The level of the Caspian Sea continues to fall.
Modern.az reports with reference to local media that this was announced by the Russian Academy of Sciences.
Thus, in April 2026, a complex scientific-geographical expedition called "New Delta 2026" was organized on the ships of the Hydrographic Service of the Caspian Flotilla with the participation of the P.P. Shirshov Institute of Oceanology of the Russian Academy of Sciences and the Astrakhan Biosphere Reserve. The research was carried out in the waters of the Volga-Caspian shipping canal and in the northern part of the Caspian Sea.
During geomorphological observations, operational information was obtained regarding changes in the coastline of the sea. It was determined that the coastline expanded on existing and newly formed islands. For example, the area of Chistaya Banka island in the Russian part of the Caspian Sea has doubled compared to 2019. This is due to the decrease in the level of the Caspian Sea and the formation of new shallow areas in the eastern, western and southern parts of the island.
During the study, it was also recorded that the island formed in place of the Tbilisi bank is rapidly expanding. It was stated that the area of that island has tripled compared to last year.
Hydro-physical measurements were carried out in the Northern Caspian to determine the speed and direction of water flows. The landscape of the seabed was studied using side-scan sonars and a multi-beam echosounder. Records from acoustic Doppler current meters showed that water masses moved back and forth in the southwest - northeast direction. Scientists linked this to the redistribution of river waters entering the northern part of the sea and the synoptic conditions formed in the spring season.
Within the framework of the expedition, samples were also taken to determine hydro-chemical indicators for laboratory analyzes. According to the results of the complex research, the tendency of a continuous decrease in the level of the Caspian Sea was confirmed once again.
