Central Asia & Russia: Intense water surpluses forecast in Ob & Yenisei River Basins

Central Asia & Russia: Intense water surpluses forecast for Ob & Yenisei River Basins

9 February 2019

THE BIG PICTURE
The 12-month forecast through September 2019 indicates moderate to severe deficits in Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and western Kazakhstan, which will be particularly intense around the Garabogazköl Basin in northwestern Turkmenistan. Scattered surpluses are forecast for eastern Kazakhstan. Surpluses are also forecast for eastern Kyrgyzstan and deficits in a band across the country’s narrow girth.

Moderate deficits are forecast for the Upper Volga River Basin and Trans Volga region of Russia, surpluses in the Middle and Upper Ob River Basin, and moderate to exceptional deficits in the Yenisei River Basin.

FORECAST BREAKDOWN
The 3-month composites (below) for the same 12-month period show the evolving conditions in more detail.

The forecast through March indicates intense surpluses in the Ob River Basin in Russia, and along the Vakh, Pur, and Taz Rivers. Surpluses are also forecast in the Yenisei River watershed. Surpluses will shrink somewhat but persist in the Northern European Plain. Moderate to severe deficits are forecast for the Ural River Watershed in northwestern Kazakhstan and across the border into Russia, as well as the Upper Volga River Basin and parts of the Trans Volga region.

Surpluses are forecast in Kazakhstan along the Ertis (Irtysh), Esil, and Ile Rivers, and south of Lake Balkhash. Moderate deficits are forecast in western Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan and severe deficits around the Garabogazköl Basin in northwestern Turkmenistan. Surpluses are expected on the Zarafshon River in eastern Uzbekistan. Deficits are forecast for central Kyrgyzstan and severe deficits in eastern Tajikistan; surpluses are forecast for eastern Kyrgyzstan and western Tajikistan.

From April through June, conditions in much of the Yenisei River Basin will transition from surplus to intense deficit, especially along the Lower and Podkamennaya Tunguska Rivers, eastern tributaries of the Yenisei. Surpluses will nearly disappear in the Lower Ob River Basin and will shrink and downgrade in the Middle and Upper portions but remain widespread. Surpluses are forecast for the Lower Volga region and moderate deficits in the Middle and Upper portions of the Volga Basin. The Northern European Plain will transition from surplus to normal or deficit conditions. Moderate deficits are forecast for much of Turkmenistan and western Uzbekistan, and primarily moderate surpluses for pockets of eastern Kazakhstan and pockets of Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan.

The forecast for the final months – July through September – indicates a significant increase in the extent and intensity of deficits in Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and western Kazakhstan, with severe to exceptional anomalies. Deficits will increase across Russia as well.

(It should be noted that forecast skill declines with longer lead times.)

NOTE ON ADMINISTRATIVE BOUNDARIES
There are numerous regions around the world where country borders are contested. ISciences depicts country boundaries on these maps solely to provide some geographic context. The boundaries are nominal, not legal, descriptions of each entity. The use of these boundaries does not imply any judgement on the legal status of any territory, or any endorsement or acceptance of disputed boundaries on the part of ISciences or our data providers.

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Many analyses reported in ISciences-authored blog posts are based on data generated by the ISciences Water Security Indicator Model (WSIM). Other sources, if used, are referenced in footnotes accompanying individual posts. WSIM is a validated capability that produces monthly reports on current and forecast global freshwater surpluses and deficits with lead times of 1-9 months at 0.25°x0.25° resolution. This capability has been in continuous operation since April 2011 and has proven to provide reliable forecasts of emerging water security concerns in that time-frame. WSIM has the ability to assess the impacts of water anomalies on people, agriculture, and electricity generation. Detailed data, customized visualizations, and reports are available for purchase.

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