Climatically forced Caspian Sea level changes as it recorded in Pleistocene succession

Abstract

Intensive orogenic movements adjacent to South Caspian basin folded areas and submersion of its central parts at the end of Pontian-beginning of Early Pliocene led to dramatic PaleoCaspian Sea level fall (from 600 to 1500 m (Reynolds, 1998)). Since that time sedimentation there took place under conditions of isolated basin temporarily connected with Black Sea in Upper Pliocene (Akchagyl). Being the largest isolated basin in the world with hyper unstable sea level regime the Caspian Sea represents the beautiful model area for studying of dynamics of sedimentary basins' development in short -term intervals.