The Aral Sea DisasterMichel R. Edelstein, Ph.D.

Source: THE ARAL SEA:

Water, climate, and environmentalchange in Central Asia

Michael H. Glantz and Igor S. Zonn 2005, World Meteorological Organization

1960 Sea level 53.29 m

1961

1962

1963

1964

1965 Sea level 52.31 m

1966

1967

1968

1969

1970 Sea level 51.43 m

1971

1972

1973

1974

1975 Sea level 49.01 m

1976

1977

1978

1979

1980 Sea level 45.75 m

1981

1982

1983

1984

1985 Sea level 41.94 m

1986

1987

1988

1989

1990 Sea level 38.24 m

1991a

1991b

1992a

1992b

1993a

1993b

1994a

1994b

1995a Big Aral sea level 36.11 m

Little Aral sea level 41.60 m

1995b

1996a

1996b

1997a

1997b

1998a

1998b

1999a

1999b

2000a Big Aral sea level 33.30 m

2000b

2001a

2001b

2002a

2002b

2003a

2003b

2004

2010 Big Aral sea level 25.90 m

Drop in meter depth of big Aral sea

19601965

19701975

19801985

19901995

20002003

20100%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

Little AralAral depth