1990-2019年中亚五国干旱状况时空变化特征及大气涛动驱动分析

咸海的迅速萎缩导致中亚五国的干旱问题引起了科学界的特别关注。为厘清中亚五国近30年来水分条件状况,探究影响其变化的气候驱动要素,本文使用帕默尔干旱指数(PDSI)对1990—2019年中亚五国干旱时空变化特征进行评估,并结合交叉小波变换揭示了大气涛动对其干旱状况的驱动影响。结果表明:中亚五国的干旱指数呈现周期性交替变化,年际变化率增大;夏秋旱、冬春湿的季节性干旱特征减弱,不同时间段的PDSI变异程度加剧,并表现出2018年后进入新一轮干期的可能。干旱程度总体呈现自西南向东北逐渐减轻、自东南山区向中西部平原逐步加重的格局;1990—2019年干旱重心由西南内陆腹地向哈萨克斯坦中西部地区转移,帕米尔和西天山山脉干旱程度呈波动上升态势。青藏高原指数(TPI)对PDSI变化表现出明显的驱动作用,在1990—2019年整个时间序列上均有较高的周期性强度,拥有1~3年(1995—2000年)、4~5年(2010—2015年)和8~10年(2015—2019年)3个明显年际尺度的震荡周期。总之,1990—2019年中亚五国整体干旱状况趋好,干旱变异程度加剧,干旱空间分异明显,TPI在年际尺度上是驱动PDSI变化的大气涛动要素。

乌兹别克斯坦灌溉农业发展及其对生态环境和经济发展的影响

乌兹别克斯坦作为中亚干旱区重要的农业大国,由于其独有的气候条件,灌溉是决定其农业生产的主要控制因素,因此,研究其灌溉农业发展历程对于保障农业生产与自然环境安全具有重要意义。通过查阅乌兹别克斯坦灌溉农业发展领域的相关文献,结合联合国粮食及农业组织、联合国数据检索系统等官方网站提供的资料数据,总结灌溉农田面积、人口、主要作物产量及农业产值等数据的变化规律,阐述了乌兹别克斯坦灌溉农业的发展历程,分析讨论由农业灌溉引起的一系列环境问题及其对社会经济的影响。结果表明:(1)由于气候干旱少雨,乌兹别克斯坦灌溉用水主要来自阿姆河及锡尔河,下游河道径流量及咸海蓄水量持续下降,暴露河床内大量松散沉积物并导致频繁的沙尘天气。(2)乌兹别克斯坦整体农业灌溉技术较为落后,过度引水使得部分地表径流汇聚在灌区低洼地带,抬升地下水位,最终引发严重的区域土壤盐渍化,故全面推广先进灌排技术,是该国未来灌溉农业与生态环境健康发展的主要方向。(3)农业生产是乌兹别克斯坦重要的经济来源,对国内生产总值有显著的正向影响。此研究可为干旱区农业发展及水资源管理提供借鉴。

Problems of Sustainable Use and Management of Water and Land Resources in Uzbekistan

In this paper, the problems of rational use, protection and management of water and irrigated land resources of Uzbekistan are discussed. Uzbekistan is using more than 50% water resources of the region and therefore it’s more vulnerable to the problems of water deficiency and pollution caused by mismanagement, use of outdated technologies, and climate change impact. Utilization of water resources on main branches of economy (irrigation, industry and drinking water supply) from 2000-2009 and in some cases beyond this period was analyzed. Based on the data analyzed, the conditions of irrigated land degradation in Uzbekistan are estimated. The results of this analysis suggest several possibilities toward a sustainable use of irrigated lands: i) reduction of the groundwater table depth;ii) decrease of the level of mineralization of groundwater, and iii) improvement of ameliorative conditions of irrigated lands. The causes resulting in degradation of the irrigated lands and practical measures on the reduction of salinization of the irrigated lands are also recommended.

Challenges for the sustainable use of water and land resources under a changing climate and increasing salinization in the Jizzakh irrigation zone of Uzbekistan

