The effect of global warming on soil salinity in arid regions

• Main Authors: Ye. I. Pankova, M. V. Konyushkova
• Format: Article
• Language: Russian
• Published: V.V. Dokuchaev Soil Science Institute 2013-06-01
• Series: Бюллетень Почвенного института им. В.В. Докучаева
• Subjects: засоление; аридизация; пустыни; автоморфные и гидроморфные почвы; salinization; aridification; deserts; automorphic and hydromorphic soils
• Online Access: https://bulletin.esoil.ru/jour/article/view/514

The comparison of modern climatic conditions and soil salinity in subboreal deserts of Middle Asia (Turanian plain) and Central Asia (Gobi deserts) shows that climate has an effect on salinity of hydromorphic soils. From the other hand, the distribution and degree of salinity of automorphic desert soils are predominantly governed by the distribution of salt-bearing rocks inherited from the previous geologic stages and are not related directly to the modern aridity. This fact allows us to state that the global warming will not promote salinization of automorphic soils of arid regions, except for the soils subjected to aeolian salinization. Climate aridification will provoke soil salinization in hydromorphic conditions.