Aral Sea Disappearing

W33dz writes "The BBC is reporting today that the Aral Sea on the border of the former Soviet republics of Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan has lost half its size and 75% of its volume in the last 15 years. The article includes some stunning pictures from both NASA and the new European Space Agency's Envisat satellite. This seems especially poignant since the US Government is hosting a summit on a proposed International Earth Observation System in Washington this month (BBC article). The meeting is intended to defend much of the Bush Administration's environmental policy and has an amazing guest list filled with the Who's Who of US politics."

Comments

Study is good.

[Acidic_Diarrhea]

Let me start of by saying that I don't normally agree with the Bush administration when it comes to environmental policy. Thus far they have not pushed at all for alternative and reusable energy sources, which is a huge mistake. That being said, this is a proposal for a 10 year initiative that could benefit everyone in years to come. First of all, it means that scientists will be funded for this study. Second of all, when it comes to the global environment, ten years is a small amount of time. If we do this study, conclude that global warming is happening, we will have more data and a much better understanding of it in order to properly combat it.

I know that people will post comments saying the Bush administration is trying to protect big business in the U.S. and doesn't want the bottom line hurt but has anyone considered that these less developed nations who are pushing for new regulations to be imposed want to see developed nations crippled and therefore the wealth they have redistributed to the rest of the world? Politicians the world over are usually most interested in the money issue - not the earth issues. So, more study is always a good thing, in my opinion. Has any scientist come out and said if we do not start changing things now, in ten years everyone will be dead or in ten years things will be so bad they won't be able to be fixed?

Re:Study is good.

[Anonymous Coward]

Why is this modded off-topic? Did no one read the fucking BBC article linked in the summary??? Fucking moderators

WHOA!!!! check out the NASA link

[snooo53]

Dude!! Usually I hate those sort of things, but NASA has one bad-ass intro to their site!! I'm reloading it again!! :)

Heh, they should put those guys (or girls) in charge of NASA's future missions. We'd be rockin it out on the moon and mars in no time!!

Re:For statistical geeks

[Anonymous Coward]

Atlantic Pacific and Indian! Whoo whoo! Lookit me go!

Re:Salinization

[CowBovNeal]

Hydroponics is NOT suitable for large scale agriculture.