As NG24 reports , the Aral Sea served as a natural carbon reservoir for many years. Organic matter formed after the death of plants and organisms settled to the bottom and accumulated in sediments. However, with the large-scale drying of the sea, the process changed—the drained sediments began to come into contact with air, and the carbon gradually returned to the atmosphere.

In 2022, Spanish researchers conducted an expedition, collecting sediment samples at 14 locations and measuring carbon dioxide fluxes. Using isotope analysis, they confirmed that the emitted CO₂ indeed originated from organic matter accumulated in the sediments.

According to scientists’ calculations, since the onset of large-scale drying, approximately 748 million tons of CO₂ have been released from the Aral Sea sediments. The remaining organic matter is estimated to have an additional potential emission of approximately 605 million tons.

Storing a significant portion of this carbon in bottom sediments could reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The cost of such reductions is estimated at $3.6-$18 billion, which could theoretically fund restoration projects. However, restoring the Aral Sea to its previous levels is extremely difficult.

Significantly expanding the water surface will require changing resource management systems throughout the basin, which spans several countries. Historically, most of the water has been used for agriculture and irrigation.

According to preliminary estimates, restoring the reservoir to approximately half its 1960 level will require approximately $9.7 billion in investment and large-scale changes throughout the basin. Scientists consider the complete restoration of the Aral Sea an extremely difficult task, but they allow for the implementation of individual projects to restore water levels and ecosystems.

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