
- Mosul University
- The Iraqi Borad for Medical Specialization
- University of Anbar
- University of Technology
- Al Mustafa University
- Al-Zahraa University for Women
- Alnoor University
- Kunooz University
- Misan University
- Ninevah University
- Tikrit University
- University of Al-Hamdaniya
- University of Kerbala
Alluvial Fans in the Al-Nukhaib Region, Western Iraq: A Study of Controlling Factors and Formative Processes | ||
| Journal of University of Anbar for Humanities | ||
| Volume 2026, Issue 3, September 2026, Pages 811-788 PDF (4.58 M) | ||
| Document Type: Research Paper | ||
| DOI: 10.37653/juah.2026.168441.1406 | ||
| Authors | ||
| Saad Hammad Farhan; Ahmed Flaih Fayadh* | ||
| College of Education for Humanities- University of Anbar | ||
| Abstract | ||
| Aims: This study investigates the geomorphological factors and processes that have contributed to the formation of alluvial fans in Western Iraq. These landforms are among the characteristic geomorphological features of arid and semi-arid environments, and their development reflects the interaction of a range of natural controls. The study therefore examines the physical conditions that have influenced their origin and evolution, with particular emphasis on the roles of tectonic, topographic, and hydrological factors. It also considers the influence of past climatic conditions that prevailed in the study area during different stages of fan development. In addition, the study examines the geomorphological processes responsible for the formation of these landforms by relating the physical characteristics of the region to the surface processes operating across it. This approach provides an integrated interpretation of the origin and spatial development of alluvial fans in Western Iraq. Methodology: The study adopted descriptive, inductive, and analytical approaches suited to the nature and objectives of the research, complemented by field investigation as a principal means of examining geomorphological landforms and documenting their characteristics and spatial expression. The study area covers approximately 2,109.6 km² and the research is organized into two main sections. The first examines the physical characteristics of the study area and the conditions that facilitated the development of alluvial fans. The second addresses the geomorphological factors and processes that contributed to their formation and subsequent development. Data were collected through field visits and investigations and through the analysis of samples. Remote sensing and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) were also employed to examine the spatial and geomorphological characteristics of the study area and to establish their relationships with the natural controls and processes involved in fan development. Results: The findings indicate that the alluvial fans of Western Iraq developed through the interaction of several interconnected geomorphological factors and processes rather than as a result of any single controlling factor. Tectonic conditions played a significant role in establishing the structural framework of the region and in creating conditions conducive to erosion, sediment transport, and deposition. Topography was also an important control on the distribution and morphology of the fans, particularly through variations in elevation and slope that facilitated the movement of sediments from higher to lower terrain. Hydrological processes contributed to the transport and deposition of rock fragments and sediments at the outlets of valleys and drainage channels, resulting in sediment accumulation and fan development. The findings further indicate that past climatic conditions exerted a notable influence on the geomorphological evolution of the area. Earlier climatic conditions enhanced weathering, erosion, and surface runoff, increasing the amount of sediment available for transport and deposition and thereby contributing to the formation and subsequent development of the alluvial fans. Conclusions: The study concludes that the alluvial fans in Western Iraq represent the product of a complex interaction among several natural factors and geomorphological processes, particularly tectonic, topographic, and hydrological controls, with past climatic conditions also playing an important role in their formation and development. Variations in relief and slope, together with the characteristics of drainage networks, surface runoff, and sediment-transport processes, have influenced the location, morphology, and morphometric characteristics of the fans. The findings demonstrate that a comprehensive understanding of the origin and development of these landforms requires the integration of geomorphological analysis, field investigation, remote sensing, and Geographic Information Systems (GIS). These approaches provide valuable means of examining the spatial distribution of landforms and identifying the natural controls responsible for their development. More broadly, the study of alluvial fans contributes to a better understanding of geomorphological evolution in arid and semi-arid environments and provides a scientific basis for interpreting the geomorphological history of Western Iraq and the natural processes that have shaped its present-day landscape. | ||
| Keywords | ||
| Geology; Climatic Characteristics; Geomorphological Processes; Water Erosion | ||
| References | ||
15- Al-Asadi, Muhammad Abdul Wahab, (2011), Geomorphology of the Al-Tayyib Fan Using
Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Remote Sensing, Doctoral Dissertation (unpublished), University of Basra, College of Education.
| ||
|
Statistics Article View: 33 PDF Download: 32 |
||