Oceanic Acidification an environmental crisis

Oceanic Acidification issue :--

Define,  cause, consequences and measures of issue of oceanic acidification??

Oceanic acidification means Ocean is becoming acidic due to global increase in carbondioxide emissions. Or it means the pH value of oceanic water is decreasing or carbonates ions is decreases.

According to IPCC reports and other studies carbon di oxide emissions has been increased due to fossil fuel combustion after industrial revolution. Since, 1750 till today carbon dioxide level increased from 280 ppm to 410 ppm today. Per year 10 billion tonnes of Co2 is added into atmosphere by humans of this 25-30% get absorbed by oceans. More absorption of CO2 leads to changes in ocean chemistry and environment.

Increasing CO2 emissions means more absorption of carbon dioxide by oceans. Which leads to chemical reaction with sea water and formation of more hydrogen ions, this decreases the pH values and carbonate ions but increases biocarbonates ions into sea water.  After industrial revolution the pH values is reduced by 0.1unit from 8.2 to 8.1 .if the process of carbondioxide keep on increase as usal then pH value will fall more than 0.4 units. This drop appear slight even though, it can destroy the marine environment and harm to human health.

Adverse consequences of oceanic acidification are given below :--
1) Lower pH values leads to increase bicarbonates ions and decreased carbonate ions which means she'll formations, skeleton formation will be weak destroy carbonates secreating organisms such as molluscs, sea urchins, coral reefs, etc.
2) Coral reef ecosystem that support the 25% marine fish catch to society also affected due to coral bleaching and coral death accelerated by acidic sea waters.
3) midwater organism has to migrate to shallow waters to fetch their food in daytime while migrate to deep cold waters in night. This critical link between upper and deeper waters migration can affect societal fishing as predator attack is more at surface.
4) dead zone will expands further due to acidification and temperature rise in sea surface.
5) marine life adapted to new pH values is slow process which took place in millions of years but Now rate of acidification is very fast with in 100 years. So, species may not adapt to new conditions leads to mass extinctions. For examples 250 millions years ago massive volcanism emissions increases leads to mass extinction.
6) marine organism metabolic process is broken affecting the health, multiorgan failures, fails to reproduce,etc., 
7) Humans health and livelihood is at risk and vulnerable due to coral reef ecosystem destruction and dead zone expansion by reducing the food supply, income of developing countries coastal communities.

Measures :---

Solution to the problem of oceanic acidification can be develop by coordinated effort by all stakeholders from international to domestic level. First try to stabilised atmospheric carbon dioxide emissions , meeting the global and regional and national targets of CO2 reduction. Second, by declaring water bodies as marine biosphere reserves and protection measures to vulnerable coral ecosystem which is more treated.
Third of adoption coral and coastal ecosystem restoration programme.
Fourth,  reducing carbon footprints from production system to consumption system, companies to households, life style changes towards low energy consumption, educate people's and influencing government policies and programme towards zero carbon emissions.
Fifth, adaptations to coastal societies and communities by increasing their income, food, etc..

Antarctica melting or ice loss

Antarctica Ice loss :
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Cryosphere of the Earth is mainly found on the Polar regions of Arctic , Greenland and Antarctica along with mountainous glaciers  Antarctica is the largest reservoirs of ice , constitutes world 61% of freshwater, Antarctica consist of  14 million sqkm of area cover by 98% by ice.  It contains 26.5million cubic km of ice. Majority of ice cover in Antarctica is found on it's Eastern part. If all ice of Antarctica is melted then sea level will rise by 63 m.

Geographically Antarctica is divided into 3 parts : 1) East Antarctica 2) West Antarctica and 3) Peninsular Antarctica.

 Antarctica ice sheet is the largest ice cover on the earth due to global warming and climate change rate of melting is speeded up nearly 250 billion tonnes of ice melted every year .

