Introduction

Abstract

The Caspian Sea is the world’s largest inland body of water both in area and volume. Its drainage area is approximately 3.5 million square kilometers, extending 2500 km in length, 35ºN to 60ºN, and on average 1000 km wide, 40ºE to 60ºE Fig.1. Located in a large continental depression about 27 m below sea level and with no surface outlets, the Caspian Sea is particularly sensitive to climatic variations. As with other closed-basin lakes, its level depends on the balance between precipitation and evaporation, which is directly linked to atmospheric circulation. Because of its large area and volume of water, the Caspian Sea effectively filters climatic noise, and as such may serve as a good indicator of climatic changes through observed changes in its water level.