Gulnura Issanova

Dust storms in Kazakhstan: Frequency and division

Dust/sand storm is a common phenomenon in arid and semi-arid regions of Kazakhstan, especially in its southern parts, where areas are covered by a great variety of deserts and are a powerful source of mineral and salt aerosols. We considered the long-term meteorological data and satellite images on dust storms recurrence and their regional division in Kazakhstan. On the basis of generalization and analyses of the numerous cartographic materials, meteorological observations and satellite images, we identified seats of the powerful sources of dust/sand/salt storms. We found areas in Kazakhstan with the highest frequency of dust storms. These are Pre-Aral Karakum and Aralkum deserts; Kyzylkum and Moiynkum deserts; Ryn sands (northern Caspian plain); and southern Pre-Balkhash deserts. The most active source of dust storms is located in sandy deserts or in areas, which have suffered from human activity. Dust storms have a great negative impact on soil conditions and they are particularly dangerous for the environment.

Natural Conditions of Central Asia and Land-Cover Changes

More than 40% (or more than three quarters) of the territory of Central Asia is desert lowland, which varies greatly in configuration as sandy, stony, salt, and clay deserts (Lewis 2003). The deserts of Central Asia expand from the shores of the Caspian Sea in the west up to the foothills of Alatau Mountain (Tianshan) and Pamir-Alay to the east and southeast. This wide territory is represented by a great variety of desert types.

Water Resources and Lakes in Uzbekistan

There are two river basins in Uzbekistan that form the Aral Sea Basin: The Amudarya and Syrdarya river basins. The Amudarya river basin covers 81.5% of the country’s territory. There are three sections of the river: (1) the upper course flowing along the border with Afghanistan and Tajikistan, where most of the water flow is formed; (2) the middle course, which first passes along the border of Uzbekistan and Afghanistan and then enters Turkmenistan, (3) as well as the lower course passing through the territory from Uzbekistan to the confluence of the Aral Sea.

Lakes in Arid Regions of Northwest China

There are about more than 700 lakes in arid areas of northwest of China, and they are mainly distributed in Xinjiang. There are 29 lakes with size more than 10 km2, of which three lakes are distributed in both inside and outside the boundary of Inner Mongolia, and rest 26 lakes all located in Xinjiang.

Morphometry and Genesis of Lakes in Kazakhstan

There are 48,262 lakes in Kazakhstan, except the Caspian and Aral Seas, ponds, water reservoirs, and pliable lakes. The size of these lakes from 1 ha and more with a total surface area of 45,002 km2.

Water Resources in Tajikistan

There are 1300 natural lakes in Tajikistan, with a total water surface area of 705 km2 and a total volume of about 50 km3.

Water Resources in Kazakhstan

The territory of Kazakhstan is 2717.3 thousand km2 and ninth biggest country in the world. It extends from west to east by 2995 km and from north to south by 1600 km. Kazakhstan borders with Russia in the north and west; in the south with Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Kyrgyz Republics; and with the People’s Republic of China in the southeast (Dzhanalieva et al. in Physical geography of Kazakhstan. Kazak Universiteti, Almaty, p 266, 1998).

Water Resources and Lakes in Kyrgyzstan

The basis of the hydrographic system in Kyrgyzstan is the river systems and water catchments that are separated by watershed mountain ranges from each other (Fig. 8.1). The hydrographic system of river basins is made up of lakes, glaciers, groundwaters, swamps, and wetlands. All of them are products of orography, relief/topography, underlying surface, and climate. They have an interaction and mutual influence and take a direct part in the formation of the water balance of the river flow regime.

Hydrographical and Physical–Geographical Characteristics of the Issyk-Kul Lake Basin and Use of Water Resources of the Basin, and Impact of Climate Change on It

The Issyk-Kul lake basin is located in a vast intermontane basin. Its width in the meridian direction near the Tosor village is 75 km. From here to the east and west, the basin narrows. Its total length from Chaar-Zhon to Kyzyl-Ompol is 240 km.

Lakes in the Central Kazakhstan

The Central Kazakhstan includes the Karagandy region. There are 1910 lakes in Karagandy region with a total area of ​​926 km2 (Fig. 4.1), including 1779 lakes with size less than 1 km2 and takes about 14% of the total area. The hilly relief with a rare low water river network and climate aridity contribute a large number of low-capacity lakes and most of the drainless lakes.