The continent’s annual ice loss has sextupled since 1979, jumping from 40 billion tons to 250 billion tons in 2017

Global sea levels have risen by seven to eight inches since 1990, but again, researchers say this number will only increase in the coming decades. In fact, a 2013 report predicted a jump of nearly three feet by 2100 if no action is taken to significantly curb carbon output. In total, Antarctica’s ice holds a potential 187.66 feet of sea-level rise. It is contribute to 0.6mm increase in the sea level and other associated hazards such as coastal flooding, submergence of low lying island countries like Solomon and Maldives, sea surge affecting the coastal settlement ,agriculture, etc.
But the rate of melting in the anatarica varies between it's east and west. In its east ice cover area has increased due to higher precipitation and oceanic currents and eastward wind blows from land to sea. But the thickness even decreases in the east. While western part of anatartica ice sheet cover has decreased slot in last 25 years.
Solution lies is implementing the coordinated steps of Paris agreement to limit the global temperature within 2degree Celsius rise from the pre-industrial phase. To curb the carbon emissions, mitigation and adaptive steps in the vulnerable coastal areas, shifting to renewable sources of energy, green economy , protect the islands and coastal areas which are verge of lost, sustaining the livelihood of coastal communities. Climate fund collected and disbursed as soon as possible, geoengineering steps, carbon sink and sequestration build up, national action plan for climate change.etc

RARE EARTH MINERALS : production, reserves and it's uses

INDIA'S RARE EARTH MINERALS DEMAND-SUPPLY ANALYSIS : 

CURRENTLY, OVER 95% OF INDIA'S RARE EARTH'S IMPORTS COME FROM CHINA, HONGKONG AND SOUTH AFRICA. HOWEVER, THESE IMPORTS ARE INCREASING IN FUTURE DUE TO UTILISATION OF REM's IN CONVENTIONAL AND NON-CONVENTIONAL ENERGY SOURCES ALONG WITH THORIUM-BASED NUCLEAR PROGRAMME. BESIDES, AS INDIA'S MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY SUCH AS HI-TECH DEVICES, HEAVY MACHINERY AND MEDICAL EQUIPMENT IS BURGEONING, DEMAND FOR THESE STRATEGIC RARE EARTH METALS.

IN 1950'S INDIA WAS ONE OF THE KEY SOURCES FOR THESE RARE EARTH'S .DESPITE HUGE RESERVE, INDIA FAILED TO UTILISE ITS RARE EARTH SECTOR DUE TO LACK OF GOVERNMENT'S FOCUS AND PROPEER MINING EXPERTISE AN D INDUSTRY. INDIAN POSITION IN THE GLOBAL REMs HARVESTING IS EVEN MORE INFERIOR THAN ANALYSED EARLIER BY VARIOUS GOVERNMENT AGENCIES. INDIAN RARE EARTH'S INDUSTRY HAS GREAT POTENTIAL IN TERMS OF REMS STOCKS AND THEIR CALCULATED BUSINESS COULD CREDIT AROUND $15 BILLION ANNUALLY. 

INDIA PRIDE ITSELF OF NEARLY 6.9 MILLION METRIC TONNES OF RARE EARTHS INCLUDING MAJOR REE SUCH AS LANTHANUM, CERIUM, PRASEODYMIUM, NEODYMIUM, SAMARIUM, GADOLINIUM, YTTRIUM, AND DYSPROSIUM. DESPITE THAT, IT HAS AN ABYSMAL PRODUCTION CAPACITY OF 1800METRIC TONNES PER YEAR OUT OF 1,70,000 MT WORLDWIDE REMs PRODUCTION (ONLY 1% OF GLOBAL PRODUCTION). INDIA ALSO HOLDS WORLD'S 35% (APPROX) OF BEACH SAND MINERALS DEPOSITS INCLUDING MONAZITE, GARNET, ZIRCON, RUTILE, SILLIMANITE AND ILLMENITE THAT ARE THE PLENTIFUL SOURCES OF RARE EARTH METALS ,INCLUDING TITANIUM, ZIRCONIUM, THORIUM, AND PHOSPHATE OF RARE EARTHS.

