Context: A recent study reveals that the drying up of the Aral Sea has resulted in the emergence of the Aralkum Desert, making Central Asia dustier by 7%.

• The Aral Sea was fed by the two great rivers of Central Asia — the Amu Darya (from the Pamir Mountains) and the Syr Darya (Tien Shan mountain ranges).

• Apart from the Aral Sea, other regions in West and Central Asia have also transformed into ‘dust bowls’.

• Lake Urmia in Iran and Lake Hamoun on the Iran-Afghanistan border have significantly diminished in size over recent decades. 

About the Aral Sea

• It is also known as Orol Dengizi (Uzbek) or Aral Tengizi (Kazakh).

Aral Sea

• It was the fourth largest inland lake in Central Asia. 

• After the 1960s, It dried up  and got converted into desert.

• Desert name: The Aralkum Desert

• It is smaller than neighboring deserts: 

1. Karakum (350,000 sq km) in Turkmenistan and

2. Kyzylkum (300,000 sq km) in Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan.

• Despite its size, the Aralkum Desert is a major human-made dust source worldwide.

• Location of  Aral Sea : It lies across the border between Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, extending from the south to the north.

• Climate: The area has a desert-continental climate with hot summers and cold winters. 

• Major rivers: The Amu Darya, known as Oxus in ancient times, and the Syr Darya, also called Jaxartes. 

• They flowed from the Pamir and Tien Shan mountain ranges, respectively.

What are the socio-economic impacts of the Aral Sea Crisis?

• The key findings of the report shows various socio-economic impacts of the Aral Sea Crisis;

• Increased Desertification: Over the past three decades, the drying of the Aral Sea has caused a 7% rise in dust levels across Central Asia. During the period from 1985 to 2015, emissions of dust from the expanding desert nearly doubled, increasing from 14 to 27 million tonnes.

• More cooling and heating: The two fold rise in dust emissions over the Aral Sea/Aralkum area has caused more cooling and heating at both the surface and in the air.

• Dust cools during the day by blocking sunlight and warms at night by releasing heat from the ground. 

• The overall effect of dust on temperature depends on factors like dust amount, time of day, season, surface brightness, and dust properties.

International efforts to address the Aral Sea Crisis

United Nations Joint Programme

• A consortium of United Nations agencies, including UNDP, the World Health Organization, UNESCO, the UN Population Fund, and UN Volunteers, collaborates through a joint program called “Sustaining Livelihoods Affected by the Aral Sea Crisis.”

• Their tireless work aims to improve the lives and livelihoods of those impacted by the crisis

UN General Assembly Resolution

• The United Nations General Assembly passed a resolution recognizing the Aral Sea region as a “zone of ecological innovations and technologies.”

• The resolution calls on all member countries to support the region.  

• It focuses on the role of science and technology in overcoming challenges 

• It also encourages investment in innovative solutions grounded in local knowledge. 

Comprehensive Program of Measures

• In 2018, the Presidents of Central Asian countries convened in Turkmenistan and established the Comprehensive Program of Measures to Mitigate the Consequences of the Aral Disaster and the Development of the Aral Sea Region.

• This program addresses water conservation, ecological protection, and coordinated efforts among Central Asian nations.

• In October 2019, the United Nations team in Uzbekistan helped the government arrange a major conference. 

Two primary financing instruments

• The International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea, created by neighboring countries, deals with economic, social, or humanitarian issues. 

• The UN Trust Fund, with multiple partners, focuses on human security.