Detection of coastal dynamics depending on the Caspian Sea level change using remote sensing data: A case study in the Kura geomorphological sub-region (Azerbaijan)

Abstract

Based on the analysis performed in the Kura geomorphological sub-region of the Caspian coastal zone, it was determined that the sea level rise of 2.43 m in 1976–1996 caused an average annual rate of erosion processes about 75 times higher than accumulation processes. In 1996–2019, the stabilization and the following drop of the sea level of 1.39 m led to an average annual rate of accumulation processes up to 14 times higher than the average annual rate of erosion processes. This pattern is observed along the entire coastline of those periods. Erosion processes in the initial stage (1976–1996) increased the indentation and length of the coastline by almost 2 times, and in the next stage (1996–2019) the intensification of accumulation processes resulted in the smoothing and reduction of the coastline by 35 %. Statistical analysis of coastlines was carried out by processing Landsat satellite images for 1976–2019; each coastline was divided into 14 segments according to geomorphological zones and their morphostructures in the study area. The development forecast for the next 10 and 20 years is provided.