ACCORDING TO ATOMIC MINERALS DIRECTORATE FOR EXPLORATION AND RESEARCH (AMDER), INDIA HOLDS OVER 1 BILLION TONNES OF THESE REE METALS. CURRENTLY, MONAZITE IS THE MAJOR SOURCE OF LIGHT REM's SUCH AS THORIUM, URANIUM, SILICON AND ALUMINIUM, TITANIUM AND ZIRCONIUM, INDIA ALSO STARTED THE PRODUCTION OF DYSPROSIUM AND NEODYMIUM FROM MONAZITE TO EXPORT TO JAPAN. INDIAN RARE EARTHS LIMITED (IREL) , A MINI-RATNA PSU AND URANIUM EXTRACTION DIVISION OF BARC, HOLDS CONTROL OVER THE COUNTRY'S RARE EARTH AND RESPONSIBLE FOR MINING AND VALORIZATION OF THESE RARE EARTH METALS.

THE IREL REALISE AN ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE OF EXPORT OF DYSPROSIUM TO INTERNATIONAL MARKET AND THORIUM FOR 3RD STAGE NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS OF INDIA HELPS TO REDUCE CARBON EMISSIONS. BUT NO MAJOR SUCCESS COMES TO ITS WAY YET EXCEPT, KAMINI REACTOR AND ADVANCED HEAVY WATER REACTOR AT TARAPUR UNDER CONSTRUCTION. BESIDES MONAZITE, INDIA IS ALSO PRODUCING ZIRCONIUM AND TITANIUM BASSED ALLOYS FROM BEACH SAND MINERALS AS INDIA OWNS LARGE RESERVES OF TITANIUM AND ZIRCONIUM. IT IS USED FOR BUILDING OF NUCLEAR GRADE ZIRCONIUM ALLOY THAT IS EMPLOYED FOR MAKING NUCLEAR FUEL ASSEMBLIES, WHILE GRADE TITANIUM ALLOY IS CRITICAL INGRADIENT FOR MILITARY HARDWARES SUCH AS MISSILES, COMBAT JETS, WARSHIPS AND SUBMARINES FOR IMPRESSIVE STRENGTH AND LIGHT WEIGHT. INDIA ALSO DESIGN SAMARIUM-COBALT MAGNETS (R&D). BARC IS AT ADVANCED STAGE OF DEVELOPING Sm-Co MAGNETS. BY 2018, IREL IS SETTING UP 3000KG SM-CO MAGNET MANUFACTURING FACILITY.

OTHER MAJOR AGENCIES RELATED TO RARE EARTH MINERALS ARE THE ATOMIC MINERAL DIVISION (AMD) OF THE DEPARTMENT OF ATOMIC ENERGY (DAE) AND THE GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF INDIA (GSI). A JV OF VIKRAM SARABHAI SPACE CENTRE (VSSC) AND DEFENCE METALLURGICAL RESEARCH LABORATORY (DMRL) WAS ALSO FORMED TO DEVELOP PARMANENT MAGNETS FOR THE USE INDIAN ROCKETS AND SATELLITES. HOWEVER, INDIA IS CURRENTLY LIMITED TO THE EXTRACTION OF NEODYMIUM BUT BY ADOPTING AN EMPIRICAL STRATEGY, INDIA COULD OBTAIN TOKYO NdFeB MAGNETS IN EXCHANGE OF RAW MATERIALS (IN 2014, IREL AND JAPAN'S TOYOTA TSUSHO EXPLORATION ENETERED INTO AN AGREEMENT TO EXPLORE AND PRODUCE REM via DEEP SEA MINING). 

