Aralkum - A Man-Made Desert

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.

1 General Introduction – The Aralkum, a man-made Desert on the Desiccated Sea Floor of the Aral Sea (Central Asia) - Aims of the Book
Breckle S-W, Wucherer W 

Part A: Abiotic Conditions and Dynamics

2 Dynamics of the Aral Sea Area in Geological and Historical Times 
Breckle S-W, Geldyeva GV

3 Geography, Geomorphological and Lithological Characteristics of the Aralkum Desert
Gel’dyeva GV, Breckle, S-W, Gel’dyev BV

4 Climatic Conditions at the Aralkum
Breckle S-W, Wucherer W

5 Duststorms and Aerosol Long-Distance Transport
Semenov OE

6 Landscape Dynamics in the Southern Aralkum desert – Using MODIS Time Series for Land Cover Change Analysis
Löw F, Navratil P, Bubenzer O

7 Dynamics of Dust Transfer from the Desiccated Aral Sea Bottom Analyzed by Remote Sensing 
Spivak L , Terechov A, Vitkovskaya I, Batyrbayeva M, Orlovsky L

Part B: Biotic Aspects and Ecosystems Dynamics

8 Flora of the Aralkum
Dimeyeva LA, Breckle SW, Wucherer W

9 Vegetation of the Aralkum
Breckle S-W, Wucherer W, Dimeyeva LA

10 Primary Succession in the AralkumWucherer W, Breckle S-W, Buras A

11 Fauna of the Aralkum
Joger U, Dujsebayeva T, Belyalov OV, Chikin Y, Guicking D, Grachev YA, Kadyrbekov R, Miaud C

12 Halophytes and Salt Desertification in the Aralkum Area
Breckle S-W, Wucherer W

13 Spatial Distribution of Plant Functional Types along Stress Gradients – a Simulation Study Orientated towards the Plant Succession on the Desiccating Aral Sea Floor
Gröneveld J, Wucherer W, Dimeyeva LA, Jeltsch F, Wissel C, Breckle S-W

 Part C:  Means of Present and Future Development

14 Nature Conservation in the Aral Sea Region (Barsa Kelmes as an Example)
Dimeyeva LA, Ogar NP, Alimbetova Z, Breckle S-W

15 Phytomelioration in the Northern Aralkum
Wucherer W, Breckle S-W, Kaverin VS, Dimeyeva L, Zhamantikov K

16 Phytomelioration in the Southern Aralkum
Novitskiy ZB

17 Phytomelioration of Solonchaks in the Uzbek Pre-Aral Region under Recent Climate Change
Kuz’mina ZhV, Treshkin SYe

18 The Aralkum Situation under Climate Change related to its Broader Regional Context
Winckler G, Kleinn E†, Breckle S-W

Part D: Conclusions

19   Final Conclusions and Comments: The Aralkum, a man-made desert on the Desiccated Sea Floor of the Aral Sea (Central Asia)
Breckle S-W, Wucherer W