Essentials of Endorheic Basins and Lakes: A Review in the Context of Current and FutureWater Resource Management and Mitigation Activities in Central Asia
Loading...
Date
2017-10-21
Authors
Yapiyev, Vadim
Sagintayev, Zhanay
Inglezakis, Vassilis J.
Samarkhanov, Kanat
Verhoef, Anne
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Water
Abstract
Endorheic basins (i.e., land-locked drainage networks) and their lakes can be highly
sensitive to variations in climate and adverse anthropogenic activities, such as overexploitation of water resources. In this review paper, we provide a brief overview of one major endorheic basin on each continent, plus a number of endorheic basins in Central Asia (CA), a region where a large proportion of the land area is within this type of basin. We summarize the effects of (changing) climate drivers and land surface–atmosphere feedbacks on the water balance. For the CA region, we also discuss key anthropogenic activities, related water management approaches and their complex
relationship with political and policy issues. In CA a substantial increase in irrigated agriculture coupled with negative climate change impacts have disrupted the fragile water balance for many endorheic basins and their lakes. Transboundary integrated land and water management approaches must be developed to facilitate adequate climate change adaptation and possible mitigation of the adverse anthropogenic influence on endorheic basins in CA. Suitable climate adaptation, mitigation and efficient natural resource management technologies and methods are available, and are developing fast. A number of these are discussed in the paper, but these technologies alone are not sufficient to address pressing water resource issues in CA. Food–water–energy nexus analyses
demonstrate that transboundary endorheic basin management requires transformational changes with involvement of all key stakeholders. Regional programs, supported by local governments and international donors, which incorporate advanced adaptation technologies, water resource research and management capacity development, are essential for successful climate change adaptation efforts in CA. However, there is a need for an accelerated uptake of such programs, with an emphasis on unification of approaches, as the pressures resulting from climate change and aggravated by human
mismanagement of natural water resources leave very little time for hesitation.
Description
Keywords
endorheic, lake, Central Asia, Kazakhstan, water resources, climate change, evaporation, drylands, semi-arid, Research Subject Categories::FORESTRY, AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES and LANDSCAPE PLANNING
Citation
Yapiyev Vadim et al(>4), 2017(October 21), Essentials of Endorheic Basins and Lakes: A Review in the Context of Current and FutureWater Resource Management and Mitigation Activities in Central Asia, Water