Invited editors:

• Dr. Redzhep Kurbanov, Faculty of Geography, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia, roger.kurbanov@gmail.com
• Prof. Elmira Aliyeva, Institute of Geology, National Academy of Sciences of Azerbaijan, Baku, Azerbaijan, elmiraaliyeva606@gmail.com
• Prof. Petr Zavialov, P.P.Shirshov Institute of Oceanology, Moscow, Russia, peter@ocean.ru
• Prof. Ibragim Kerimov, Grozny State Oil Technical University, Grozny, Russia, Ibragim_kerimov@mail.ru
• Prof. Natalya L. Frolova, Faculty of Geography, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia, frolova_nl@mail.ru

The Caspian Sea, the largest lake on Earth, has played an enormous role in human history for thousands of years, shaping the environment of Central Eurasia. Its immense natural resources – oil and gas, biological resources, recreation, and others – have attracted sustained interest for centuries. The primary feature of the Caspian’s nature is the instability of its level, controlled by a complex balance of climatic and geological factors and characterized by significant fluctuations over millions of years. Following a period of active rise and relative stabilization, the Caspian Sea has entered a regressive phase. The current level decline has fallen below the 20th-century minimum of -29 m. The complexity of the water balance coupled with substantial climatic changes across the catchment area, makes forecast of sea level fluctuations an exceedingly challenging task. This ongoing decline has significant impacted entire Caspian ecosystem. Processes such as coastal shallowing, progradation of river deltas, and water pollution require comprehensive assessment. Negative effects of the regression on the sea’s biological resources, infrastructure, transportation, oil/gas extraction have been reported across all Caspian states. The registered decrease in water inflow from major rivers of Volga, Kura, and Terek in recent years has alarmed the scientific community and signals further level decline. This special issue proposes a comprehensive examination of the ongoing Caspian regression and an evaluation of its impacts on the water balance, topography, and ecosystem of the Caspian Sea divided on the further topic:

1. The Caspian Sea in the dynamics of climate and natural processes during the Quaternary
2. Rivers of the Caspian basin under unstable sea level: geomorphological, hydrological and ecological aspects
3. The Caspian coastal zone and seafloor topography: a response to rapid sea level change
4. Ecosystem stress in sea level change
5. Modern hydroclimatic processes as drivers of Caspian Sea level variation
6. Forecast of Caspian Sea level fluctuations: climatic and hydrological models

Deadline for papers’ submission: May 31^st, 2026

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