The Aral Sea’s Environmental Issues Essay

The aral sea, effects of the drying up of the sea, reference list.

Lack of adequate control measures on environmental degradation is the primary causative agent of the current disappearing world ecosystems and habitats. That is, due to misuse or poor usage of the world natural resources. Currently, most world natural habitats are disappearing at an alarming rate, with little conservation efforts to control or reduce the rate.

A good example of the most degraded natural habitat is the Aral Sea. Prior to its destruction, the Sea was one of the biggest water bodies, rich in different species of flora and fauna; a case that is opposite today, as the sea is almost becoming extinct (Water Policy International, 2001, p.1).

The Aral Sea's Environmental Issues

Previously, this was one of the biggest salt lakes in the world hence, it’s previous fourth position among the largest world water bodies. It is important to note that, this was back in the 1960s, something that has undergone transition due to its current rank, as one of the fastest disappearing water bodies. Geographically, two major countries of the Central Asia Desert (Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan) share the sea although its southern section stretches into Karapakalstan.

Prior to its destruction, two primary rivers Syr Darya and the Amu Darya supplied the sea with water, a fact that changed as surrounding communities intensified their agricultural practices hence, draining water from its two supplying tributaries. It is important to note also that, the sea has no outflows hence, these two tributaries and ground inflows are major determinants of its volume of water (Micklin, 2007, p.48).

Before its destruction, the sea was a great contributor to the surrounding communities’ economies, because the sea not only provided fish for export, but it also provided water for irrigation; hence, greatly boosting agriculture. Such benefits to the surrounding communities never lasted for long, with the diversion of the two tributaries’ water by the Soviet Union. That is, venturing off the Soviet Union into extensive agricultural and industrial production marked the onset of the seas’ disappearance.

Due to reduced water supply, from these two tributaries, increased surrounding population, poor drainage, and high evaporation rates, the sea started to disappear; hence, its present state. It is important to note that, previously the countries sharing the sea were under a single dominion, the Soviet Union (Delany, 2010, p. 1).

The drying up of this water body has not only led to many economic problems to the surrounding communities, but also the drying has caused many climatic problems in the general environment. This is because, before its destruction, the sea was the primary climatic regulator of the surrounding environments. The sea was the primary controller of the cold Siberian winds hence, acting as a temperature regulator during hot summers; a fact that research studies attribute to the desert-like nature of most parts of central Asia.

Due to the inability of the sea to perform this function, currently most parts of Central Asia experience dry, hot, and reduced summers, something contrary in winter, which is long and very chilly. Such variations in summer and winter periods have led to the current reduced growing season, necessary for maturity of cotton. It is important to note that the main causes of such reduced summers (Delany, 2010, p.1).

The diminishing levels of water have also caused increased pollution, a fact that researchers attribute to the strong air currents, which are main carriers of aerosols into the natural atmosphere. This has had adverse effects on the worlds’ fauna, as research findings have shown that, some penguin species of the Antarctic region have some dangerous chemicals found in pesticides.

In addition, due to increased desertification of the sea, which is the primary cause of desiccation, the aerosols have greatly polluted the glaciers of the AltaVista and Himalayas This is because; the increased amounts of contaminated substances carried by air, and mineralization of rain make ice to melt. Hence, the rapidly increasing rate of glacier melting.

This is very dangerous not only to the world natural habitats but also to communities surrounding the glaciated areas, glaciers being the primary source of fresh domestic water (Delany, 2010, Para. 12-15).

Apart from these climatic effects, there is an increased number of storms, characterized by strong and destructive winds. Such storms have caused the build-up of salts in water reservoirs used in agriculture hence, causing the current poor agricultural state of surrounding communities.

This is because; the strong winds accelerate evaporation rates, which in turn increases the salt accumulation rate not only in the sea but also on surrounding soils. Such accumulations have caused deaths of both sea and other living organisms present in soils, which are of great importance to the ecosystem (International Fund on the Aral Sea, 2000, Para. 17-25).

In addition to the adverse effects on climate resulting from the drying of the sea, the drying of the water body has caused many social-economic problems on the surrounding communities. Before its current condition, the sea was the main backbone of the surrounding communities’ economies, due to its richness in marine products and the nature of support it had on agriculture. These state changed with its destruction, a fact that has contributed to the alleviated poverty levels of the surrounding communities.

