THE GLACIAL POST GLACIAL TRANSITION IN THE SOUTHERN CASPIAN SEA

A 10-m long core fron 1 the southern Caspian Sea shows a Late Pleistoc ene period characterized by detrital sedimentation, anoxic bottom cond itions and salinity lower than today. This is compatible with a sea le vel high stand during this episode. After rapid environmental fluctuat ions from approximate to 12.5 to 10 ka BP, a general regressive trend occurred from 10 to 4 ka UP. Authigenic carbonate and biogenic fractio ns contributed to the sedimentation, and bottom water became well vent ilated. The Caspian level oscillations, in response to hydric and heat budgets in its catchment, appear to be asynchronous relative to the O cean level fluctuations.