Hydrological and Morphological Processes in the Kura River Delta

Abstract

Peculiarities of the development of the Kura Delta over the last 200 years are discussed. As shown, changes in the delta were greatly affected by the Caspian Sea level drop during 1929-1977 and its rise during 1978-1995 as well as by natural and human-induced variations in the water and sediment runoff of the river. It was noted that the delta area decreased by nearly 40% as a result of the sea level rise. The following significant changes in the Kura Delta were revealed in recent years using space images: river water rushed through the right mouth spit and, hence, the main Southeastern Branch was devoid of its flow and a new sea spit began its for- mation in the branch mouth using wave-cut products.