By Firaya Nurizada

Copyright trend

BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 29.​ Authorities
have identified the causes behind the declining water level of the
Caspian Sea, the State Control Service for Water Use and Protection
under the State Water Resources Agency of Azerbaijan said in a
statement, Trend reports.

According to the service, monitoring carried out by relevant
agencies shows that a significant drop in the sea level has come
about since 2005, and from the period spanning 2021 through 2024,
there was a notable decrement in the Caspian Sea’s hydrological
elevation, quantified at 96 centimeters.

The primary culprits behind this downturn are climate change, a
drop in rainfall in the area, increased evaporation due to higher
temperatures, and a decrease in the water flow of rivers feeding
into the Caspian Sea.

“In particular, changes in the water balance of the Volga River
play an important role in this process,” the service noted.

The service pointed out that the shrinking sea level is throwing
a wrench in the works for coastal ecosystems, biodiversity,
fisheries, port operations, and transportation and infrastructure

“This situation also creates economic and social challenges for
regional countries. Therefore, coordinated action, science-based
decisions, and joint measures are necessary to mitigate the
expected risks,” the statement added.

The service emphasized the need for a comprehensive plan that
considers climate, rainfall, river flows, and sea level, developed
in close cooperation with Caspian littoral states and nations
hosting rivers that feed the sea. This plan should serve as the
basis for accurately predicting sea level changes and implementing
targeted measures to address them.

As part of these efforts, the Framework Convention for the
Protection of the Marine Environment of the Caspian Sea has
developed the “Caspian Sea Environmental Monitoring Program”
through its Monitoring and Assessment Working Group.

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