Analysis and Modeling of the Effect of Water Level Decline on Coastal Flow Patterns and Sediment Transport through Hydrographic Maps in the Southern Caspian Sea Ports (Case Study: Nowshahr and Fereydunkenar Ports)

The Caspian Sea, with an average area of about ۳۷۰,۰۰۰ square kilometers, is located between Europe and Asia. This lake is bordered by five coastal countries: the Islamic Republic of Iran, Russia, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, and the Republic of Azerbaijan. Over the past several centuries, the water level of the Caspian Sea has undergone significant fluctuations, with a declining trend in recent decades, recognized as one of the major environmental and economic challenges in the region. The decline in water level, in addition to altering hydrodynamic patterns and coastal current regimes, has direct and indirect impacts on sediment transport processes and deposition within the northern ports, which can affect port operational performance, dredging costs, navigation safety, and coastal infrastructure. In this study, numerical modeling was employed to examine and analyze the effects of the Caspian Sea water level decline on sedimentation trends in selected northern ports (Nowshahr Port and Fereidoonkenar Port). The results of this research, while providing an accurate picture of potential changes in sedimentation patterns, can serve as a scientific basis for optimizing dredging operations, designing resilient coastal structures, and developing adaptive strategies against water level reduction in the northern ports of the Caspian Sea.

کلیدواژه ها:

Water Level ، Caspian Sea ، Dredging ، Nowshahr Port ، Fereydunkenar Port