Water household changes, climate change, and human impact – reasons for the dusty side of the Aral Sea Syndrome

Abstract

The reduced water input into lakes and riverbeds is an initial reason for desiccated water bodies and their lacustrine and fluvial sediments. Under arid and semi-arid and even continental climate these dry sediments are a very important source of sand and dust storms (SDS) besides sources from deserts. These natural prerequisites, the ongoing climate change and predominately the land use caused water withdrawal from the main tributaries Amudarya and Syrdarya are the main reasons for the acceleration of SDS in the Aral Sea region. Long-term dust analyses between 2003 and 2012 have identified the deserts Karakum, Kyzylkum and the new desert Aralkum as the main source areas for SDS in the Turan Lowlands. Among the atmospheric dust and dusty depositions salty aerosols respectively sediments were identified. The Aral Sea Syndrome and its effects affect ecosystems, animals, plants and people. A case study from Kazakhstan showed that children are more affected by near-surface sand and dust storms than adults.