First technical working meeting
IW Science
25th – 28th January 2010, Macao
Some main results of
the Aral Sea studies
N.V. Aladin, I.S. Plotnikov & P. Micklin
Zoological Institute of RAS, St.-Petersburg
Parameters of the Aral Sea in the beginning
of 20th century
• Area 67499 km2
Large Aral 61381 km2
Small Aral 6118 km2
• Volume 1089 km3
Large Aral 1007 km3
Small Aral 82 km3
•
•
•
•
Level +53.4 m
Maximal depth 69 m
Salinity about 10 g/l
The Aral Sea was inhabited by about 12
species of fishes and about 150 species
of free-living invertebrates excluding
Protozoa and small-size Metazoa
Following main principles of conception of relativity and plurality of salinity
barrier zones (Aladin, 1986, 1988; Aladin, Plotnikov, 2007) the following salinity
zones were suggested for Aral Sea waters.
Ecosystems
Salinity range
Basic freshwater
0-3 ‰
Transitional freshwater-brackishwater
3-8 ‰
Basic brackishwater
8-13 ‰
Transitional brackishwater-marine
13-29 ‰
Basic marine
29-42 ‰
Transitional marine-hyperhaline
42-51 ‰
Basic hyperhaline
> 51 ‰
Number of species of animals and plants is different but all ecosystems are
definitely alive and it is not wise to say that some of them are more alive and
healthier than others.
1964
Between the middle of the 19th
century and 1961 shape and
salinity of the Aral Sea
practically didn't change. We
must note, however, that due to
intended and accidental
introductions, that started in the
1920s, the number of free-living
animals grew substantially.
In the Aral Sea appeared:
Fishes – 17
Mysidacea – 5
Decapoda – 2
Copepoda – 1
Polychaeta – 1
Bivalvia - 1
TOTAL: 27
Number of invertebrate species introduced by man
Intentionally
Accidentally
Number of species
3
2
1
0
1927
1954
1958
1960
1964
Year
1965
1971
1984
1985
Number of fish species introduced by man
Intentionally
Accidentally
8
7
Number of species
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
1927
1929
1948
1954
Year
1960
1963
1979
Abra ovata
Abra and Nereis introduced by man are of
great importance for flounder nutrition.
Nereis diversicolor
Rithropanopeus was
introduced accidentally and
disturbs lake sediments.
Rhithropanopeus harrisii tridentata
First introductions of alien species into the Aral Sea at the
end of 1920’s – beginning 1930’s and their consequences
• In 1929-1932 there was unsuccessful attempt to introduce (by developing
eggs) Caspian shed Alosa caspia. This introduction had no influence on
the Aral ecosystem.
• The next was also unsuccessful introduction in 1933-1934 of stellate
sturgeon Acipenser stellatus in order to enrich commercial stocks of
sturgeon fishes in the Aral Sea represented only by bastard sturgeon A.
nudiventris. While transported from the Caspian Sea mature and young
fishes didn’t survive, the consequences were significant and negative.
Introduced sturgeons infected aboriginal ones with gill parasite
monogenetic trematode Nitzschia sturionis and coelenterate parasite of
sturgeon eggs Polypodium hydriforme which were not in the Aral Sea
before. The first parasite produced epizooty between aboriginal
sturgeons and their mass death as a result.
Commercial stocks of sturgeon fishes A. nudiventris instead of enriching
were undermined as a result.
Introductions of alien species into the Aral Sea since
1950’s and their negative and positive consequences
•
•
Negative consequences.
Together with valuable alien species introduced advisedly into the Aral Sea some undesirable
species were brought accidentally. These species could cause serious negative impacts on the
ecosystem. So, 3 species of gobies, atherine and needle-fish had naturalized and became
rivals for aboriginal young fishes.
The most serious negative consequences were caused by introduction and naturalization of
commercial Baltic herring Clupea harengus membras. This plankton-eater exterminated large
crustacean species (Arctodiaptomus salinus, Moina mongolica, Alona rectangula, Ceriodaphnia
reticulata) predominated in the zooplankton. As a result, average zooplankton biomass
decreased by more than 10 times.
It could be that accidently introduced shrimp Palaemon elegans competing with aboriginal
amphipod Dikerogammarus aralensis step by step caused its extinction.
Some positive consequences.
Some positive effect gave introduction of commercial freshwater fishes of China complex.
Introduced from the Sea of Azov in the beginning 1960’s polychaete Nereis diversicolor and
bivalve Abra ovata became valuable food for benthophage fishes. Introduced from the Sea of
Azov copepod Calanipeda aquaedulcis has replaced former dominant of the Aral Sea
zooplankton Arctodiaptomus salinus which was exterminated by Baltic herring. Due to their high
euryhalinity they survived further Aral Sea salinization and left dominants in zoobenthos and
zooplankton.