THREE INDIAN OWNED ORGANISATION NALCO, HCL & MINERAL EXPLORATION CORPORATION LIMITED (MECL) HAVE ESTABLISED A JOINT VENTURE NAMED KHAIJ BIDESH INDIA LIMTED TO EXPLORE , ACQUIRE AND REFINE STRATEGIC RARE EARTH MINERALS PRIMARILY IN LATIN AMERICAN COUNTRIES. THIS MOVE, BESIDES ITS STRATEGIC ADVANTAGE. WILL ALSO PROVIDE THRUST TO INDIA'S ELECTRIC VEHICLES (EV) MISSION 2030.  TO ACCOMPLISH THIS, INDIA NEEDS A NATIONAL LEVEL STRATEGY TO EXPLORE, EXTRACT AND VALORIZE THESE RARE EARTH METALS. THE INVESTMENT, MARKET AND INDIA'S HUGE RESERVES OF RAW MATERIALS MAKE R&D SEGMENT A HIGHLY VALUABLE AND BOOST THE DEVELOPMENT OF LARGE NUMBER OF STRATEGIC HI-TECH PRODUCTS AND INDSTRIES. SO, DEVELOPING AN ECOSYSTEM WITH MINING EXPERTISE TO EXTRACT THESE MINERALS MAKES MORE SENSE THAT EVENTUALLY WILL HELP INDIA TO GETA PLACE IN THE GLOBAL REM'S SUPPLY CHAIN. IT WOULD ALSO STIMULATE GEOPOLITICAL POSTURING OF THE COUNTRY. 

THE RARE EARTHS MARKET IS EXPECTED TO GROW AT A COMPOUND ANNUAL GROWTH RATE OF AROUND 8% DURING 2019-2024. DOMESTIC R&D AND ADEQUATE FUND LIQUIDITY IN THE PRODUCTION OF REMs COULD CREATE A POTENTIAL AVENUE FOR ESTABLISHING THE RARE EARTH MINERAL INDUSTRY.

 

Blue economy and India

Blue economy and India:—
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According to world bank the  blue economy is the "sustainable use of ocean resources for economic growth, improved livelihoods, and jobs while preserving the health of ocean ecosystem." According to European commissions “ All economic activities related to oceans, seas and coasts”. 
The concept of blue economy was introduced by GUNTER PAULI in his book “ The blue economy: 10 years ,100 million jobs”. The Blue Economy includes :-

• It encompasses–
  • Renewable Energy: Sustainable marine energy can play a vital role in social and economic development.
  • Fisheries: Sustainable fisheries can generate more revenue, more fish and help restore fish stocks.
  • Maritime Transport: Over 80% of international goods traded are transported by sea.
  • Tourism: Ocean and coastal tourism can bring jobs and economic growth.
  • Climate Change: Oceans are an important carbon sink (blue carbon) and help mitigate climate change.
  • Waste Management: Better waste management on land can help oceans recover.
• Blue Economy emphasizes on integration of development of ocean economy with social inclusion, environmental sustainability, combined with innovative business model.
• This is reflected in Sustainable Development Goal (SDG 14), which calls to conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development.

Need for Blue Economy

• Oceans cover three-quarters of the Earth’s surface, contain 97% of the Earth’s water, and represent 99% of the living area on the planet.
• Oceans protect biodiversity, keep the planet cool, and absorb about 30% of global CO2 emissions.
• At least 3-5% of global GDP is derived from oceans.
• Blue economy, through sustainable use of oceans, has great potential for boosting the economic growth by providing opportunities for income generation and jobs etc.
• It can support food security, and diversification to address new resources for energy, new drugs valuable chemicals, protein food, deep sea minerals, security etc.
• It is the next sunrise sector.
• 
  

Challenges

• Threat of sea borne terror – piracy and armed robbery, maritime terrorism, illicit trade in crude oil, arms, drug and human trafficking and smuggling of contraband etc.
• Natural Disasters – every year tsunamis, cyclones, hurricanes typhoons etc leave thousands of people stranded and property worth millions destroyed.
• Man-Made problems – Oil spills, climate change continue to risk the stability of the maritime domain.
• Impact of climate change – changes in sea temperature, acidity, threaten marine life, habitats, and the communities that depend on them.
• Marine pollution – in form of excess nutrients from untreated sewerage, agricultural runoff, and marine debris such as plastics
• Overexploitation of marine resources – illegal, unreported, and unregulated extraction of marine resources.

