Aralkum - a Man-Made Desert: The Desiccated Floor of the Aral Sea (Central Asia) (Ecological Studies Book 218)

Having been the fourth largest lake on the globe roughly 50 years ago, today the Aral Sea no longer exists. Human activities caused its desiccation and the formation of a huge new desert, the Aralkum, which can be regarded as one of the greatest ecological catastrophes and - at the same time - the largest primary succession experiment of mankind. This volume brings together the results of international and interdisciplinary long-term studies on the new desert ecosystem and is divided into four main sections. The first section provides an overview of the physical characteristics of the area and covers geological, pedological, geomorphological and climatological aspects and their dynamics, especially dust-storm dynamics. The second focuses on the biotic aspects and highlights the spatial and temporal patterns of the flora and fauna. In the third section studies and projects aiming to combat desertification by phytomelioration and to develop strategies for the conservation of biodiversity are presented. The book is rounded off with a section providing a synthesis and conclusions. Front Matter....Pages i-xxiii Front Matter....Pages 11-11 The Aralkum, a Man-Made Desert on the Desiccated Floor of the Aral Sea (Central Asia): General Introduction and Aims of the Book....Pages 1-9 Dynamics of the Aral Sea in Geological and Historical Times....Pages 13-35 Geography and Geomorphological and Lithological Characteristics of the Aralkum....Pages 37-48 Climatic Conditions in the Aralkum....Pages 49-72 Dust Storms and Sandstorms and Aerosol Long-Distance Transport....Pages 73-82 Landscape Dynamics in the Southern Aralkum: Using MODIS Time Series for Land Cover Change Analysis....Pages 83-96 Dynamics of Dust Transfer from the Desiccated Aral Sea Bottom Analysed by Remote Sensing....Pages 97-106 Front Matter....Pages 107-107 Flora of the Aralkum....Pages 109-126 Vegetation of the Aralkum....Pages 127-159 Primary Succession in the Aralkum....Pages 161-198 Fauna of the Aralkum....Pages 199-269 Halophytes and Salt Desertification in the Aralkum Area....Pages 271-299 Spatial Distribution of Plant Functional Types Along Stress Gradients – A Simulation Study Orientated Towards the Plant Succession on the Desiccating Aral Sea Floor....Pages 301-311 Front Matter....Pages 313-313 Nature Conservation in the Aral Sea Region: Barsa-Kelmes as an Example....Pages 315-341 Phytomelioration in the Northern Aralkum....Pages 343-386 Phytomelioration in the Southern Aralkum....Pages 387-406 Phytomelioration of Solonchaks in the Uzbekistan Pre-Aral Region Under Recent Climate Change....Pages 407-429 The Aralkum Situation Under Climate Change Related to Its Broader Regional Context....Pages 431-456 Front Matter....Pages 457-457 The Aralkum, a Man-Made Desert on the Desiccated Floor of the Aral Sea (Central Asia): Final Conclusions and Comments....Pages 459-464 Back Matter....Pages 465-486