When all freshwater aboriginal and introduced fishes disappeared or were to be disappear due
to Aral Sea salinization, successful introduction of flat-fish Platichthys flesus in the end of
1970’s allowed to keep commercial fishing for long time.
Since 1960 the Aral Sea has steadily shrunk and shallowed
owing overwhelmingly to irrigation withdrawals from its
influent rivers (Amu Dar’ya and Syr Dar’ya)
1964
2009
September, 2009: Aral area – 8410 km2 (13%), volume – 85 km3 (7.5%);
the Large Aral – 4922 km2 (8%), 58 km3 (6%), salinity >100 g/l;
the Small Aral – 3487 km2 (57%), 27 km3 (33%), salinity 10-14 g/l.
IRRIGATION DEVELOPMENT IN ARAL SEA BASIN
Kazakhstan
12
11
Sy
rD
Nukus
2
a
Kyrgyzstan
R.
Ta shke nt
4
3
9
8
China
R.
1
a
Turkmenistan
Alm a ty
10
L. A rnasay
r 'y
Urge nch
Da
Turkm e nba shi
'y
Uzbekistan
u
L. Saryk am ysh
ar
Am
Caspian Sea
Aral
Sea
L. Balk hash
6
5
7
Tajikistan
Ashga ba t
N
Iran
0 80
240
400 km
Afghanistan
Pakistan
P. M icklin 2000
MAJOR IRRIGATION COMPLEXES IN THE ARAL SEA BASIN
main irrigation zones
in the Aral Sea Basin
proposed SiberiaAral Sea Canal
1. Kara-Kum Canal
2. Amu Dar'ya Delta
3. Amu-Bukhara Canal
4. Zeravshan Valley
5. Karshi Steppe
6. Middle Amu Dar'ya
7. Surkhandar'ya Valley
8. Golodnaya Steppe
9. Fergana Valley
10. Middle Syr Dar'ya
11. Kzyl-Orda Canal
12. Syr Dar'ya Delta
The Aral Sea Drainage Basin (red line)
(by: Shibuo, Jarsjo, Destouni, 2007)
Temperature and precipitation data within the Aral Sea drainage basin (left);
temporal trends (right).
(by: Shibuo, Jarsjo, Destouni, 2007)
Summary of Water Flows in the Aral Sea drainage
basin for the Three Different Investigation Scenarios
(by: Shibuo, Jarsjo, Destouni, 2007)
Scenario1:
1901–1950,
Natural
Scenario 2:
1983–2002,
Climate
Scenario 3:
1983– 2002,
Climate-Irrigation
ETla
ETth
ETla
ETth
ETla
ETth
Amu Darya
43
37
44
39
8
7
Syr Darya
30
20
31
23
5
4
Unmonitored
4
0
3
0
3
0
Total
77
58
78
62
16
11
Evapotranspiration change in the scenario 3 relative to the natural
scenario 1, based on the two different ET calculation methods
(a) ETla and (b) ETth
(by: Shibuo, Jarsjo, Destouni, 2007)
Due to the Global Warming precipitations in 2041-2070 will increase
up to 50%. Melting of mounting ice caps that is feeding Syr Darya and
Amu Darya are still increasing due to the Global Warming.
Baltic Sea
Aral Sea
Sea of Azov
before 1960
Aral Sea
Aral Sea
in 1989
in 2006
Caspian
Sea
Lake Balkhash
Maracaibo Lake
Before 1956
After 1956
 - Freshwater zone
 - Transitional freshwater-brackishwater zone
 - Brackishwater zone
 - Transitional brackishwater-marine zone
 - Marine zone
 - Hyperhaline zone
As salinity of the Aral Sea was increasing its
biodiversity became lower:
• In 1971-1976, when salinity exceeded 1214 g/l, brackish-water species of
freshwater origin became extinct.
• In 1986-1989, when salinity exceeded 2325 g/l, Caspian brackishwater species
became extinct.
Since the end of 1980’s, when the level dropped by about 13
m and reached about +40 m, the Aral Sea divided into the
Large and Small Aral
the Small Aral
Area 40000 km2 (60% from 1960)
Volume 333 km3 (33% from 1960)
Salinity 30 g/l (10 g/l in 1960)
In autumn 1987 – spring 1989 Aral
Sea divided into 2 lakes: Small
(Northern) Aral and Large
(Southern) Aral. In both lakes
salinity increased and could
survive practically the same
number of free-living animals.
the Large Aral
Fishes – 10; Rotatoria – 3;
Cladocera – 2; Copepoda – 2;
Ostracoda – 1; Decapoda – 2;
Bivalvia – 2; Gastropoda - >2;
Polychaeta – 1.