Blue Economy for India

• 
  
  The Indian Ocean’s waters reach 28 countries, together accounting for about 35% of the world’s population and 19% of the gross domestic product. And given this connection, the Indian Ocean has emerged as an important trading channel. The region also hosts 23 of the world’s busiest ports and accounts for 13% of world trade. A significant proportion of this trade is among countries in the region (30% of all exports and 25% of imports). However, this is still lower compared with other regions, such as the European Union and NAFTA. Nevertheless, the authors are optimistic about the region’s future. 
  With increased trade and economic growth, they predict that the region’s economy will account for about 22% of world GDP by 2025 and 16% of global trade. However, these projections are susceptible to potential obstacles. 
  The authors highlight gaps in port infrastructure and customs procedures, which can act as barriers to trade. Regional governance is also weak. Currently, there is a network of 11 regional institutions, including the Indian Ocean Rim Association, which covers the majority of Indian Ocean economies, but, according to the authors, they suffer from limited powers and inadequate resources. To ensure that the Indian Ocean economy delivers on its potential, the authors suggest that policymakers invest in port development, reduce barriers to trade, strengthen regional governance and establish an Indian Ocean Development Fund to help developing countries participate in trade.
• Blue economy presents India with an unprecedented opportunity to meet its national socio-economic objectives as well as strengthen connectivity with neighbors.
• Blue Economy can help in focusing on livelihood generation, achieving energy security, building ecological resilience, and improving health and living standards of coastal communities.
• Blue economy would reinforce and strengthen the efforts of the Indian government as it strives to achieve the SDGs of hunger and poverty eradication along with sustainable use of marine resources by 2030.
• India has a long coastline of 7,517 km covering nine states and two union territories – with an Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of 2.02 mn. sq.km.
• Marine services sector could serve as the backbone of its blue economy and help India become 10 trillion dollar economy by 2022.
• Indian Ocean is a major conduit of trade with as much as 80% of global oil trade happening through it.
• Better connectivity in the region will significantly cut the transport cost and maritime wastage of resources making the trade sustainable and cost effective.

Developments Initiated by India

• The Sagarmala project is the strategic initiative for port-led development through the extensive use of IT enabled services for modernization of ports.

Sagarmala Project 

• Project aims at developing Inland waterways and coastal shipping which will revolutionize maritime logistics, creating million new jobs, reduce logistics costs etc.
• It focuses on the development of coastal communities and people in the sustainable use of ocean resources, modern fishing techniques and coastal tourism.

• India has an umbrella scheme by the name of O-SMART which aims at regulated use of oceans, marine resources for sustainable development.
• Integrated Coastal Zone Management focuses on conservation of coastal and marine resources, and improving livelihood opportunities for coastal communities etc.
• Development of Coastal Economic Zones (CEZ) under Sagarmala would become a microcosm of the blue economy, wherein industries and townships that depend on the sea will contribute to global trade.
• India has a National Fisheries policy for promoting 'Blue Growth Initiative' which focus on sustainable utilization of fisheries wealth from the marine and other aquatic resources.

