2. GEOGRAPHIC AND GENERAL
INFORMATION
Caspian Sea, the largest land-locked body of water on earth.
Littoral States: Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Russia and
Turkmenistan.
Length of Coastline: 7000 km
Caspian Coastal Population: approximately 16 million
3. GEOGRAPHIC AND GENERAL
INFORMATION
The water level, is currently about 28 m below the Baltic Sea
level.The level has fluctuated from 6- 7 m during the past few
centuries.
Historically, the sea accounted more than 90% of world
sturgeon and caviar output.
It has abundant oil and gas deposits and they are exploited both
on- and off-shore
4. ISSUES ANDTHREATS OF CASPIAN SEA
There are three major challenges:
Water Level Fluctuations on Coastal
Decline in Biodiversity
Water Pollution
5. ISSUES ANDTHREATS OF CASPIAN SEA
CHANGES INWATER LEVEL
The water balance is dominated by river runoffs and rainfalls(incoming part),
evaporation and water outflow to Kara-Bogaz- Gol(outgoing part)
The Kara-Bogaz Gol, largest lagoon in the world
6. ISSUES ANDTHREATS OF CASPIAN SEA
CHANGES INWATER LEVEL
Kara- Bogaz-Gol is a shallow gulf in the Caspian Sea , with max depths<10m
The role of the gulf, water balance of the Caspian
Lower than the level of sea about by 3-4 meters
This gulf constantly «drinks» the water of the Caspian (N. Aladin , I. Plotnikov,
2004)
7. ISSUES ANDTHREATS OF CASPIAN SEA
CHANGES INWATER LEVEL
The highest level of the Caspian Sea, 1896 - approximately 25 m below the MSL
(sea level)
The lowest in the 20th century 1977 -29.03 m
However Caspian stabilized in 1995 at the level of - 26.61 m, during subsequent
years the level fell by several centimeters each year.
At the moment the sea level is around -28 m below the sea level
8. ISSUES ANDTHREATS OF CASPIAN SEA
CHANGES INWATER LEVEL
Reason:
Climate changes
inhibited evaporation from Caspian Sea due to oil pollution, diversion of water
from outside of the Caspian Sea watershed,
the green house effect
the melting of the polar ice may have been responsible for water level
fluctuations
9. ISSUES ANDTHREATS OF CASPIAN SEA
CHANGES INWATER LEVEL
Results:
The sea level rise has resulted in significant economic, health and environmental
damage to Azerbaijan and Dagestan Republic of Russian Federation
Communities in affected areas have suffered from increased humidity and
dampness
Drinking water quality has deteriorated due to the salt water intrusion
Communications infrastructure has been significantly damaged
Flooded agricultural lands and damage to fish processing industries have
deepened unemployment and poverty
10. ISSUES ANDTHREATS OF CASPIAN SEA
WATER POLLUTION
Sources are industrial, agricultural and accidental
discharges and sewage ;
Oil field and industrial discharges from the Baku
and Sumgait facilities and with Kura discharges
Turkmenbashi oil refinery and Cheleken oil fields
In Kazakhstan, pollutants mainly come from
flooded oil fields and the Ural river discharges. (N.
Aladin , I. Plotnikov, 2004)
11. ISSUES ANDTHREATS OF CASPIAN SEA
WATER POLLUTION
The main pollution outcome comes from theVolga whose input contains
discharges from other sources that not accumulate in reservoirs and its delta.
The extensive development of theVolga River has made major contributions to
the Russian economy but,
Flowing through large industrial sections of Russia,Volga is one of the most
polluted rivers in the world. (F. Nadim et al, 2006)
12. ISSUES ANDTHREATS OF CASPIAN SEA
WATER POLLUTION
Water pollution in the rivers flowing into the Caspian Sea is slowly diminishing its
highly sensitive marine life.
The Caspian Sea threaten the existence of the rare sturgeon and fresh water seals
that live there.
Since the year of 2000, thousands of Caspian seals have died due to pollution that
weakened their immune systems.
13. ISSUES ANDTHREATS OF CASPIAN SEA
DECLINE IN BIODIVERSITY
The isolation of the Caspian basin for over two million years and its climatic and
salinity gradients has created a unique ecological system with more than 400
species endemic to the Caspian Sea.
There are 115 species of fish, of which some are anadromous migrating from the
Caspian up the rivers to spawn.
The Caspian sturgeon and the rare fresh water seal are among the most famous
species indigenous to the Caspian.
The sea accounted more than 90% of world sturgeon and caviar output.
14. ISSUES ANDTHREATS OF CASPIAN SEA
DECLINE IN BIODIVERSITY
Toxic impact on fish not cause death of fish but the deteriotion of their
physiological condition, feeding, reproduction and other life processes.
Higher concentration of oil (up to 15 MPC) and its derivatives reduce the growth
and development rate, fertility, reproduction capacity. (N. Aladin , I. Plotnikov,
2004)
