The Caspian Sea is shrinking: experts predict a decade of ecological crisis

The Caspian Sea will continue to shallow: scientists predict a multi-year crisis, reports BAKU.WS with reference to Interfax.ru

The water level in the Caspian Sea will steadily decline over the next 10-15 years, which could lead to serious ecological and economic consequences for the entire region. This was stated by the head of the Federal Service for Hydrometeorology and Environmental Monitoring of Russia (Roshydromet) Igor Shumakov, speaking at the XI Nevsky International Ecological Congress in St. Petersburg.

"Forecasts based on models from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change show that global climate change trends will persist. This means that in the Caspian region in the next 10-15 years, natural environmental changes will occur against the background of rising air temperatures, decreasing river flow and, consequently, further lowering of the Caspian Sea level," emphasized Shumakov. Roshydromet specialists have been recording an alarming trend in recent years: the water temperature in the Caspian is rising, leading to increased evaporation from the water surface.

This process, combined with the reduction in water inflow from rivers feeding the sea, creates a critical situation for the largest enclosed body of water on the planet. The Caspian Sea, with an area of about 371,000 km², is a unique ecosystem, home to many endemic species, including the famous Caspian seal and sturgeon fish. The history of fluctuations in the Caspian's level spans millennia, but modern climate changes are accelerating natural processes.

Igor Shumakov called for the development and adoption of a complex of adaptation measures for the period of continuing sea level decline. He especially emphasized the need to coordinate the efforts of all five Caspian states - Russia, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Iran, and Azerbaijan - to implement programs to preserve the unique ecosystem of the Caspian.

Experts note that the shallowing of the Caspian Sea could lead to serious consequences for coastal infrastructure, shipping, fishing, and biodiversity in the region, which requires immediate joint action by all stakeholders.