The area of the Ural Delta of the northeastern Caspian Sea is characterized by very high biodiversity and habitats as diverse, making it one of the most unique and important ecosystems in the world. The planning and management of the delta area and the wetlands associated with the primary aim of contributing to their protection and development, paying particular attention to the environmental processes, the peculiar economic activity, and their impact on natural ecosystems. The northern part of the Caspian Sea is located below the average sea level ("Caspian Datum" -28 m above the "Baltic Datum" as regional reference) and its level presents and rapid change over time. In the last century were detected oscillations of the order of several meters; the last was recorded in 1977 when the Caspian Sea level has raised to about +2.5m over the previous period. Not less important is the effect of the recurring phenomena of "storm surges", a fluctuation (~2 m) of water level due to the effect of wind. Those rapid changes have a great influence on the whole area from the physical-geometric, bio-ecological, and socio-economic points of view. For the study of this area, four major categories of information were geo-referenced, integrated and analyzed in a GIS system: 1) Historical maps (1800-1950) at different scales; 2) Russian topographic maps (1978-1980) scale 1:100,000; 3) Satellite Images (Corona; Landsat; ASTER; Quickbird; FORMOSAT) 4)Vector topographic data of various types and themes (vegetation, bathymetry, sediments, etc.) That have enabled us to reconstruct with good detail the modern and historical hydrographic network, the deltaic and fluvial geomorphology, the distribution and transformation of the "reed flats", etc. In particular, it’s been possible to observe that the deltaic system, initially characterized by a typical "lobed" geometry, has been transformed, from about 1950, in a distinctly digitate or “bird-foot" delta, which took place following the construction of a canal connecting the port of Atyrau. Integrating these data with socio-economic and demographic regulations, through the software "NaturaServe View, it will be possible to reach the goals of UNESCO and Ramsar conservation requirements for the nomination of a Unesco-MAB Biosphere Reserve in the area.
Ural Delta Evolutive Trend (caspian Sea, Kazakhstan) / Gabbianelli, G.; Cantelli, L.; Scarelli, F.; Marcheselli, G.. - STAMPA. - 1:(2011), pp. 122-123. (Intervento presentato al convegno World Delta Summit 2011: the pulse of Deltas and the fate of our civilization. tenutosi a Jakarta nel 21- 24 november 2011).
Ural Delta Evolutive Trend (caspian Sea, Kazakhstan)
GABBIANELLI, GIOVANNI;CANTELLI, LUIGI;SCARELLI, FREDERICO;MARCHESELLI, GIUSEPPINA EUGENIA
2011
Abstract
The area of the Ural Delta of the northeastern Caspian Sea is characterized by very high biodiversity and habitats as diverse, making it one of the most unique and important ecosystems in the world. The planning and management of the delta area and the wetlands associated with the primary aim of contributing to their protection and development, paying particular attention to the environmental processes, the peculiar economic activity, and their impact on natural ecosystems. The northern part of the Caspian Sea is located below the average sea level ("Caspian Datum" -28 m above the "Baltic Datum" as regional reference) and its level presents and rapid change over time. In the last century were detected oscillations of the order of several meters; the last was recorded in 1977 when the Caspian Sea level has raised to about +2.5m over the previous period. Not less important is the effect of the recurring phenomena of "storm surges", a fluctuation (~2 m) of water level due to the effect of wind. Those rapid changes have a great influence on the whole area from the physical-geometric, bio-ecological, and socio-economic points of view. For the study of this area, four major categories of information were geo-referenced, integrated and analyzed in a GIS system: 1) Historical maps (1800-1950) at different scales; 2) Russian topographic maps (1978-1980) scale 1:100,000; 3) Satellite Images (Corona; Landsat; ASTER; Quickbird; FORMOSAT) 4)Vector topographic data of various types and themes (vegetation, bathymetry, sediments, etc.) That have enabled us to reconstruct with good detail the modern and historical hydrographic network, the deltaic and fluvial geomorphology, the distribution and transformation of the "reed flats", etc. In particular, it’s been possible to observe that the deltaic system, initially characterized by a typical "lobed" geometry, has been transformed, from about 1950, in a distinctly digitate or “bird-foot" delta, which took place following the construction of a canal connecting the port of Atyrau. Integrating these data with socio-economic and demographic regulations, through the software "NaturaServe View, it will be possible to reach the goals of UNESCO and Ramsar conservation requirements for the nomination of a Unesco-MAB Biosphere Reserve in the area.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