TOTAL: >25
Aral Sea level and salinity
55.00
180.00
170.00
160.00
50.00
150.00
140.00
130.00
45.00
120.00
Aral Sea level
40.00
100.00
90.00
35.00
30.00
80.00
Salinity in the Large Aral continues
to go up while in the Small Aral it
has begun to go down after the
Aral Sea division
70.00
60.00
50.00
40.00
30.00
25.00
20.00
10.00
20.00
1960
0.00
1965
1970
1975
1980
1985
Year
1990
1995
2000
2005
Small Aral level
Salinity, g/l
Level, m a.s.l
110.00
Large Aral level
Aral Sea salinity
SmallAral salinity
Large Aral salinity
W. Large Aral salinity
E. Large Aral salinity
Hydrologic and Salinity Characteristics of the Aral Sea
by: P. Micklin
Year
Level
(m asl)
b
Area
2
(km )
% of Volume
% of
3
1960 (km )
1960
area
volume
Average
salinity
(g/l)
% 1960
salinity
1960 (whole sea) 53.4
Large Sea 53.4
67499 100
61381 100
1089
1007
100
100
10
10
100
100
Small Sea 53.4
b
1971 (whole sea) 51.1
6118 100
60200 89
82
925
100
85
10
10
100
100
55700 83
39734 59
763
365
70
33
14
140
36307 60
2804 46
341
23
34
28
30
30
300
300
2009 (whole sea)
Large Sea 29.4
8409
4922
12
8
85
58
8
6
Small Sea 42.0
3487
57
27
33
b
1976(whole sea)
c
1989 (whole sea)
48.3
Large Sea 39.32
Small Sea 40.2
c
aAnnual
bAs
average.
of January 1.
cThe
sea will consist of a western and eastern part.
East >200 >2000
West >100 >1000
12
120
Zooplankton and zoobenthos of the Aral Sea
just after its separation (1989)
(only common species)
Average salinity about 30 g/l
ZOOPLANKTON
Rotatoria
Synchaeta vorax
S. cecilia
Copepoda
Calanipeda aquaedulcis
Halicyclops rotundipes aralensis
Bivalvia Larvae
Abra ovata
Cerastoderma isthmicum
ZOOBENTHOS
Bivalvia
Abra ovata
Cerastoderma isthmicum
Gastropoda
Caspiohydrobia spp.
Polychaeta
Nereis diversicolor
Ostracoda
Cyprideis torosa
Decapoda
Palaemon elegans
Rhithropanopeus harrisii
tridentata (only in Large Aral)
Fishes of the Aral Sea just after its separation
(1989)
Average salinity about 30 g/l
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Flounder – Platichthys flesus luscus
Stickleback – Pungitius platygaster - ?
Baltic herring – Clupea harengus membras
Silverside – Atherina boyeri caspia
Bubyr goby – Knipowitschia caucasicus
Sand goby – Neogobius fluviatilis
Round goby – Neogobius melanostomus
Dynamics of fish catches in the North and South Aral Sea
recent data for Small Aral Sea is received from Z.Ermahanov
50000
45000
40000
35000
Catches, tons
30000
Small (Northern) Aral
Large (Southern) Aral
25000
20000
15000
10000
5000
0
1929 1931 1941 1947 1960 1970 1975 1980 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008
Years
Concept to Partially Preserve Small and Large Aral Seas
(proposed by Lvovich and Tsigelnaya, updated and modified by P. Micklin)
Small Aral Sea
level 47 m, area 4310 km2, vol.
46.5 km3, river inflow 4.5 km3,
outflow toward L. Aral 1.4 km3,
salinity 7.6 g/l (?), start date
for project - 2004
58
0
0
61
0
47
0
control gate
and spillway
1960 shoreline
(~53 meters, ASL)
0
46
dike with flow
control gate
0
46
dike with
ov erflow spillway
0
shoreline of eastern part
of Large Aral Sea
(~28.7, ASL)
45
Eastern Sea: level 28.7 m, area
5710 km2, vol 21 km3, inflow
from W. Aral 2.95 km3, inflow
from Small Aral 1.03 km3,
salinity 362 g/l (?)
Adzhibay Gulf Reservoir: level
53 m, area 1147 km2, vol. 6.23
km3, inflow from Amu Dar'ya 8.26
km3, outflow to W. Aral 7.35
km3, salinity ~2g/l
60
shoreline of Small Aral Sea
(47 meters, ASL)
Large Aral Sea
Western Sea: level 33 m, area 6203
km2, vol. 85 km3, river inflow
7.35 km3, outflow to E. Aral 3.05
km3, salinity 45 g/l, (21 g/l by
2050), start date - 2007
59 0
shoreline of western
part of Large Aral Sea
(33 meters, ASL)
44
0
concrete-lined canal
with nav igation locks
dike
Adzhibay Gulf Reserv oir
(53 meters, ASL)
44
0
direction of flow in S mall S ea
and western part of Large Aral
0
Amu Dar'ya R.
