THE ARAL SEA 



653 



is given in Fig. 306, and the distribution of surface salinity of the Aral Sea, 

 should its level drop by 5 m, is given in Fig. 307. If the sea-level dropped 

 10 m below what it is now, the salinity of the surface waters would increase 

 by another 7% . 

 The essential elements of the balance of the saline mass of the waters of 



h m 



s& 



Fig. 306. Relationship of average salinity to sea-level 

 of the Aral Sea (Blinov). 



the Aral Sea under certain geographical and climatic conditions of the area 

 are as follows (L. Blinov, 1956): 



Salts deposited by rivers 12,850,000 tons 



Salts carried away by winds 101,120 tons 

 Salts supplied from atmosphere 64,800 tons. 



The total mass of salts in the Aral Sea is about 1 ,050,000,000 tons with an 

 average salinity of 10-3% o . L. Blinov also determined the volume of water 

 which leaks away through the soil as 1 -26 km 3 , and assumes that this loss of 

 salt compensates for the average annual salt supply by rivers. 



As a result of a most detailed examination of the salinity of the waters of 

 the Aral Sea and of its balance L. Blinov (1958) has come to the important 

 conclusion that 'in relation to their saline (ionic) composition, the waters of 

 the Aral Sea must be regarded as the strongly metamorphosed waters of the 

 river discharge feeding the Sea. As a result of the processes of metamor- 

 phism the waters of the Aral Sea, and those of the Caspian Sea, became an 



