Monitoring of the Caspian deltas changes by space imagery

Deltas on the Caspian Sea coasts are characterised by large-scale changes connected with deep fall of the sea level in 30^th to 70^th and fast rise by 2.4 m in 1978-1995, as well as with anthropogenic reduction of the sediment discharges (especially for the Sulak and Kura Rivers). Monitoring of this stage of delta´s dynamics was provided by space surveys. A series of dynamics maps were compiled for the Terek, Sulak, Kura and Ural deltas using multitemporal satellite images. Materials for the Sulak and Kura deltas are presented and analysed in the paper. The reaction of deltas to the Caspian Sea level rise (realised in partly inundation and abrasion of the delta coasts, and changes of their landscapes) can be used as an analogue phenomenon for forecasting of processes which can take place in world river deltas in the case of proposed global sea level rise.