Aral Sea reflooding could prevent 605 megatons of CO₂ emissions

AI digestMimile.ai EditorialJuly 22, 2026 at 05:40 PM

This digest was compiled by AI from multiple sources — links to the originals are below.

Aral Sea reflooding could prevent 605 megatons of CO₂ emissions

A study published in Science estimates that reflooding the Aral Sea could prevent 605 megatons of CO₂ emissions, equivalent to nearly three years of Spain's greenhouse gas output. The desiccated seabed has already released 748 megatons of CO₂ since 1960. Researchers highlight the potential for carbon credits worth up to $18 billion.

The Carbon Release

The Aral Sea, once the world's fourth-largest lake, has lost about 90% of its volume since the 1960s due to river diversion for irrigation. Exposed sediments have released 748 megatons of CO₂ into the atmosphere, according to a study led by the Centre for Advanced Studies of Blanes (CEAB-CSIC) and involving the Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (IGB). This reversal of the lake's carbon sink function represents a significant contribution to atmospheric greenhouse gases.

Restoration Potential

The research team calculated that reflooding the dry seabed could prevent the release of an additional 605 megatons of CO₂, roughly equivalent to Spain's total emissions over three years. The preserved carbon could also generate between $3.6 billion and $18 billion in tradable carbon credits on voluntary markets. Lead author Rafael Marcé of CEAB-CSIC described the buried carbon as a 'hidden treasure' that could shift from being an emission source to a climate solution.

What's Next

The study's findings may inform future restoration projects, but no concrete reflooding plans have been announced. It remains unclear whether the necessary water diversion reductions or international funding will materialize.

1 source

Aral Sea reflooding could prevent 605 megatons of CO₂ emissions

phys.org

Phys.org

Alfred Wegener Institute: Arctic seabed traps most ancient permafrost carbon

Most ancient permafrost carbon released into the Arctic Ocean becomes buried in the seabed rather than turning into greenhouse gases, researchers from the Alfred Wegener Institute and MARUM report Monday in Nature Geoscience. Only about 10% of the carbon is converted into gases, they found. The findings come as Arctic coastlines erode and permafrost thaws, releasing increasing amounts of carbon into the sea.

Study projects 500,000 more UK residents at coastal flood risk by 2100

A study led by the Met Office and the University of Bristol projects that at least 500,000 more people in the UK will face coastal flood risk by 2100, a 25% increase from current levels. Even if current emissions pledges are met, 1.4 million additional people could be affected by 2200. The findings underscore the long-term 'locked-in' nature of sea level rise, requiring both emissions cuts and adaptation.

Soil warming experiment reveals stable carbon breakdown after 37 years

The world's longest-running soil warming experiment, spanning 37 years, has found that warming causes microbes to break down stable soil carbon previously thought protected. This releases additional carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, potentially accelerating global warming.

Reversing soil degradation 10% could feed 70 million more, study finds

Reversing human-caused soil degradation by 10% could enable Earth's arable land to feed an additional 70 million people, according to a study published in Nature Food. Researchers from the University of Bonn, University of Minnesota, University of Basel and Hamburg University of Technology quantified the impact of erosion, dehydration and compaction on crop yields for the first time.

Aral Sea reflooding could prevent 605 megatons of CO₂ emissions

The Carbon Release

Restoration Potential

What's Next

Read more

Read more