43
0
0
59
0
60
20 40
80 100 km
60
0
61
43
0
Another option would be to give more water to the Eastern Large Aral from Small Aral via
Berg strait and from Amudarya river via Akdarya river bed. Level of Western Large Aral Sea
might be maintainable using ground water flow from Amudarya delta and Ustjurt plateau.
Realization of this project will help biodiversity conservation.
Discharge of water from Small Aral occurs primarily in
Spring-early Summer high flow period on Syr Dar’ya. Since
August 2005 outflow is controlled by a discharge structure
(gates) in the dike.
SMALL ARAL AND NORTH PART OF LARGE ARAL
(Showing effect of Spring/early summer “high flow” and later Summer “low flow” of Syr
Dar’ya)
Dike in Berg strait is preserving
Small (Northern) Aral and rehabilitating its biodiversity.
Small Aral Sea
Syrdar’ya
Large Aral Sea
Dike in Berg strait is
preserving
Small (Northern) Aral
and rehabilitating its
biodiversity.
By: Aladin N.V., Plotnikov I.S., Potts
W.T.W., 1995. The Aral Sea desiccation
and possible ways of rehabilitation and
conservation of its North part // Int. J.
Environmetrics. Vol. 6: 17-29.
The first dike was built by our proposal in August 1992.
Its existence till April 1999 allowed to rehabilitate
biodiversity. Number of free-living animals increased.
In April 1999, when the Small Aral Sea level increased more
than by 3 m and reached +43.5 m, the dike broke.
(data below are from satellite altimetry courtesy of Jean-Francois Cretaux)
Small Aral sea before dike construction
This boat was far from the sea in September 2005
Small Aral sea after dike construction
Owing to level rise of the Small Aral the boat was mostly
under water by September 2007
Kok-Aral dike built by Russian company “ZARUBEZHVODSTROY”
When water gates are open in Kok-Aral dike all remnant
water bodies of the Aral Sea are connected
October 14, 2007
Water gates are
closed
March 25, 2008
Water gates are
open
Since beginning of 2003, when the level in the Large Aral Sea
dropped by 22 m and reached about +31 m, the Large Aral Sea is
practically divided into the Eastern Large and Western Large Aral
August, 2009
(MODIS/AQUA)
Sept. 6, 2009: Area 4922 km2 (8% from 1960)
Volume 58 km3 (6% from 1960)
Salinity: Western part and Tschebas Bay –
>100 g/l, Eastern part – >200 g/l)
In 2010 Eastern part can be desiccated
almost completely.
In both lakes salinity increased so high that
all fishes gone and only few free-living
invertebrates could survive.
Western part and Tschebas Bay of Large
Aral:
Infusoria – 2; Rotatoria – 2; Copepoda – 1;
Ostracoda – 2; Branchiopoda – 1;
Gastropoda - >2.
TOTAL: >10?
Eastern part of Large Aral :
Branchiopoda – 1.
Since separation of the Small Aral Sea from Large Aral at the
end of 1980s number of free-living animals increased
because salinity in this lake was cut by 50
% and in 2005 reached about 17 g/l.
Area 2865 km2 (47% from 1960), Volume 23 km3 (28% from 1960), Level +40.4 asl
Sept. 4, 2004
(MODIS)
The Aral Sea in
January 2004
Fishes – 12?;
Rotatoria – 3;
Cladocera – 2;
Copepoda – 2;
Ostracoda – 2;
Decapoda – 2;
Bivalvia – 2;
Gastropoda >1;
Polychaeta – 1.
TOTAL: >27?
SMALL ARAL SEA
18
16
Free-living invertebrates
14
12
10
8
6
4
2
0
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
Change of species
number in the Small
Aral Sea.
Year
Top: free-living
invertebrates excluding
Protozoa and microMetazoa
SMALL ARAL SEA
14
12
Bottom: fishes
Fishes
10
8
6
4
2
0
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
Year
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
Zooplankton and zoobenthos of the Small Aral Sea (2009)
(only common species)
Average salinity about 11-14 g/l
ZOOPLANKTON
ZOOBENTHOS
Rotatoria
Bivalvia
Synchaeta vorax
Abra ovata
S. cecilia
Cerastoderma isthmicum
Cladocera
Gastropoda
Podonevadne camptonyx
Caspiohydrobia spp.
