Problems of Desertification and Dustiness of Atmospheric Air in Arid Cities of the Aral Sea Region

Abstract

Dust storms and dry haze are an unfavorable meteorological factor for the cities of the Aral Sea Region. The mean annual number of days with haze in Central Asian cities ranges from 10 to 20. Dust makes poorer the aspect of areas, but its impact on urban planning has been incompletely studied and the content of fine dust particles in the air of cities has not been monitored. The Afghan wind (garmsil: fiery, hot, dry wind with dust), which attracts particular attention, is a dust storm that suddenly starts in the deserts of Afghanistan and on the dried bottom of the Aral Sea (it is now called Aralkum (the Turkish kum signifies sand)). This is a real salt desert, containing pesticides and chemicals dangerous for human health. They penetrated rivers as fertilizers used by people and then flowed into the sea. They now cause significant damage to the cities and to the economy of Central Asian countries. Wind transport of dust from natural sources and, as a result, the dustiness of the urban environment are analyzed in this article. This problem is particularly urgent for most large cities in Central Asia, but has not been studied sufficiently. The dust factor is not sufficiently taken into account, when making urban planning decisions even in areas with intensive wind and dust activity, such as the Aral Sea Region, where it is related to natural and climatic conditions. More and more cool agricultural lands are now destroyed and used for building construction in many cities, which may exert a strong effect on the quality of life in the next few years. Not long ago, dustiness was considered only as a factor that creates uncomfortable conditions, but today, it is associated with morbidity and mortality of the population. A high dust content in the air harms landscaped areas, along highways and streets in particular. The protection of buildings from direct sunlight and dust consists in the use of sun protection devices, panels, and ventilated facades. One of the modern trends in architecture consists in the introduction of the technology of kinetic facades, which are formed of elements of different shapes and materials. When the proposed methods are implemented, there is a real opportunity to improve the quality of atmospheric air in cities located in complicated landscape conditions, which will directly affect the improvement of human health.