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Aeolian transportation of sand and dust in the Aral Sea region
Issanova, G.; Abuduwaili, J.; Galayeva, O.; Semenov, O. & Bazarbayeva, T.
Abstract
The aeolian transport of dust, sand and salt is a
common process in southern Kazakhstan, as well as in the
Aral Sea region. Anthropogenic desertification and the
desiccation of the Aral Sea have occurred in the basin since
1960. The whole area of the desiccated seafloor is now a
new salt desert, and it became an active source of dust,
sand or salt storms. The newly formed Aralkum desert was
found to be the dominant source of aeolian sand, dust and
salt aerosols. Additionally, the most frequent storms were
observed in Pre-Aral Karakum and Kyzylkum deserts,
where these storms occurred from 40 to 110 days average
per year. Aeolian sands and dusts flowed mainly from
eastern and north-eastern to the western and south-western
directions. The highest amount of sand transportation was
observed at the Aral Sea meteorological station. The lowest
amount was at the Kazaly meteorological station. Furthermore,
transported sand mass has increased at this station
during last decade. Most meteorological stations found
three maximums of sand and dust transportation, namely in
1966–1970, 1984–1986, and 2000–2002, that is, three
periods, like a cycle about every 15 years. Overall, most of
the meteorological stations showed the slight decrease in
sand and dust transportation that may be explained by
fixing sand control measures and other activities which
have been done against deflation processes in the region.
Keywords
Aeolian process; Sand transport; Aral Sea region; Aralkum desert
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