Features of landscape structure of the coastal dunes of the East Caspian Sea

Abstract

A band of coastal dunes on the eastern shore of the Caspian Sea is found in the Middle Caspian, where plateaux of the Turan platform (Mangyshlak and Kendirli-Koyasan) come up to the shore, and in the South Caspian, bordering with the West-Turkmenian lowland, situated in the inter-mountain depression of alpine folding. Coastal dunes of the Middle and South Caspian were created like barrier islands, which attached to the shore during sea-level fall and separated lagoons from the sea. Later, these lagoons were divided into small salt lakes which dried out and changed into solonchaks. In spite of the general method of development of coastal dunes, there are some differences in the landscape structure of the dunes of the plateau and those of the lowland. For example, on the shore of the plateau the main shore developing fluctuations are waves, whereas on the shore of the lowland, wind-induced surges and, to a lesser extent waves, are the driving force. The elevation of the coastal dunes is higher and their surface is wider on the lowland shore. The surface of dry solonchaks is also higher here. On the shore of the plateau rapid sea-level rise causes destruction of old patches and the creation of new ones. On the shore of the lowland this leads to transformation of old patches, located in the zone of sea/land interaction.