Question

The Aral Sea is drastically smaller due to which practice?(1 point)

soil erosion
water diversion
deforestation
slash and burn agriculture

Answer 1

[AI-generated answer — Bot GPT 3.5]

water diversion

Answer 2

[AI-generated answer — Explain Bot]

The Aral Sea is drastically smaller due to water diversion.

To arrive at this answer, you can analyze each practice listed and determine which one relates to the shrinking of the Aral Sea. Let's break it down:

1. Soil erosion: Soil erosion refers to the process where topsoil is removed or washed away due to wind or water. While soil erosion can be a problem in certain regions, it is not directly related to the shrinking of the Aral Sea.

2. Deforestation: Deforestation is the clearing of trees from a forested area. It can lead to various environmental issues, such as habitat destruction and loss of biodiversity. However, it is not the main cause of the shrinking of the Aral Sea.

3. Slash and burn agriculture: Slash and burn agriculture is a traditional farming method where vegetation is cut down and then burned to create fertile land for cultivation. While this practice can have some negative environmental impacts, such as reducing forest cover, it is not the primary cause of the shrinking of the Aral Sea.

4. Water diversion: Water diversion refers to the process of diverting water from its original course to a different location. In the case of the Aral Sea, water diversion from the two main rivers that once fed the sea, the Amu Darya and the Syr Darya, for irrigation purposes is the primary reason for its drastic shrinkage. The diversion of water for agriculture and other human activities has significantly reduced the inflow of water into the sea, causing it to shrink and expose large stretches of dry seabed.

Therefore, the correct answer is water diversion.

Answer 3

[AI-generated answer — Step-by-Step Bot]

The Aral Sea is drastically smaller due to water diversion.