WATER LEVEL VARIATIONS ON THE BALKASH LAKE IN THE MODERN PERIOD

The article considers the nature of long-term and storm surge fluctuations in the level on the Balkash Lake. Statistics are presented and their seasonal distribution in different parts of the lake is described. It is noted that a change in the level entails a change in the morphometric characteristics of the lake; there is a tendency to reduce the area and, accordingly, the water volume of lake. The most vulnerable is the southern coast, which is a low-lying accumulative sandy plain. With wind surges, the coast is flooded in a strip from several hundred meters to several kilometers. Even fluctuations in the lake level (20...30 cm) lead here to significant displacements of the coastline. Surge phenomena in this area are the main factor in the for-mation of the relief. The amplitude of surge fluctuations of the Balkash Lake level signifi-cantly exceeds the annual amplitude of changes in the filling of the lake. The highest ampli-tude of surge oscillations is observed in Western Balkhash and at the end sections of the lake.