Way Forward

• India should look to adopt the Gandhian approach of balancing economic benefits with sustainability for meeting the broader goals of growth, employment generation, equity and protection of environment.
• India must focus on marine ICTs, and transport (shipping) and communication services, and the creation of a knowledge hub for marine research and development.
• An effective response mechanism to address humanitarian crises and natural disasters should be made for the evolving Indian Ocean security strategy.
• India should not look at its oceans as just water bodies, but as global stage for continued economic, social, and cultural dialogue.
• 
  

Gas hydrates or methane hydrates a Future energy source

GAS HYDATES as an energy

What are the gas hydrates or methane hydrates?
How gas hydrates are produced?
Discus the geological condition for it's occurrence?
India's expedition to explore and exploit program called as Indian national Gas Hydrates programme (expedition -1 & 2)?
Merits and demerit of exploration?
Technology development to harness this resource?
World and India resource potential of gas hydrates reserves?
Mapping.


    Gas hydrates are ice like crystalline solid structure formed of water and gas. These solid mineral structure called clatherate mineral. Here, low molecular weight gas such as methane, ethane ,Co2, combines with water and freezes into a solid under low temperature and moderate high pressure conditions. Most of the gas hydrates are formed from methane or it is also called as methane hydrates.

On earth gas hydrates occurs in the permafrost areas and marine sediments. These gas hydrates deposits if properly harnessed then it has following merits..
1) gas hydrates contain the energy double the total conventional fossil fuels combined together (coal, oil and natural gas).
2) it can trigger landslides and tsunamis or earthquakes because of sudden release of pressurised methane gas.
3) release of methane gas into atmosphere intensify the impact of green house effect and climate change.
4) it is associated with hydrocarbons and hydrogen sulfide by chemosynthesis process can support unique biological communities.

Formation condition for gas hydrates :-

Methane hydrates are found in two types of environment 1) beneath the permafrost in Arctic regions and 2) deep in the ocean at the depth of 1500-3000 m below 200-300 m in the continental shelf.
Here marine organism after decay produced methane which is trapped in the water molecules when temperature is below 10 degree Celsius and pressure more the 30 bars. If temperature increases more pressure is required. So, Arctic waters are found at the depth of 300 m but in Tropical water body at the depth of 600 m. Hydrates or Clathrates is a matrix of ice found mixed with sediments.

Potential reserves of gas hydrates :-
 Methane hydrates has great potential to transform the energy sector market. It will be beneficial to countries like China and India which are net importer of natural gas, indigenous production help them to reduce the burn on foreign exchange and balance of trade, accelerate the GDP, generate jobs, support the ancillary industries
In the world till Now no commercial project of gas hydrates mining exist. Just few project started by USA, Japan, China and India.
As per the general scientific estimates the global gas hydrates availability is more that the double of total oil and gas. But, actual figures yet to be accounted.

Ideal site for gas hydrates project are :
1) high concentration of hydrates 2) reservoir rocks with high permeability 3) availability of infrastructure 4) economical and viable technology to extract 5) government policy and incentives to develop this energy.

Technology development is taking place with the joint project between USA and Japan and individual R&D is being established by concern Earth science ministry.
There are two ways to extract it
1) depressuring the hydrates rocks and 2) thermal approach here heating by passing carbon di oxide is being tried.
By 2020 technology will be available for commercial use said by Japan.

Indias national gas hydrates programme passes through two phases with joint initiative with USA and Japan. Under expedition 1 nothing much exploitable found but in phase two(expedition 2) large quantity is being discovered in the Bay of Bengal basin especially Krishna-Godavari delta and mahanadi delta in 2015-16. There is a great potential in konkan basin and sunderban delta.
In the world gas hydrates found in north Alaska coast by USA, Arctic coast of Russia, south China sea by China, off coast of Japan.

Challenges are :
1) technology is at initial stage of development. 2) cost of exploration and exploitation is very high. 3) site of exploration is far away from coast 4) environmental threats like tsunamis, landslide, earthquake, 5) it is a GHG can contribute to global warming and climate change.

Sargasso sea an unique geography

Sargasso sea :--
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 Sargasso sea is located in the north Atlantic ocean north of Bermuda. It's is the only sea bounded not by land but by oceanic current . The North Atlantic gyre holds the water. It obtained the name from Portuguese word sagassum which means a seaweed. Sargassum is a brown algae which is free floating like a plankton River.

