Reports on Environment and Urban Development for Alaverdy

GEO ALAVERDI: ENVIRONMENT AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT

CHAPTER 4. IMPACT OF THE STATE OF THE ENVIRONMENT

1. Impact on the ecosystems Deforestation, enormous volumes of atmospheric pollution, exceedances in the permissible levels of pollution of soil and water resources fi nally have their irreversible impact on the ecosystem. The nature always uses protective measures against the anthropogenic impacts. Especially, when the climate of the area has suffered serious changes in the last several years, and thus contributed to increase in the probabilities of hydro-meteorological hazardous phenomena. Some of the mentioned phenomena in the area of Alaverdi are the mud fl ows, droughts, heats (torrid) , intensive precipitation, frosts, strong winds and ice- rains. The analysis have shown that the frequency of strong winds (over 25m/ sec) has increased in relation to the capacity by 18%; the fl ood rains (20mm or more within 12 hours) have reduced by 12%; the ice-rains (20mm and larger in diameter) have reduced by 17%; and the frequency of frosts (below 0 0 C during the vegetative season) and heats has not changed. The data of 2004-2008 shows that the average annual temperature in Alaverdi has been recorded above the norm by 0.7 0 C 8 in the period of 1961-1990. The anticipated increase in the average temperature is 1.5-2.0 0 C, and the precipitation will reduce by 10%. The assessments made by ArmStateHydromet, based on this data, show that in the result the evapotranspiration will increase by 40-80mm annually. Due to this, there will be 8-15% of de fi ciency of irrigation water in the region, if the current norms on watering are maintained. The soil humidity will decrease by 10-30%, with 25-50mm of increase in the de fi ciency level. The river fl ow will be reduced by 15-20% 9 . Figure 4.1: Average monthly air temperature in 2008 and the deviation thereof from the 1961-1990 norms a) average monthly air temperature, 0 C b) deviation from 1961-1990 norms, 0 C

Source: ArmStateHydromet Service, Yerevan, 2009.

8 Data taken from ArmStateHydromet 9 “Environment and Natural Resources of Armenia, in 2004”, RA NSS, 2004

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CHAPTER 4. IMPACT OF THE STATE OF THE ENVIRONMENT

Environmental Knowledge for Change