The College of Education Ibn Rushd for Humanities at the University of Baghdad held the defense of a PhD dissertation entitled “The Impact of the Arctic Polar Vortex on the Thermal Characteristics of Winter in Iraq,” presented by Mohammed Dawood Salman from the Department of Geography, specializing in Physical Geography.
The examination committee was chaired by Prof. Saad Ajeel Mubarak and included Prof. Yousif Mohammed Ali as supervisor, together with a panel of faculty members from the department. Prof. Joul Mikhail Talia from the College of Education at Al-Mustansiriyah University participated as the external examiner.
The dissertation investigated the characteristics of the Arctic polar vortex at the 10 hPa pressure level, examining its patterns, temperature, intensity, and geopotential height, as well as its influence on Iraq’s winter thermal characteristics. The study also explored the relationship between the polar vortex, upper-atmospheric circulation patterns, and seasonal temperature variations using statistical analysis and modeling techniques.
The findings demonstrated that the Arctic polar vortex plays a crucial role in regulating winter atmospheric dynamics through stratosphere–troposphere coupling. Variations in its intensity and stability significantly influence the jet stream, pressure systems, and temperature distribution, contributing to severe cold waves or unusually warm conditions in regions far from the Arctic. The researcher recommended expanding interdisciplinary studies that integrate climate science, agriculture, public health, water and food security, meteorology, atmospheric physics, and modern technologies to support climate adaptation and informed policymaking.
