Caspian Sea-Level Fluctuations:

Chapter
9

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Geographical, Geological and Ecological Effects of
Caspian Sea-Level Fluctuations: Introduction

Nikita F. Glazovskiy and V. A. Rudakov

Russian Academy of Sciences and Institute of Geography
Moscow State University
Moscow, Russia

Abstract

This paper provides background material for the following chapters in this book. The Caspian Sea has experienced extreme sea-level fluctuations in the past, and has transgressed more than 2 m in the past 2 decades. The physical characteristics of the Caspian Sea (including water fluxes, salinity, regional climate) are discussed. The recent changes in sea level are introduced and are related to the regional environment and economy.

Citation for the published article

Glazovskiy, N. F., and V. A. Rudakov, 2000. Geographical, geological and ecological effects of Caspian sea-level fluctuations: Introduction, in Dynamic Earth Environments: Remote Sensing Observations from Shuttle-Mir Missions (K. P. Lulla and L. V. Dessinov, eds.), John Wiley & Sons, New York, pp. 133-144.

Links to Color Images

	Figure 9.1 Major political and geographical features of the Caspian Sea region.
	Figure 9.2 Regional view of the northern Caspian Sea, April 1991 (NNASA photograph STS 39-151-007). This south-southeastward view was taken midway between the onset of transgression and the present; it spans the northern Caspian, the Volga and Ural River deltas, the Apsheron and Mangyshlak Peninsulas. The Aral' Sea is visible in the eastern distance, but most of the Gulf of Kara-Bogaz-Gol is beneath clouds.
	Figure 9.3 Regional view of the southern and eastern Caspian Sea, October 1997 (NASA photograph NASA 6-707-031). In this recent photo of the southeastern Caspian, Kara-Bogaz-Gol is full; in sunglint, the channel that was dredged through the spit separating the bay from the Caspian can be seen. The channel was partially opened in 1984, then cut through in 1992 to allow rising Caspian waters to spread over the bay floor, where there was little water in 1985. The wing-shaped Cheleken Peninsula is near the center of view and Gorgan Bay (Iran) occupies the southeast corner of the Caspian.
	Figure 9.4 Geographic coverage of Chapters 11 to 19. Proceeding clockwise from the Volga River delta: A, Chapter 11; B, Chapter 12; C, Chapter 13; D, Chapter 14; E, Chapter 15; F, Chapter 16; G, Chapter 17; H, Chapter 18; I, Chapter 19.

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