Threat of destruction of a coastal infrastructure and historical landscapes of Baku as a result of change of Caspian sea level.

SHAHLA KAHRAMANOVA, BABAYEV SHEHALI
National Academy of Science, Azerbaijan and Azerbaijan Architecture & Construction University

The coastal infrastructure and historical landscapes of Baku are vulnerable to rise of Caspian sea level connected with climate fluctuation. Fluctuation impact of Caspian sea level is considerably and it causes damage to coastal areas.
According to forecasts, the next period of Caspian sea level rising will be prolonged approximately up to 2040 year. The sea level will rise on 1.5 meter that will lead to complication of an ecological and social-economic situation of Baku as more than 50 % of Azerbaijan population and 60% of all industrial potential of the republic are concentrated in Baku agglomeration. As a result of sea level rising the coastal human settlements, oil wells can be flooded, architecture monuments and natural landscapes of Baku can be destructed that can be accompanied by threat for ecology of all region.
Ecological situation of coastal areas of Baku is complicated by complex of the city hydro-geological conditions, characterized with presence of ground waters which level directly depends on Caspian sea level, decreasing from board parts of Baku trough to the city coastal zone. Rising of ground water level can lead to flooding of building basement, especially in a low historical part that is threat of these object destruction.
In turn the city ground waters and industrial wastes are the reason of occurrence of some artificial lakes and boggy territories.
Caspian sea, ground waters and artificial lakes of Baku are the complete interconnected ecological system which breaking undoubtedly to be reflected in the city ecology, destruction of the coastal infrastructure and historical landscapes.
Therefore, it is necessary to develop mechanisms of adaptation to the sea level change and to the future climate fluctuations, and also measures of cultural heritage preservations, including measures using hard (construction of dams, mounds, walls and the barriers controlling flooding) and soft structures (adding soil of beaches, creation of strongly moistened lands)/ It is necessary to pay attention on groundwater level recession (laying on new collecting system of all city territory, controlling of inlet chambers, construction of drainage systems, controlling of industrial waste into lakes and other reservoirs), decrease in water leakage from underground communications, protection of building constructions from ground waters, etc.