Sovremennye problemy distantsionnogo zondirovaniya Zemli iz kosmosa, 2006, Issue 3, Vol. 2, pp. 113-120
Satellite altimetry of the Caspian Sea
S.A. Lebedev
1, A.G. Kostianoy
21 Geophysical Center, Russian Academy of Sciences
State Oceanographic Institute, 3, Molodezhnaya Str., Moscow, 119236 Russia
6 Kropotkinsky Per., Moscow, 119838, Russia
2 P.P. Shirshov Institute of Oceanology, Russian Academy of Sciences, 36, Nakhimovsky Pr., Moscow, 117997 Russia
The oscillations of the Caspian Sea level represent a result of mutually related hydrometeorological processes, which
proceed not only in the sea catchment area but also far beyond it (Fig.1). The change in the tendency of the mean sea level
variations that occurred in the middle 1970s, when the long-term level fall was replaced by its rapid and significant rise (Fig.2),
represents an important indicator of the changes in the natural regime of the Caspian Sea [1]. Therefore, sea level monitoring
and long-term forecast of the sea level changes represent an extremely important task. The aim of this presentation is to show
the results of application of satellite altimetry methods to the investigation of seasonal and interannual variability of the sea
level, wind speed and wave height in different parts of the Caspian Sea and Kara-Bogaz-Gol Bay, and the Volga River level.
The work is based on the 1992-2004 TOPEX/Poseidon and Jason-1 data sets.
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