Geology, geography and global energy

Scientific and Technical Journal

Estimate of the damage caused by the decrease in the caspian’s sea level atthe astrakhan region coastal section

2012. №4, pp. 218-223

Karasaeva Alfinur R. - Post-graduate student, Astrakhan State Technical University, 16 Tatishcev st., Astrakhan, Russian Federation, 414025, alfinur84@mail.ru

Serebryakov Andrey O. - Senior Lecturer, Astrakhan State University, 20a Tatishchev st., Astrakhan, Russian Federation, 414056, geologi2007@yandex.ru

The article notes the characteristics of the coastal section of the Astrakhan region, which contains four districts: Liman, Ikryaninsky, Kamyzyaksky and Volodarsky. Subsequently, the paper assesses the damage that the plunge in the level of the Caspian Sea has caused to the region, especially the Primorsky complex. In this respect, it has calculated the economic, social, and environmental damage caused to different sectors of the economy (including agriculture, fisheries and the general population). The damage assessment was implemented, for the most part, in the last decade, namely in the 2006-2011 timespan. Nevertheless, predictions for 2012 indicate that the Caspian sea-level will continue to decrease. According to scientists, its current level (in 2012) is minus 27.5 Mbps, and there is a strong likelihood that the level will fall to minus 28.00 Mbps over the next three to four years. This would mark a critical geological milestone for the Caspian Sea and for the sea and coastal segments of its ecosystem. A series of reports have recorded the damage already caused by the sea-level’s fall to the Astrakhan region, and, in particular, to construction in the Primorsky complex. The complex has a total area of 1456.81 hectares and an overall population of 180.53 thousand.

Key words: Seaside complex,Caspian Sea,fluctuation of sea level,Astrakhan region,economic damage,ecological damage,social damage,sea level,plunge in sea level,shallow year

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