Title: Aral Sea partial restoration. II. Simulation of time-dependent processes

Authors: Viorel Badescu, Richard B. Cathcart

Addresses: Candida Oancea Institute, Polytechnic University of Bucharest, Spl. Independentei 313, Bucharest 060042, Romania. ' Geographos, 1300 West Olive Avenue, Suite M, Burbank, California 91506, USA

Abstract: Three operational scenarios produce water levels stabilised at 28.9, 27.2 and 25.7 m. A macro-engineering solution is considered. Increased runoff from Syr Darya and other freshwater sources raises the Aral Sea level by 1.4-3.5 m. Depending on the scenario, the Aral Sea returns to its 2005 elevation. Caspian Sea water importation, at flow rates of 14 km³/year leads to Aral Sea stabilisation at ~32 m. Some considerations of the macro-project|s ecological, cultural and social consequences are examined.

Keywords: Aral Sea partial restoration; Caspian Sea; Black Sea; inter-basin water transfer; hydrology; overland pipelines; hydrological management; water levels; freshwater inputs; salty water; brine; seawater; economic evaluation; ecology; culture; social consequences.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEWM.2011.037374

International Journal of Environment and Waste Management, 2011 Vol.7 No.1/2, pp.164 - 174

Received: 20 Sep 2008
Accepted: 21 Nov 2008
Published online: 24 Jan 2015 *

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