Degree of Master of

Aydar-Arnasay lakes as a new subject of scientific inquiry

CEU eTD Collection
According to FAO classification (2004), all water bodies in the basin of the Aral Sea are grouped as follows:

• 
  Natural waterbodies (rivers and lakes);
  
• 
  Artificial freshwater waterbodies (irrigation channels, reservoirs, ponds);
  
• 
  Artificial saline waterbodies (drainage channels, lakes for residual water storage) (FAO 2004).
  

Because the focus of the present research is on analysis of the artificial lakes formed by human activity in Uzbekistan, this work will basically consider the third group of
² See a map in section 4.1.5
³ See a map in section 4.1.2
waterbodies, i.e. artificial saline waterbodies. The main attention will be paid to the analysis of the Aydar-Arnasay lakes system, playing an extremely important role for the whole economy of Uzbekistan as well as for population and attracting a high scientific interest nowadays. The next sections of the literature review will survey different aspects of the AALS development.

1. Overview of the AALS hydrological research conducted

Broadly speaking, some research of the Aydar-Arnasay lakes system (AALS) was conducted before the collapse of the USSR. Ivanov and Nikitin draw a conclusion about carrying out of the wide-ranging hydrological research of the Aydar-Arnasay lakes in 1970- 1978. The main focus of these investigations was the examination of the hydrological AALS conditions, i.e. thermal regime, seasonal and diurnal water temperature fluctuations, and mineralization (Ivanov and Nikitin 1978).
During the literature searching, information focused on the research of soil, landscapes, biodiversity and ecological conditions in this period of time has not been found. Therefore, this section will mainly concentrate on the hydrological results of the research conducted on these lakes.

1.