Caspian Sea 2011

State of the Environment of the Caspian Sea

toring revealed clear decline in phenol concentra- tions. Ammonium concentrations were measured high in estuarine waters of the Volga River and in the western part of the North Caspian Sea. (1) Seaside the Volga delta (2) North Caspian In the same study, monitoring was carried out in 1978-2004 at 36 stations in the shallow waters of the Dagestan shelf and a cross section of the middle Caspian Sea. (Table x). It revealed that the TPH concentration was lower than in the North- ern Caspian Sea and had a clear tendency to de- cline. The most polluted area was near the town of Izberbash. Some high concentrations were also detected close to the Terek River and the village of Lopatin. Phenol concentration was rather high around Dagestan and showed significant variabil- ity both in space and time. In general, long-term research revealed decrease in phenol concentra- tions in waters. However, there are still single high concentration values that occur, but it can be associated to selected patches. High average value of ammonium concentrations were meas- ured in estuarine waters of Terek and Sulak Rivers. Korshenko and Gul, 2005 also reported on wa- ter quality in the Southern Caspian Sea. They found high concentrations of petroleum hydro- carbons, phenols and detergents in the west- ern region, which decreased eastward. The re- sults indicated that in general, the waters of the Southern Caspian Sea could be considered to be heavily polluted. More recently (2008 and 2009), four marine ex- peditions were carried out, covering all national sectors apart from Iran (CEP 2009). The water and bottom sediment samples taken during these cruises were analyzed in the national laboratories (selected on the results of an inter-calibration test). Not all sample analysis has been completed and as yet no results are available.

Nitrogen discharge from Volga to the Caspian Sea

Thousand tons

800

Total Nitrogen Mineral form nitrogen Organic form nitrogen

700

600

500

400

300

200

100

0

1955 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2005

Source: Mitrofanov, I., Outlook Report on the State of the Marine Biodiversity in the Caspian region , Montreal, 2010.

Phosphorus discharge from Volga to the Caspian Sea

Thousand tons

80

Total phosphorus Mineral form nitrogen Organic form nitrogen

70

60

50

40

30

20

10

0

1955 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2005

Source: Mitrofanov, I., Outlook Report on the State of the Marine Biodiversity in the Caspian region , Montreal, 2010.

46