Evadne anonyx
Theodoxus pallasi
Copepoda
Polychaeta
Calanipeda aquaedulcis
Nereis diversicolor
Halicyclops rotundipes aralensis Ostracoda
Bivalvia Larvae
Cyprideis torosa
Abra ovata
Eucypris inflata
Cerastoderma isthmicum
Decapoda
Palaemon elegans
Insecta
Chironomidae larvae
Fishes of the Small Aral Sea (2009)
Average salinity about 10-14 g/l
1. Bream – Abramis brama
2. Carp – Cyprinus carpio
3. Roach – Rutilus rutilus aralensis
4. Asp – Aspius aspius iblioides
5. Sabrefish – Pelecus cultratus
6. Grass carp – Ctenopharyngodon idella
7. Pike perch – Sander lucioperca
8. Flounder – Platichthys flesus luscus
9. Stickleback – Pungitius platygaster - ?
10.Baltic herring – Clupea harengus membras
11.Silverside – Atherina boyeri caspia
12.Bubyr goby – Knipowitschia caucasicus
13.Sand goby – Neogobius fluviatilis
14.Round goby – Neogobius melanostomus
Since Aral Sea divided into 2 lakes at the end of
1980s level of Large Aral Sea is constantly declining.
(data from satellite altimetry, courtesy of Jean-Francois Cretaux).
LARGE ARAL SEA
12
Free-living invertebrates
10
8
6
4
2
0
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
Year
Top: free-living
invertebrates excluding
Protozoa and microMetazoa
LARGE ARAL SEA
12
10
Bottom: fishes
Fishes
8
6
4
2
0
1990
Change of species
number in the Large
Aral Sea.
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
Year
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
Zooplankton and zoobenthos
of the Western Large Aral Sea (2009)
Average salinity >100 g/l
ZOOPLANKTON
Infusoria
Fabrea salina
Rotatoria
Brachionus plicatilis
Hexarthra fennica
Cladocera
Moina mongolica
Copepoda
Apocyclops dengizicus
Branchiopoda
Artemia parthenogenetica
ZOOBENTHOS
Infusoria
Frontonia marina ?
Turbellaria
Mecynostomum agile ?
Gastropoda
Caspiohydrobia spp.
Ostracoda
Cyprideis torosa
Eucypris inflata
Insecta
Chironomidae larvae
In Tsche-Bas Bay zooplankton and zoobenthos resemble those of the
Western Large Aral Sea
Zooplankton and zoobenthos
of the Eastern Aral Sea (2009)
Average salinity > 200 g/l
ZOOPLANKTON
Artemia parthenogenetica
ZOOBENTHOS
Alive macro- and mezoMetazoa are not available
Changes in the invertebrates fauna
of the Large Aral Sea due to
its transformation into hyperhaline water body
• Synchaeta spp.
– is extinct since1997
• Calanipeda aquaedulcis
– is extinct since1997
• Nereis diversicolor
– is extinct since 2001
• Cerastoderma isthmicum
– is extinct since 2001
• Abra ovata
– is extinct since 2002
• Artemia parthenogenetica
– appeared in 1998
• Moina mongolica
– reappeared in 1996
• Apocyclops dengizicus
– appeared in 2004
• Hexarthra fennica
– became common species
• Brachionus plicatilis
– became common species
At the end of 20th century brine shrimp Artemia
parthenogenetica appeared in the Large Aral Sea.
Nowadays industrial harvesting under aegis of international company
INVE Aquaculture is being considered, but in 2005 the company postponed activities until
salinity increase to levels more favorable for brine shrimp.
Fishes of the Large Aral Sea
1998
(salinity about 60 g/l)
2009
Flounder – Platichthys flesus
Western Large Aral:
(salinity >100 g/l)
Baltic herring – Clupea harengus
membras
Eastern Large Aral:
(salinity >200 g/l)
Silverside– Atherina boyeri caspia
Bubyr goby – Knipowitschia
caucasicus
Sand goby – Neogobius fluviatilis
No fishes survived
In lower reaches of Amudarya a lot of
freshwater and brackish water
reservoirs were built. One of the most
successful projects is Sudochie lake.
Uzbekistan branch of IFAS in cooperation
with other national institutions prepared a
plan of Amudarya delta rehabilitation
Besides Sudochie lake it were a number
of other successful projects with former
Aral Sea bays like: Sarbas, Muynak,
Adjibay and Zhiltyrbas. Fisheries and
hunting activities came back for the
areas mentioned above.
Sudochie lake is completely filled up and via underground
flow is giving some water to the Western Large Aral Sea.
Reeds, aquatic birds and hydrobionts are almost recovered in Sudochie lake.
Salt & Dust blowing from dried bottom of Aral Sea
(April 29, 2008, MODIS)
• Salt and sand are being blown away from dried
Aral Sea bottom giving a lot of risk for local
people health.
