The Caspian Sea level at the 18th-19th centuries boundary

Abstract

Critical review of papers which argue that the Caspian Sea stood high in the late 18th - early 19th centuries, suggests that historic and archaeological materials which provided the basis for the papers were insufficient for judgment on absolute altitudes of the past sea level; they could indicate only trends in the level fluctuation. Reliable data on the past sea level may be obtained only from detailed analysis of the coastal zone geology and geomorphology. The analysis indicates that the Caspian Sea level did not rise above minus 25 meters abs. during the last 400 or 500 years. Higher levels are not to be expected in the nearest future, and considering human impact, levels are more likely to stay below minus 26 m.