Currently, as compared to other regions that make the Soviet Union, communities in these areas are the poorest. Also, increased child and maternal mortality rates, and high cases of infectious diseases, for example, hepatitis, typhus, tuberculosis, asthma, blood and heart complications, and cancer have made the living conditions even harder to inhabitants of this region.

It is important to note that, research findings attribute these conditions to the changing climatic and ecological conditions resulting from the drying of the sea. On the other hand, because of the increased salinity of the sea’s waters, most fishing and processing industries, which depended on raw materials from the sea have collapsed; hence, causing a great economic crisis to the communities surrounding the sea (Micklin, 2007, pp. 54-57).

In conclusion, although the s of Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, world environmental conservation bodies, for example, USAID, UNDP, UNEP, and World Bank, and concerned communities have come up with measures to control the rate at which the sea is shrinking, still there is a need for more planning and policy implementation.

It is important to note that, currently the surrounding communities are constructing dikes and dams to retain the diminishing sea’s water, efforts that have achieved a lot although still, the struggle to save the sea needs more efforts.

Delany, M. (2010). Aral Sea. Hydrology GEO, 611, 1. Web.

International Fund on the Aral Sea. (2000). The Aral Sea. IFAS. Web.

Micklin, P. (2007). The Aral Sea disaster. Annual Review of Earth and Planetary Sciences, 35, 47-72.

Water Policy International. (2001). The Aral Sea. Web.

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The Aral Sea Catastrophe: Understanding One of the Worst Ecological Calamities of the Last Century

The Aral Sea Catastrophe: Understanding One of the Worst Ecological Calamities of the Last Century

Once a spectacular water heaven in the very heart of Central Asia, the Aral Sea today stands as a harsh reminder of the devastating impact of the inadequate irrigation policies that led to its disappearance, compounded by the exacerbating effects of climate change on one of the world’s most captivating ecosystems. As waters receded, they left behind salt-encrusted plains, a rather inhospitable environment where little can thrive.

When we observe the open, sandy, and sparsely vegetated areas, it is difficult to grasp that these were once the depths of a magnificent and vast lake, nestled in the middle of Central Asia. The stark reality is that the Aral Sea, formerly the fourth-largest freshwater lake in the world with an area of 68,000 square kilometres (approx. 26,300 square miles), has transformed into the expanses of the Aralkum Desert that emerged in its place. As the lake dried up, it divided into two distinct bodies of water – the Big South and Small North Aral Seas. Only the latter remains today, with just over 10% of the water currently discernible through satellite imagery.

On the barren shores, where water once lapped against the land, the remaining flora struggles to survive in the harsh, salty environment. Plants like the saxaul shrubs, camelthorn, and other halophytes now dominate the landscape, adapting to the arid conditions left behind by the retreating sea. However, even these hardy plants face challenges as the desertification process accelerates, with saline soils and lack of freshwater threatening their fight for survival.

Background 

In the 1960s, the Soviet Union began diverging the Aral Sea’s main inflowing rivers – the Amu Darya originating from the Pamir Mountains and the Syr Darya from the Tien Shan mountain ranges – for irrigation purposes, primarily for cotton farming. This led to catastrophic consequences, including biodiversity loss, the displacement of communities reliant on fishing, and the emergence of health hazards due to the exposure of toxic sediments. 

Dust and salt storms, fueled by the exposed seabed, spread across the region, affecting air quality and agricultural productivity. The loss of the sea’s moderating influence altered local climates, leading to temperature extremes and disruptions in weather patterns, such as the intensification of the Siberian high in winter and the weakening of the Central Asian warm low in summer.

Once teeming with diverse aquatic life, including fish species like the Aral trout and endemic sturgeon, the shrinking water levels have devastated these populations, disrupting the entire aquatic food chain. Many species have either become extinct or are on the brink of extinction.

But besides aquatic species, the Aral Sea used to be a crucial stopover point for millions of migratory birds traveling along the Central Asian flyway. These birds, including pelicans, flamingos, and various waterfowl species, relied on the sea’s wetlands as breeding and feeding grounds. However, as the sea shrank, wetland habitats vanished, forcing birds to alter their migration patterns or face severe challenges in finding suitable resting and foraging sites.

