THEME I
The Impact Of Climate Change On:
Sea Level, Bio-Resources, Bio-
Diversity, Marine Invasive Species,
Ecology And Food Web: Past,
Present And
Future
Change in the level of the Caspian Sea and its socio-ecological impact on the coastal zone of
Azerbaijan Republic
Dr., prof. Amir S. Aliyev
1
, Rana Y. Ahmedova
2
1
Geography Institute of ANAS, Baku, Azerbaijan,e-mail:
amir50@mail.ru
2
Geography Institute of ANAS
, Baku, Azerbaijan.
Keywords: level of the Caspian Sea, Azerbaijani coastal zone
Abstract. During the years 1977-1995, the level of the Caspian Sea grew rapidly, approximately
130 mm per year. It is now established that more than half of the coastal territory of the
Republic
of Azerbaijan is below the level of the world ocean. For a detailed study of the state of flooding of
the Azerbaijani coastal zone when raising the level of the Caspian Sea, we compile maps of
flooding of all extents of coastal lines. The map of the flooding of the
Azerbaijani coastal zone is
made up of aerospace photographs using the literature and materials of the fund, as well as
topographical and thematic plans.
Introduction: The Caspian Sea is of particular interest to scientists because of its history of
fluctuations in both area and depth, which offer the key to the complex geological and climatic
evolution of the region.
Approximately 5 million years ago, the Caspian Sea separated from the Black Sea as a result of
tectonic and climatic processes and formed its own independent basin. Today it is the largest
lake in the world. More than 80% of its shoreline within the area that w a s o n c e part of
the Soviet territory, and which now includes four Republics - Azerbaijan, Russia,
Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan - the remaining shore borders belong to Iran.
Its elongated form extends almost 750 miles (1200 km) from
north to south, and its average width is
about 200 miles (320 km). At present, it covers an area of about 145,000 square miles (391,000
km2). The Caspian Sea is not only
an economic source, but also a climatic regulator of this region.
Base part. During these many years, there have been considerable fluctuations of the sea
level. Short - term wind fluctuations can cause rises up to seven feet, although the average
is about two feet. Barometric pressure changes can cause such fluctuations. Tidal variations are
only a few inches. And the seasonal rises, induced by high spring water in rivers, are not much
more.
It is revealed that more than half of the coastal territory of the Republic of Azerbaijan was in
t h e condition of flooding during the rise of the Caspian sea level by 2,5 meters i n t h e
p e r i o d f r o m 1978 – 1996. Flood maps of the entire length (about 800 km) of coastlines
w e re compiled. The layouts of the maps are shown in Fig.2. For this purpose the aeroc o s m i c
photos, data of regular instrumental sea level measurements and expedition work in the
coastal zone were used. The map of the flooding of Azerbaijani coast is drawn up with
materials of decoding aerocosmic photo, references and fund materials, also w i t h topographic
and subject plans. So, about 100 maps of flooding in 1:25,000 scales were drawn up. On the
basis of the coastal zone of the Republic of Azerbaijan, 26.5 mBS (the
maximum sea level for
the last 70 years, observed in 1996) and the possible rise in sea level to the level of 25.00
mBS (abs.) were compiled at two sea level values.
Table 1 shows the morphometric characteristics and flood square of 11 administrative regions
of the Republic of Azerbaijan situated in the coastal zone of the Caspian Sea.
1