 It is confined between 20N -35N degree and 30W-70W degree. It is bounded by north equatorial current in the south, Antilles current in south west, gulf stream in west, north atlantic in the north, Canary current in the east direction. Sargasso sea is characterised by depth 1500m-7000m, still water, saline, evaporation rates >> precipitation rates, horse latitude belt, sargassum seaweed covers 2million square km area in the sea.

 Marine biologist declared sargossa sea as biological desert because of lack of nutrients, devoid of plankton in large part of it, absence of large fish. High salinity of Sargasso sea due to lack of oceanic water mixing, high temperature (26) and higher evaporation rates. But known for small marine lifeforms such as turtles,shrimp,crab, small size fishes, eels lay eggs,etc these animals has unique adaptation to high sea weed(Sargassum). Which is not available anywhere on earth.

It has great economic value as mention above. The resource is used by carribean nations such as Bermuda, Antilles islands. This region is highly vulnerable to pollution, oil spills, etc,.

Measures adopted to conserve and protect the Sargossa sea unique ecosystem. Since 2005, IUCN consider this region under loss of biodiversity because it falls away from the national jurisdiction boundary. Few agreement reached are :-

1) Hamilton declaration in 2014 signed by 5 nations.

2) Bermuda alliance for Sargasso sea.

3)  mission blue

4) Sargasso sea alliance.

Aral sea shrinking

Aral sea shrinking

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Aral sea was the 4th largest lake(68000 sq km area) since 1960, more than 90% water is being lost. It shrink in size,  broken down into two parts. It arise due to :-
1) diversion of two Rivers that feed it such as syr-darya and amur-darya for irrigation purpose during the USSR times for cotton fields.
2) daming of Rivers by Kyrgistan, Tajikistan,
3) encroachment of lakes by Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan.
4) climate change and global warming leads to desertification,here due to dry climate water is lost more per year.
5) long period of continuous droght in the central Asia.
6) first time it's Eastern basin is completely dried in 600 years.
7) in 1960s, Soviet to make vast steppes bloom. They built an enormous irrigation network more than 20,000 miles of canals, 45 dams and more than 80 reservoirs , all to irrigate fields of cotton and wheat in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.

Impacts of Aral sea drying is :-
 1) waterbody become more saline, in saltier sea million of fishes died.
2)by 20009 lake is separated into the north (small) Aral sea in Kazakhstan and the south (large) Aral sea in Uzbekistan.
3) the south Aral sea further splits into western and Eastern lobes. In 2009, eastern lobe dried up but rebounded after more rain.
4) salinity increased in the field, crops in the region are destroyed, to flux out excess salts from field water is used many times.
5) desertification of the region, ecosystem collapse, river deltas feeding into it have been destroyed, dust storms are frequent leads to winters colder and summer hotter.
6) receding of coastlines, left large plains covered with salts, toxic chemicals from weapon testing, industrial and agriculture waste.
7) land around the Aral sea is heavily polluted, causing health problems to local people , there longevity falls, mortality increases,
8)fishing industry collapse, coast become the ship graveyards.

Solution and measures :-
1) alternative farming system such as less water intensive cotton varieties, avoid chemicals, shift to other crops, micro-irrigation
2) promoting non agricultural development in upstream countries.
3) plantation of area to increase rain and check duststorms
4) quality of irrigation canals need to be improved.
5) redirecting waters From other Rivera of Russia to restore Aral sea within 20-30 years. From river Volga, Ob, Irtysh and Caspian sea.
6) in 1994, all 5 central Asian countries signed a deal to recover the sea by allocating 1%of their budget for it's conservation .Aral sea basin programme was adopted in 1994 .
7) in 2006, world bank restoration project especially in the north Aral sea.