Aral Sea from space (north at bottom), August 1985

As the Aral Sea ecosystem underwent profound changes, human-wildlife conflicts also emerged. 

Diminished fish stocks have led to increased competition between wildlife and local communities for limited resources. Additionally, the loss of wetland habitats has brought certain species, such as wild boars and foxes, into closer proximity to human settlements, resulting in conflicts over crop damage and livestock predation.

Paradoxically, the receding waters of the Aral Sea have also created new habitats. Exposed mudflats and salt pans provide breeding grounds for certain bird species and saiga antelopes , while the shallow, brackish waters that remain support adapted fish populations. These new habitats, however, often lack the complexity and biodiversity of the original wetlands, presenting challenges for the long-term conservation of wildlife in the region.

Climate Change Impact

The lengthening and intensification of summers in the Aral Sea Basin due to climate change exacerbate several environmental challenges, particularly in western Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Kazakhstan. 

First, prolonged heatwaves accelerate evaporation rates, hastening the depletion of already dwindling water resources. This not only fuels the shrinkage of the sea itself but also reduces the availability of freshwater for irrigation, agriculture, and domestic use.

The increased salinity of the remaining water aggravates the challenges faced by plant life, as many species are unable to tolerate such high levels of salt. This leads to further desertification and loss of vegetation cover, accelerating soil erosion and degradation. Ultimately, these changes cascade through the ecosystem.

Furthermore, the shorter, colder winters disrupt natural rhythms and ecological processes, affecting wildlife behavior, migration patterns, and reproductive cycles. This can lead to population declines and loss of biodiversity as species struggle to adapt to rapidly changing conditions. Moreover, long warmer falls and shorter winters may also impact agricultural practices, affecting crop yields and food security in the region.

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Initiatives for Restoration and Sustainability

Although the Aral Sea’s disappearance was considered the lost case by many, efforts to address “one of the planet’s worst environmental disasters,” as it was described by the former UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon, have seen some success today, with projects aimed at restoring water flow and replenishing the sea’s shrinking basin. 

However, the challenges remain immense, requiring coordinated action at both local and international levels. Integrated solutions, investment projects, and scientific collaboration are key drivers of sustainable development and regional integration, supported by the harmonization of legal frameworks and establishment of basin authorities with sufficient powers to ensure continuity in water resource management.

The governments of Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, where the lake is located, have taken proactive measures to address the environmental crisis caused by the shrinking of the Aral Sea, involving multiple stakeholders. The projects entail constructing dams, planting erosion-stopping vegetation such as saxaul shrubs over millions of hectares, establishing water diversion channels, and implementing water-saving technologies in agriculture to alleviate pressure on the sea’s inflowing rivers. 

For example, the 13-kilometer Kok-Aral dam has already facilitated a significant revival of fish stocks by increasing water volume in the North Aral, resulting in a nearly quarter expansion of the lake since its completion in 2005. Salinity also decreased, enabling a diverse range of fish species to thrive and leading to profound increases in fishing limits. The restoration also led to the return of rain clouds and potential changes in the region’s microclimate, offering hope to struggling farmers.

The International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea, comprising Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan, collaborates on joint interstate environmental, scientific, and practical initiatives to preserve the Aral Sea, enhance the regional environmental situation, and address shared social and environmental challenges.

Aral Sea in 2018

Additionally, efforts are being made to promote sustainable land management practices and enhance the resilience of local communities to adapt to changing environmental conditions. 

Among the latest projects is the collaborative oasis-making initiative between Kazakhstan and the US Agency for International Development (USAID) aimed at restoring the environment. Japan’s involvement in aiding Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan in Aral Sea recovery projects, particularly through funding innovative agricultural techniques and climate-resistant practices, underscores its commitment to environmental cooperation in Central Asia. UN-based programs , such as those for cleaning drinking water and constructing water supply networks in local communities, are also invaluable contributions to the region’s sustainability efforts. As part of the broader Belt and Road Initiative, China is actively participating in the “Green Silk Road” program, which focuses on ecological projects in Central Asia. The nation is deeply involved in addressing the environmental degradation in the Aral Sea region by implementing water-saving and ecological protection measures through collaborative efforts and innovative approaches, which have so far successfully improved the region’s ecological sustainability.

