The Aral Sea is slowly disappearing
The Aral Sea, historically a lifeline for communities in Asia, has fallen victim to the rapid pace of climate change. Human activities dating back to the 1920s, coupled with increasingly erratic weather patterns associated with climate change, have resulted in a drastic reduction in the size of the water body. Once a thriving inland body of water teeming with fish and supporting a bustling economy, the Aral Sea has shrunk to less than a quarter of its former size. This drastic change has devastated local communities, exacerbated water scarcity, fostered toxic pollution, and plunged the region into economic turmoil.
These images acquired by Copernicus Sentinel-2 satellites on 3 March 2016 and 1 March 2024, respectively, show the decrease in the Aral Sea’s water level.
The Copernicus Sentinel-2 satellites, with their multi-spectral instruments, deliver key information for monitoring bodies of water across the Earth.