• Health experts say the local population suffers
high levels of:
1. respiratory illnesses,
2. throat and esophageal cancer,
3. digestive disorders,
4. high blood pressure due to breathing and
ingesting salt-laden air and water,
5. liver and kidney ailments,
6. eye problems.
• The loss of fish has also greatly reduced dietary
variety, worsening malnutrition and anemia,
particularly in pregnant women.
• Vozrozhdeniya (Resurrection) Island also poses a unique
problem.
• This Island was once a small, remote outcrop in the middle of the
Aral Sea. Beginning in 1952 the Soviet Union used the island as
a testing ground for super-secret biological weapons. Genetically
modified and weaponized pathogens were tested on horses,
monkeys, sheep, donkeys and laboratory animals, including:
anthrax,
tularemia,
brucellosis,
plague,
typhus,
Q fever,
smallpox,
botulinum toxin,
Venezuelan equine encephalitis.
• Fishermen and local residents worried about reports of mass
deaths of animals and fish, as well as infectious diseases among
people who worked on the island.
Vozrozhdeniya Island
bioweapons test site (1957
& late 1990s from Google
Earth) right and MODIS (811-07) below
ABANDONED SOVIET BIOWEAPONS TEST FACILITY ON
VOZROZHDENIYA ISLAND, NOW A PENINSULA, IN THE ARAL SEA
(Landsat7, July 29, 2000, 15 meter panchromatic band)
Science, 25 January 2002, p. 603
Aerodrome and Kantubek village on the former Vozrozhdeniya Island
• Upon the Soviet Union’s 1991 collapse, the military
allegedly decontaminated the island. However, due to
receding waters, by 2001 Vozrozhdeniya had united
with the mainland to the south. Health experts feared
that weaponized organisms such as anthrax survived
and could escape to the mainland via fleas on infected
rodents, which are numerous on the dried lands, or that
terrorists might gain access to the organisms. In 2002
the U.S. sent $6 million and a team of experts to help
Uzbekistan destroy any remaining pathogens.
Remnants of medieval saxauls on the dried bottom
Remnants of medieval saxauls under water
Radiocarbon dating of saxaul stumps
Coring in the Aral Sea. August-September 2002.
Cutting plastic tube containing core of bottom sediments
Cutting the core with metal plate and splitting into two halves
Cut cores. Layers of deposits are neatly visible.
Location of Kerdery Mausoleum
Ruins of medieval mausoleum (Kerdery) on dried bottom.
In 1960 it was about 20 m below lake level
(photo by N.Boroffka).
The same mausoleum 4 years later. Terrestrial vegetations
covered the ruins. (photo by E.Putnam)
Decorative ceramics from the Mausoleum.
(photo by E.Putnam).
Bones of Homo sapiens and domestics animals
were found near mausoleum (photo by E.Putnam)
Photo by D.
Eliseev,
member of
National
Geographic
expedition,
June 2005
Millstone found on the bottom
of the Aral Sea not far from
Kerdery mausoleum
Photo by
D. Eliseev,
member of
National
Geographic
expedition,
June 2005
Elements of ceramics and
scull of Homo sapiens found
on the bottom of the Aral
Sea not far from Kerdery
mausoleum
Photo by I.Plotnikov,
member of National
Geographic expedition,
August 2005
Broken jug found on the
bottom of the Aral Sea not
far from Kerdery
mausoleum
Photo by D. Eliseev,
member of National
Geographic expedition,
June 2005
Some more evidences of
human activities found on the
bottom of the Aral Sea not far
from Kerdery mausoleum
Needle and arrow-head from Kerdery-2
Remnants of Medieval
river beds on the former
Aral Sea bottom
ANCIENT RIVER BEDS IN THE NORTHEAST FROM BARSAKELNES ISLAND. LANDSAT 5, SEPT.
11, 2007, BAND 1 (BLUE-GREEN), 30 METERS, SHARPENED AND CONTRAST ENHANCED. IN
MIDDLE, STRETCHING EAST TO WEST IS OLD RIVER BED (SEE RED ARROWS).
Courtesy by P.Micklin
Fossil (probably Medieval) canal between
Western and Eastern Large Aral
discovered by Prof. Dr. Rene Letolle and
predicted by Dr. David Piriulin
SCOURED
BED OF
OLD
CHANNEL?
KULANDY
CHANNEL, 9-11-07,
LANDSAT 5, 30
METER
RESOLUTION,
BAND 1 (BLUEGREEN) THAT
DIFFERENTIATES
SHALLOW FROM
DEEPER WATER.