Sunrise on the Aral Sea from the top of the Ustyurt Plateau cliff, Karakalpakstan, Uzbekistan in 2012

The Aral Sea’s plight, along with other emblematic cases like Lake Chad in Africa or Lake Urmia in Iran, serves as a poignant example of the detrimental effects environmental malpractice and climate change can have on natural ecosystems. Its rapid deterioration shows the pressing need for coordinated efforts to address the root causes of environmental degradation and implement sustainable restoration strategies. The complexities of the challenges faced by the Aral Sea region necessitate transboundary cooperation and engagement from a diverse array of stakeholders.

National strategies in the region prioritize further growth in water use for irrigation and hydropower, necessitating a coordinated regional water policy to balance water resources use and improve the ecological situation. Although strides have been taken, achieving complete recovery poses a formidable challenge, necessitating ongoing commitment and investment in environmental conservation endeavors to protect the Aral Sea. 

Featured image: NASA Goddard Space Flight Center/Flickr

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COMMENTS

  1. The Aral Sea Problems, Their Causes & Consequences

    By 1997, it has split into four distinct lakes: the South Aral Sea, split into two parts, a small lake in the middle, and the North Aral Sea. In 2014, the eastern basin of the lake desiccated completely, and now it is called the Aralkum Desert.

  2. Aral Sea

    The shallow Aral Sea was once the world's fourth largest body of inland water. The remnants of it nestle in the climatically inhospitable heart of Central Asia, to the east of the Caspian Sea.The Aral Sea and its demise are of great interest and increasing concern to scientists because of the remarkable shrinkage of its area and volume that began in the second half of the 20th century—when ...

  3. The Tragedy of the Aral Sea Free Essay Example

    Essay Sample: The Aral Sea use to be the forth-largest saline sea in the world, that is until in the 1960s. The former Soviet Union diverted the two rivers that fed the ... The Aral Sea is located in the northern part of Uzbekistan and the southern part of Kazakhstan, and primarily fed by the Amu-Darya River from the South and the Syr-Darya ...

  4. Aral Sea

    The Aral Sea (/ ˈ ær əl /) [5] [a] was an endorheic lake (that is, without an outlet) lying between Kazakhstan to its north and Uzbekistan to its south, which began shrinking in the 1960s and had largely dried up by the 2010s. It was in the Aktobe and Kyzylorda regions of Kazakhstan and the Karakalpakstan autonomous region of Uzbekistan. The name roughly translates from Mongolic and Turkic ...

  5. The Aral Sea's Environmental Issues

    Get a custom essay on The Aral Sea's Environmental Issues---writers online . Learn More . A good example of the most degraded natural habitat is the Aral Sea. Prior to its destruction, the Sea was one of the biggest water bodies, rich in different species of flora and fauna; a case that is opposite today, as the sea is almost becoming extinct ...

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    Essay About Aral Sea; Essay About Aral Sea. 957 Words 4 Pages. Geographical Setting The Aral Sea is a natural endorheic basin situated in the heart of Central Asia on the Eurasian continent. It straddles along the border of Kazakhstan to the north and Uzbekistan to the south. It was formerly the world's fourth largest inland sea behind the ...

  7. Explainer: What Happened to the Aral Sea?

    The Aral Sea, formerly the fourth-largest freshwater lake in the world with an area of 68,000 sq km, has transformed into a desert. Membership. ABOUT. Search. ... Orkhan is keen to contribute his writing skills to the world of articles and essays, covering topics like Climate Change, Biodiversity, Environmental Economics, Ecology, Paleoscience ...

  8. Aral Sea

    Geography H/W - The Disappearing Aral Sea This essay intends to first introduce the disappearing Aral Sea, which due to the extensive agricultural activities devised by the Soviet government in the region, the former fourth-largest lake of the world is now the world's eighth largest lake. This has resulted in perhaps the world's most ...

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    The Aral Sea Disaster is a critical example of the environmental destruction wrought by humans But human-environment interactions are complex! Ecosystems are *dances* between biological species and the physical world, and they are continuously evolving and changing. We join in the dance, but we do not control it.

  10. The Aral Sea Desertification

    Due to such malpractices the Aral Sea shrunk in size from being the world's 4th largest sea to a dry barren sea basin. But even though they have caused an ecological disaster, actions are now being taken to replenish the sea of its thirst and recover it back to its natural beauty. The Aral Sea : The Aral Sea has a catchment size of 1,549,000 ...