Q. With reference to the Aral Sea crisis, consider the following statements:
- The upward movement of Earth's crust in the Aral Sea region is primarily caused by tectonic activity.
- The loss of water mass due to human intervention has led to mantle uplift, similar to glacial isostatic rebound.
- The Soviet-era diversion of rivers was the principal cause of the Aral Sea's shrinkage.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Answer:
2 and 3 only
Notes: Statement 1 is incorrect – The uplift is not tectonic, but due to mantle response to water loss.
Statements 2 and 3 are correct – The mantle rises when surface mass is reduced, such as after the diversion of Amu Darya and Syr Darya rivers by the Soviet-era, which was the primary cause for the shrinkage of the Aral Sea.