SHARPENED AND
ENHANCED
Courtesy by
P.Micklin
Separation of
Kulandy Channel
from the Western
Large Aral
Caspian Sea transgressions
Akchagylian and Kuyalnik lake-seas
(3 mil BP)
1
Apsheronian and Gurian lake-seas
(2 mil BP)
2
Ancient Euxinian and Khazarian
lake-seas (0.4 mil BP)
3
Aral Sea: from 9000 to 1600 years BP
Salinity:
 – 0-3‰;  – 8-13‰;  – 13-29‰;  – 29-42‰;  – 42-51‰;  – >51‰
Aral Sea: from 450 years BP, till now and in the future
Nearest future
Salinity:
 – 0-3‰;  – 8-13‰;  – 13-29‰;  – 29-42‰;  – 42-51‰;  – >51‰
Main Aral Sea
terraces
Surface areas of the Aral Sea at different levels
By: Ch. Reinhardt, 2006, 2007
Terrace I,
72-73 m a.s.l.
Highest potential level,
65-66 m a.s.l.
Terrace VIII, 31 m a.s.l.
Terrace IV, 1960
53 m a.s.l.
Terrace III, maximum level
54-55 m a.s.l.
Evolution of the Aral Sea
Middle Ages
Middle of the
XIX century
Beginning of the
XXI century
MODIS image of the Aral Sea
from August 21, 2009
1
44
6
6
5
1. Small (Northern) Aral Sea. Common name –
“Kazaral Sea”. Correct scientific name –
Northern Aral Sea derived brackish-water
regulated reservoir.
2. Western Large (Southern) Aral Sea. Common
name – “Western Uzaral”. Correct scientific
name – Aral Sea derived Southwest
hyperhaline non-regulated lake.
3. Eastern Large (Southern) Aral Sea. Common
name – “Eastern Uzaral”. Correct scientific
name – Aral Sea derived Southeast
hyperhaline non-regulated lake.
3
3
2
1
4. Former Tschebas Bay. Common name –
“Tschebas-Kul”. Correct scientific name –
Aral Sea derived Tschebas hyperhaline nonregulated lake.
5. Strait between Eastern and Western Large
Aral (common name – “Uzun-Aral”). Correct
scientific name – natural Kulandy Channel.
6. Remnants of strait from Small Aral to Large
Aral.
Alternative 2nd phase of the Small Aral rehabilitation project
0-3 ‰
8-13 ‰
New dike
Existing dike
•
•
Canal from
Syrdarya via
Tuschibas
Lake
•
Alternative 2nd phase of the project would raise level only of Saryshaganak Gulf.
Second phase would allow further improvement of the health of the local people, to
decrease unemployment and increase living standards as well as income to the local
families.
The local economy also will be improved (fishery, shipping, etc.).
•
Local microclimate around Small (Northern) Aral Sea will be much better than now.
If this project will be realized, near Aralsk city will be freshwater artificial reservoir
Second dike to be built
in the nearest future
Level 46-47 m a.s.l.
Canal to Aralsk
(≈10 km)
Canal from Tuschibas Lake to
Sarycheganak Bay (≈50 km)
Aral Sea has the future!
Aral Sea derived natural and
man-regulated water bodies are
still alive.
Aral Sea ecosystem is not dying,
just transforming.
St. Petersburg Statement on the Aral Sea
Background: An international conference on the Aral Sea,
sponsored by the St. Petersburg Branch of the Russian
Academy of Sciences and several other organizations, was
held in St. Petersburg, Russia, from 12 to 15 October 2009.
Scientists and some nonscientists from the European
Union (Belgium, France, Germany, Greece, Sweden),
Israel, Switzerland, Japan, Kazakhstan, Russia, Ukraine,
the United States, and Uzbekistan who are studying or
interested in the Aral Sea or other similar water bodies
participated in the meeting. The statement below is based
on the presentations and discussions at this meeting. It
represents the consensus of thought on the Aral Sea issue
and has been reviewed and commented upon by many of
the participants as well as several experts not at the
conference.
1. The Aral Sea, a once large terminal lake lying in the deserts of Central Asia, has
undergone unprecedented shrinking and salinization since the 1960s. These
processes have had serious negative ecologic impacts on the lake and deltas of its
two influent rivers. The people living around the lake have also suffered from the
sea’s destruction that has worsened environmental and health conditions,
devastated local economies, and led to social and cultural disruption.
2. In order to place the modern (post 1960) recession in context, it is essential to
understand that the lake has experienced repeated recessions and transgressions
since it most recent geological incarnation some 10,000 years ago. These have
resulted from natural climate change, development of irrigation in the lake’s basin
during the past 4,000 years, and repeated shifts of the major influent river (the Amu
Dar’ya) from the Aral westward to the Caspian Sea and then back again to the Aral.
The last factor, caused by both natural and human forces, appears to have been the
primary cause of deep recessions, the most recent of which occurred during
medieval times (13th to 16th Centuries).
