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Water availability and state of water resources within water-economic basins in Kazakhstan

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Abstract

Water is one of the most important natural resources. The water availability and scarcity depend on various natural and anthropogenic factors. Based on generalization and analyses of the numerous cartographic materials, and long-term runoff data, the water-economic basins (WEBs) in Kazakhstan were classified in order to identify the basin affected by human activities the most, to show the dynamics of river runoff within Kazakhstan, as well as to estimate the demand for water resources in the WEBs. Additionally, the water availability in the WEBs was determined by share (%) of water resources (rivers, lakes, water reservoirs). The Zhaiyk-Caspian WEB has the highest share (94%) of river water. By water resource (43.8 km3), the Ertis WEB is the most water-rich basin. A significant anthropogenic transformation was observed in the Aral-Syrdarya and Esil WEBs. Both basins are characterized by a deteriorated water quality. Due to natural factors and human activities, the total runoff decreased by 39.4 km3/year (23 km3/year is transboundary and local runoff is 16.5 km3/year) since 1965. Water consumption has decreased to 57% due to reduction of irrigation areas and industrial activities. However, the water consumption has increased by 1.33 and 1.25 km3/year in communal services and other needs due to the population growth. The water demand in Zhaiyk-Caspian WEB is very high and estimated in crisis degree (fourth class). The Balkash-Alakol WEB is characterized by a critical degree of water demand and belongs to the third class of water demand.

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Acknowledgements

This research was funded and supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (U1603242), the Science and Technology Service Network Initiative (Y838031), the Training Program for Youth Innovative Talents in Science and Technology in Xinjiang (QN2016BS0052), and the Foundation of State Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography Chinese Academy of Sciences and Chinese Academy of Sciences President’s International Fellowship Initiative (2017PC0023).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Str. Beijingnanlu 818, Ürümqi, 830011, People’s Republic of China

    Gulnura Issanova, Jilili Abuduwaili & Ge Yongxiao

  2. CAS Research Center for Ecology and Environment of Central Asia, Ürümqi, 830011, Xinjiang, People’s Republic of China

    Gulnura Issanova, Jilili Abuduwaili, Galymzhan Saparov & Ge Yongxiao

  3. Faculty of Geography and Environmental Sciences, Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, Ave. Al-Farabi 75 V, Almaty, Kazakhstan, 050040

    Gulnura Issanova & Azamat Kaldybayev

  4. School of Geographic Science and Tourism, Xinjiang Normal University, Ürümqi, 830054, People’s Republic of China

    Reyisha Jilili

  5. University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, People’s Republic of China

    Jilili Abuduwaili

  6. Institute of Ionosphere, Kamenskoe Plato, «Ionosphere» Gardener’s Association 117, Almaty, Kazakhstan, 050020

    Azamat Kaldybayev

  7. U.U. Uspanov Kazakh Research Institute of Soil Science and Agrochemistry, Ave. Al-Farabi 75 V, Almaty, Kazakhstan, 050060

    Galymzhan Saparov

Authors
  1. Gulnura Issanova
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  2. Reyisha Jilili
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  3. Jilili Abuduwaili
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  4. Azamat Kaldybayev
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  5. Galymzhan Saparov
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  6. Ge Yongxiao
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Correspondence to Jilili Abuduwaili.

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Issanova, G., Jilili, R., Abuduwaili, J. et al. Water availability and state of water resources within water-economic basins in Kazakhstan. Paddy Water Environ 16, 183–191 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10333-018-0630-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10333-018-0630-6

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