Risks of Gully Erosion in Valley (Wadi) Mazrwan Basin in Erbil Governorate Within Kurdistan Region of Iraq
Shatha Abbas Jassim
The intensity of trenching processes in the Mazrwan Valley basin varies according to several characteristics that distinguish the study area. These include geological formations that contribute to a high level of weathering and erosion due to the region's steep slopes, represented by the highly dissected surface, the gently undulating surface, and the undulating surface according to the zinc classification. The presence of rugged rocky soil, occupying most of the Mazrwan Valley basin, activates mechanical weathering processes, leading to the collapse and sliding of rock fragments and fragmented materials after saturation with water. This, in turn, increases the speed of water and other materials, eroding the channels on these slopes, influenced by the effectiveness of climatic elements such as temperature, rainfall, evaporation, and wind. The geomorphological effects on rock fragmentation and the overall effectiveness of organisms in the soil, through chemical and physical changes activated by weathering and erosion processes, have a significant impact. These negative effects are reflected in the dominance and activity of high trenching in the study area.
Keywords: Mazrwan Valley, Erbil Governorate, Geography, Erbil, Kurdistan Region
