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Recent scientific studies have revealed a notable geological phenomenon occurring beneath the Aral Sea, located between Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. The land beneath this once expansive body of water is experiencing a rise, a trend expected to persist for years to come. This uplift is closely linked to the dramatic reduction of the Aral Sea, which has largely dried up over the past 80 years, a process driven by significant drought and the diversion of the rivers that fed it. This region has been referred to as the “Silent Chernobyl,” highlighting the severe environmental consequences that have resulted from the lake’s desiccation. Previously, the Aral Sea was recognized as the fourth largest lake in the world.
Insights from Recent Research
According to a study published on April 7 in the Nature Geoscience journal, the Aral Sea has lost an estimated 1.1 billion tons of water over the last eight decades. Simon Lamb, an Assistant Professor at Victoria University, discussed these findings in an accompanying article that was published alongside the main study. He noted that the substantial loss of water caused the Earth’s crust in the region to rebound—a phenomenon akin to the release of a compressed spring. It is important to note that Lamb was not directly involved in the study itself.
Lamb also indicated that the rebound of the crust is expected to occur only by a marginal fraction of the original water’s depth due to the immense pressure it once exerted on the subterranean rocks.
Continued Uplift in the Aral Sea Region
Despite years having passed since the water began to recede, studies show that the land beneath the former sea continues to experience uplift. Researchers utilized interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR) technology to detect a bulge in the land that extends well beyond the former shoreline of the Aral Sea. Between 2016 and 2020, this bulge expanded to a radius of 310 miles and reached a height of 1.6 inches around the center of the former lake.
Annual comparisons indicate that the bulge increases by approximately 0.3 inches in height each year. Scientists attribute this uplift to the Earth’s mantle reacting to the ongoing evaporation of the sea. Additionally, the research suggests that human activities may have a significant impact on deep-Earth dynamics in this region.
Lamb emphasized that the Aral Sea is now a remnant of its former self, leading to the disappearance of one of its basins after the water body split into two distinct parts. The ecological devastation and desertification that have plagued the area since 2014, prompted the designation of the Aral Sea’s drying as “Silent Chernobyl.” This comparison underscores the pressing need for environmental awareness and action in regions facing similar ecological crises.
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