Geodynamical processes in the channel connecting the two lobes of the Large Aral Sea
dc.contributor.author
dc.date.accessioned
2013-10-17T07:20:13Z
dc.date.available
2013-10-17T07:20:13Z
dc.date.issued
2009
dc.identifier.issn
1027-5606
dc.identifier.uri
dc.description.abstract
Reasons for the existence of the channel connectin the two lobes of the present Large Aral Sea are discussed.
In situ measurements in 2005 show that differences between the measured depths and those contained in the available digital bathymetry of the lake are considerably different at the channel (7.5±0.9 m, at nine measurement stations along it) and at the northern part of the eastern lobe (1.6±0.3 m, at six stations from the western to the eastern shore). Differences in the misfits observed in the two zones are discussed and thought to be a consequence of the variation of the transversal area of the channel as it enters the eastern lobe, which would affect the flow velocity and thus the strength of the erosion process at the bottom. Field data together with satellite images have been used to modify an original digital bathymetry of the lake and have been implemented into a 3-D hydrodynamical model. A numerical simulation shows that a wind of 12 m/s blowing from the east (112°) generates velocities of up to 45 cm/s in the channel, allowing denser water from the eastern lobe (salinity: 132 g/kg) to flow about 38 km towards the fresher western lobe (salinity: 98 g/kg) in one day. The effect of the inflow on the vertical structure of the western lobe is also illustrated. Although nowadays the channel will be soon a thing of the past, in a more general context, the Aral Sea is presented as an example showing that geomorphologic and geophysical processes, along with hydrological and atmospheric processes, must be taken into account for short-term predictions
dc.description.sponsorship
We thank D. Soloviov and S. Stanichniy (Marine Hydrophysical Institute, Ukraine), who kindly provided the satellite images used in this study. We are grateful to Professor Micklin and one anonymous reviewer for the interesting points they have raised in their review and for the opportunity to incorporate them in the text. This paper has been done within the frame of the NATO Collaborative Linkage Grant ESP-NR-NRCLG-982592. The work was also supported by the Russian Foundation for Basic Research and, partially, by the Spanish Ministry of Education and Science, grant FIS2008-03608
This paper has been done within the frame of the NATO Collaborative Linkage Grant ESP-NR-NRCLG-982592. The work was also supported by the Russian Foundation for Basic Research and, partially, by the Spanish Ministry of Education and Science, grant FIS2008-03608
dc.format.mimetype
application/pdf
dc.language.iso
eng
dc.publisher
European Geosciences Union (EGU)
dc.relation
info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/MICINN//FIS2008-03608/ES/MEDIDAS PARA LA DESCRIPCION Y MODELIZACION DE LA MEZCLA TURBULENTA/
dc.relation.isformatof
Reproducció digital del document publicat a: http://dx.doi.org/10.5194/hessd-6-5279-2009
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Hydrology and Earth System Sciences and Discussions, 2009, vol. 6, p. 5279-5301
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Articles publicats (D-F)
dc.rights
Attribution 3.0 Spain
dc.rights.uri
dc.subject
dc.title
Geodynamical processes in the channel connecting the two lobes of the Large Aral Sea
dc.type
info:eu-repo/semantics/article
dc.rights.accessRights
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
dc.embargo.terms
Cap
dc.relation.projectID
info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/EC/FP7/247512/EU/Climate Change and Inland Seas: Phenomena, Feedback and Uncertainties. The Physical Science Basis./CLIMSEAS
dc.type.version
info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion
dc.identifier.doi
dc.identifier.idgrec
015884
dc.contributor.funder
dc.relation.FundingProgramme
dc.relation.ProjectAcronym
dc.identifier.eissn
1607-7938