Caspian Sea: Embracing change for a sustainable future..

Authors

1 Iranian National Institute for Oceanography and Atmospheric Science, Tehran, Iran

2 Akvaplan-niva, Dept. Arctic R&D, Oslo, Norway

Abstract

The Caspian Sea, the world's largest inland body of water, has long experienced significant water-level fluctuations due mainly to natural factors, with additional impacts from human activities. Anthropogenic influences, including land- and sea-based activities, extend beyond the water level changes, severely impacting the Caspian’s delicate ecosystem through pollution and unsustainable resource use. Global warming exacerbates environmental deterioration, which reduces freshwater supply and disrupts basin-wide circulation and vertical mixing, which are crucial for the Caspian bioproductivity. While scholars often focus on the complex ecological dynamics of the Caspian Sea, politicians are more concerned with the visible issue of the water level fluctuations. Although these perspectives are distinct, both overlook the need to address the Caspian’s environmental system as a water body that integrated to the catchment basin. This comment argues that the future of the Caspian Sea lies in adapting intelligently to its natural cycles and prioritizing action on environmental degradation.

Keywords

References

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Caspian Journal of Environmental Sciences
Volume 24, Issue 2
April 2026
Pages 641-645

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