Iraq Air Quality - Dust storm forecast service (https://iraqairquality.com)

Iraq Air Quality Platform (Live at https://iraqairquality.com)

Last updated: Friday, February 20, 2026 at 1:44 PM (Baghdad Time)
The Reality of Dust in Iraq: Why This Project Now?

Scientific studies and official reports indicate a dangerous escalation in the intensity of dust storms in Iraq. The Ministry of Environment has warned that Iraq could face approximately 272 to 300 dusty days annually in the coming years, compared to just a few decades at the end of the last century.

This significant increase is due to several factors, including climate change, ongoing drought, dam policies, and the deterioration of vegetation cover, amidst a clear gap between government plans and the capacity to implement effective desertification control projects.

Dust and Particulate Matter Map of Iraq

A dust storm struck Iraq on May 16, 2022. The storm swept across much of the country on Monday, sending more than 2,000 people to hospitals with respiratory problems and forcing the closure of airports, schools, and some government offices. 
Project Vision: From Delayed Response to Proactive Management

Published research has demonstrated that real-time monitoring (nowcasting) systems are key to reducing exposure to pollutants. Dust is a continuous spatial phenomenon. From a scientific and research perspective, published research has proven the importance of integrating remote sensing data with artificial intelligence techniques to reduce uncertainty in spatial models. Dust is a continuous spatial phenomenon, so relying on widely separated ground stations does not provide an accurate picture. Therefore, our system aims to:

• Data Integration: Combine satellite data with artificial intelligence to reduce uncertainty.
• Preventive Empowerment: Predicting risks hours in advance, contributing to public health protection and minimizing economic losses in the transportation and agriculture sectors.

Scientific Transparency: Providing a free and independent platform that presents the reality of air quality, free from any politicization, to support researchers in their epidemiological and environmental studies.

My goal is to transform rigorous academic research published in international journals into a free national service that contributes to protecting citizens' health and supporting environmental stability in Iraq.

About the Founder of the Iraq Air Quality Platform

I am Dr. Eng. Omar Faisal Althuwaynee. research associate at department of Geography, Durham University, United Kingdom. I hold a Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Technology/Baghdad, a Master's degree in Civil Engineering, and a PhD in Geomatics Engineering from Malaysian universities. I worked as an academic researcher and teacher specializing in Geomatics Engineering, dedicating my experience of more than 15 years to harnessing advanced technology and artificial intelligence and applying them in the fields of natural disasters, their prediction studies, and ways to mitigate expected damage.