The fluctuating Aral Sea: A multidisciplinary-based history of the last two thousand years

The fluctuating Aral Sea: A multidisciplinary-based history of the last two thousand years

The Aral Sea (an intracontinental saline lake in western Central Asia) is of great interest because of its rapid shrinkage during the last 50years, which caused catastrophic environmental and socio-economic consequences for the region and its population. Geoscientists established the existence of si...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Gondwana research Vol. 26; no. 1; pp. 284 - 300
Main Authors: Krivonogov, S.K., Burr, G.S., Kuzmin, Y.V., Gusskov, S.A., Kurmanbaev, R.K., Kenshinbay, T.I., Voyakin, D.A.
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier B.V 01-07-2014
Subjects:
Aral Sea lake level changes
Geoarcheology
Paleoenvironment
Radiocarbon dating
Sedimentology
Sedimentology
Aral Sea lake level changes
Radiocarbon dating
Paleoenvironment
Geoarcheology
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Summary:The Aral Sea (an intracontinental saline lake in western Central Asia) is of great interest because of its rapid shrinkage during the last 50years, which caused catastrophic environmental and socio-economic consequences for the region and its population. Geoscientists established the existence of similar multiple fast and deep lake level fluctuations in the past; however, a comprehensive picture of these changes has been lacking. In this paper, we summarize published and new geomorphological, sedimentological, paleoenvironmental, geoarcheological, and historical data to reconstruct fluctuations in the Aral during the last two thousand years. Two deep regressions are recognized, in addition to the modern human-induced regression. The regressions occurred at ca. 2.1–1.3 and 1.1–0.35kacal BP according to the sedimentary and faunal data, and 2.1–1.45 and 1.0 (0.85)–0.45kacal BP according to the archeological and historical data. The Aral Sea lake level dropped to ca. 10ma.s.l. during the first regression and to ca. 29ma.s.l. during the second one. Transgressions which separated these periods reached elevations of ca. 52ma.s.l., and 54ma.s.l., respectively. According to the current data, the regressions lasted longer than the transgressions, or were of equal duration. Reasons considered for past Aral Sea lake level changes include both natural and human-related causes, as the region features more than 2000years of agricultural activity. [Display omitted] •Last 2 ka: three deep regressions including modern, and two transgressions.•Regressions 2.1-1.45, 1.1–0.45, 0.05-0 ka BP; levels 10, 29, 29 m asl respectively.•Transgressions 1.45-1.1 and 0.45-0.05 ka BP; levels 52 and 54 m asl respectively.
ISSN:1342-937X
1878-0571
DOI:10.1016/j.gr.2014.02.004