Desertification example

Recently much research has been devoted to the possible climatic consequences of man-induced changes in atmospheric compounds and landscape features. Examples are increases in the concentration of C02 and other greenhouse gases and dust or the thickness of the ozone layer, as well as large-scale deforestation and desertification. Opinions vary as to the... 

Natural disasters can be categorized as acute or slow in their onset (Noji, 1996). They are predictable because they cluster in geographic areas. Natural hazards are unpreventable and, for the most part, uncontrollable. Even if quick recovery occurs, natural disasters can have long-term effects. Natural disasters with acute onsets include events such as avalanche blizzard or extreme cold earthquake fire flood heat wave hurricane, cyclone, or typhoon tornado tsunami or storm surge volcanic eruption and wildfire. Natural hazards with a slow or gradual onset include deforestation, desertification, drought, and pest infestation. The most important natural disasters and examples of their environmental effects are listed in Table 17.1. 

A dry band along the north-eastern and eastern coast formed as a result of the Aral Sea desiccation is the source of salt, which together with dust are transported by wind over a distance up to 450-500 km from the source of generation and accelerate the process of desertification of the Aral region [6,32]. Such dust/salt storms have been observed on satellite images since the mid-1970s [33] (see, for example. Fig. 12). The predominant direction of the salt and dust transport (up to 60%) is southwestward [6] sometimes these dust/salt flows are traced almost to the eastern coast of the Caspian Sea (see Fig. 12). 

Lack of erosion control can result in declines in soil productivity for agricultural purposes and loss of land stability for land development and uses. Examples of the large-scale effects of erosion include landslides and desertification. 

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