3. The modern (post 1960) recession is different than its predecessors. For the first
time irrigation is the dominant force driving a major recession rather than diversion of
the Amu River away from the lake. This desiccation is the most severe for at least
several thousand years and soon will become the greatest in the last 10 millennia.
The chief factor leading to the modern drying of the Aral was the expansion of
irrigation in the sea’s drainage basin from the mid-1950s to the mid 1980s that went
well beyond the point of sustainability, causing a marked decline of river inflow to the
lake. In excess of 80% of the modern drying of the Aral owes to irrigation, with most
of the rest accounted for by “natural” climate variation. Global warming in recent
decades has started to influence the water balance of the Aral and will become a
more important factor in the future; however, it has not been a major cause of the
Aral’s desiccation to this time.
4. Diversion (redirection) of Siberian rivers southward to the Aral Sea Basin or the
pumping of water from the Caspian to the Aral are not realistic options for solving
water problems in Central Asia. They would be too expensive and complicated,
would require complex international agreements, and have too many potentially
serious environmental consequences. It would be wiser to focus on local and
regional solutions to these key issues such as improved efficiency of water use in
irrigation and efforts to preserve and partially restore remaining parts of the Aral Sea.
5. The Aral Sea depends on the Amu and Syr rivers for its water. This inflow in turn is
the key factor determining both the lake’s size and ecological quality. Hence, an
urgent necessity is proper management of the water resources of the Aral Sea
drainage basin. This requires cooperation and collaboration among the basin states
to solve the critical problems of water management, including water sharing, and the
conflicts arising between the upstream and downstream states over the needs of
irrigation versus maximization of hydropower output. The most important measure is
widespread introduction of modern technologies and methods of irrigated agriculture
as part of a program for reconstruction of outdated, inefficient irrigation systems.
This would promote reduction of water withdrawals by the countries of the Aral Sea
Basin and free water for the Aral Sea, which would aid in the restoration of that water
body’s unique biota. Working and lobbying for agricultural reform and rational water
use is necessary at all levels of government and society in the Central Asian nations
– from the individual user to decision-makers. This process must involve specialists
as well as social-ecological organizations, associations and activist groups.
6. There is a long and rich history of Aral Sea studies dating from the middle of the 19th
Century. Many high-quality, careful and scientifically sound investigations took place
during the Russian Empire and the subsequent Soviet Union and resulted in a
plethora of excellent scientific publications. Contemporary research and researchers
should not ignore the valuable scientific contributions made during these periods.
7. Reports of the Aral Sea’s death are premature. Although the Aral Sea of the 1960s is gone for
the foreseeable future, sizable parts of the lake remain. The Small (north) Aral Sea has been
partially, and so far very successfully, restored so that it again has significant ecological and
economic value. Although the Eastern Basin of the Large Aral is lost, the Western Basin could
be partially preserved and restored, if studies show this to be economically and environmentally
feasible. Laudable efforts are also underway to protect and preserve parts of the Syr and Amu
Dar’ya deltas.
8. A new research approach is essential for the study of the Aral Sea, river deltas and surrounding
region. It must be a balance of theoretical and applied science and involve collaboration of
scientists from different disciplines and as many countries as possible. Special efforts must be
made to attract and engage younger scientists and researchers in order to secure long-term
scientific commitment and continued international dialogue. IFAS (International Fund for Saving
the Aral Sea) must co-operate with leading scientists from all countries of the world.
9. An international committee for interdisciplinary ecological monitoring and research on the Aral
Sea needs to be established. Its focus should be to develop a comprehensive view of the
ecosystems of the lake and immediate surrounding zone (especially the deltas of the two
influent rivers). The charge of the committee should be analysis of available data as
background for design of measures to improve ecological conditions and water management
methods for the Aral Sea and its drainage basin. Since many useful and pertinent raw data are
fairly inaccessible (e.g., found on handwritten charts and the like) a concerted effort is essential
to convert such data to easily accessible digital format. This would improve access to the data
and would enable greater participation from the world scientific community. The committee
should include scientists from a diversity of relevant disciplines, including, but not limited to,
limnology, terrestrial ecosystems ecology, geography, geology, botany and zoology,
ornithology, hydrology, agronomy, soil sciences, meteorology, historical sciences (anthropology,
archeology, history), economics, and ichthyology. It is of critical importance to include local
politicians and administrators as well as representatives from public bodies such as NGOs, and
other stakeholders on the committee. A research team composed of experts from the Aral Sea
region should also be established to carry out a long-term research master plan. As a key part
of this effort, funding must be provided for the construction of a modern, well-equipped
laboratory at an appropriate location in the Aral Sea Basin.
Thank you for your attention