Jizzakh Province in Uzbekistan is one of the largest irrigated areas in Central Asia without natural drainage.In combination with aridity,climate change and extensive irrigation practices,this has led to the widespread salinization of agricultural land.The aim of this study was to identify opportunities to improve the reclamation status of the irrigated area and how best to effectively use the water resources in Jizzakh Province based on investigations conducted between 1995 and 2016.A database of field measurements of groundwater levels,mineralization and soil salinity conducted by the provincial Hydro-Geological Reclamation Expeditions was used in the study.The total groundwater mineralization was determined using a portable electric conductometer(Progress 1T)and the chloride concentration was determined using the Mohr method.The soil salinity analyses were conducted by applying two different methods:(1)the extraction and assessment of the soluble salt content,and(2)using an SM-138 conductivity sensor applied to a 1:1 mixture of soil sample and water.The analyses of the monitoring results and the salt balance in the"irrigation water–soil–drainage water"system clearly demonstrated that the condition of the irrigated land in the province was not significantly improved.Under these conditions,the stability of crop yields is achieved mainly through the use of large volumes of fertilizer.However,excess amounts of mineral fertilizers can also cause the salinization of soils.The average groundwater salinization value in most of the irrigated land(75.3%)fluctuated between 1.1 and 5.0 g/L,while the values were less than 1.0 g/L in 13.1%of the land and in the range of 5.1–10.0 g/L in 10.5%of the land.During the period of 1995–2016 the salinization level of the irrigated land in Jizzakh Province increased slightly and the area could be divided into the following classes:no salinity(17.7%of the total area),low salinity(51.3%),moderate salinity(29.0%),and high salinity(2.0%).Detailed studies of the salt balance in irrigated land,the impact of climate change,increased fertilizer use,and repeated remediation leaching on the groundwater level and mineralization should be conducted in the future,due to the possibility of accelerated salinization,fertility decline,and reduced yields of agricultural crops.

Qualitative and Quantitative Assessment of Water Resources of Aydar Arnasay Lakes System (AALS)

The Aydar Arnasay Lakes System (AALS) is an artificial lake system which was created in 1969 by diverting flood water from Chardarya reservoir. It has developed into a wetland of 4000 km2 area recognized by the Ramsar Convention as of global importance. It is not only a refuge for birds and wildlife but also has seen the emergence of fishery and tourism since. Understanding of its behavior with respect to the quantitative and qualitative aspects of water resources is important for future use and management, especially for further development of fishery and ecotourism. The factors influencing changes in quantity and quality of ААLS water were studied between 1993 and 2011. Starting from 1993 the water level and water volume of the lake progressively increased. The spatio-temporal distributions of pH, dissolved oxygen, ammonium, nitrite, nitrate, phosphate, chloride, and biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5) during 2003-2005 and 2009-2011 were determined. On the basis of the conducted hydrological and hydro-chemical research fishery development in ААLS is recommended. The question is posed what requirements have to be in met in the future in order to guarantee the prolonged existence of the lake at a suitable water quality.

Assessment of Water Quality of the Trans-Boundary Zarafshan River in the Territory of Uzbekistan

The Zarafshan river is a main trans-boundary river of the Aral Seabasin. As the main water resource, the Zarafshan river water is mainly used by the republics ofTajikistanandUzbekistan. We explored the trends of space-time pollution of river water with ammonium, nitrates, phosphates, biological oxygen demand (ВОD), fluorine and some heavy metals at seven water sampling points along theZarafshanRiver inUzbekistan. The experimental data showed that the water quality of the Zarafshanriver in 2002-2009 has undergone a considerable transformation, even by the length of the river. The chemical composition of the Zarafshan river water underwent changes due to the agricultural collector-drainage discharges and the sewage of the cities of Samarkand and Navoi. The water pollutants of the Zarafshan river, as a con- sequence of the agricultural pollution, consisted of mineralization, ammonium, nitrate, phosphate, and pesticides. Therefore, it is necessary to monitor the chemical composition of the large agricultural collector-drainage discharges into the river. The main sources of the heavy metals (primarily arsenic and zinc) in the Zarafshan river water were probably ore processing manufactures located interritoryofTajikistan.

Addressing global change challenges for Central Asian socio-ecosystems

Central Asia is one of the most vulnerable regions on the planet earth to global climate change, depending on very fragile natural resources. The Soviet legacy has left the five countries （Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan） with a highly integrated system but they are facing great challenges with tensions that hinder regional coordination of food and water resources. With increasing climate variability and warming trend in the region, food and water security issues become even more crucial now and, if not addressed properly, could affect the regional stability. The long-term drivers of these two most critical elements, food and water, are climate change; the immediate and probably more drastic factors affecting the food and water security are land uses driven by institutional change and economic incentives. As a feedback, changes in land use and land cover have directly implications on water uses, food production, and lifestyles of the rural community in the region. Regional and international efforts have been made to holistically understand the cause, extent, rate and societal implications of land use changes in the region. Much of these have been understood, or under investiga- tion by various projects, but solutions or research effort to develop solutions, to these urgent regional issues are lacking. This article, serves as an introduction to the special issue, provides a brief overview of the challenges facing the Central Asian countries and various interna- tional efforts in place that resulted in the publications of this special issue.