Lake Balkhash Research Articles

The effects of water and bottom sediments from Lake Balkash (Central Asia) on early development of fish and amphibians

The effects of water and bottom sediments from Lake Balkash (Central Asia) on early development of fish and amphibians

Fish biodiversity dynamics in the Western part of Lake Balkash (Central Asia)

Fish biodiversity dynamics in the Western part of Lake Balkash (Central Asia)

Top soil physical and chemical properties in Kazakhstan across a north-south gradient

Kazakhstan’s soil properties have yet to be comprehensively characterized. We sampled 40 sites consisting of ten major soil types at spring (wet) and late-summer (dry) seasons. The sample locations range from semi-arid to arid with an annual mean air temperature from 1.2 to 10.7 °C and annual precipitation from less than 200 to around 400 mm. Overall topsoil total (STC), organic (SOC), and inorganic (SIC) carbon did not change significantly between spring and late summer. STC and SOC show a wave like pattern from north to south with two maxima in northern and southern Kazakhstan and one minimum in central Kazakhstan. With a few exceptions SIC content at northern sites is generally low, whereas at Lake Balkhash SIC can exceed 75% of STC. Independent of the seasons, SOC significantly differed among soil types. Total nitrogen content distribution among our sampling sites followed a similar pattern as SOC with significant differences between soil types occurring in northern, central and southern Kazakhstan.

Toponymy of the Ancient Sary-Arka (North-Eastern Kazakhstan)

Abstract This study examines the etymology of the principal physiographic entities of the ancient Sary-Arka area–meaning in the old Turkic language Yellowing Ridge – encompassing the present territory of parkland-steppes, rocky highlands and the adjacent mountains of North and East Kazakhstan. The current linguistic evidence points to a complex and chronologically long culture-historical development reflected by the local place names best-recorded for the major rivers and mountains (hydronyms and oronyms, respectively). Not all geo-site names are securely determined by using modern onomastics. Records of material culture provide additional multi-proxy information. Local uniformity of some toponyms across the extensive area assuming a common cultural background attests to a broader ethnic homogeneity and/or mobility of the ancient populations inhabiting this vast and geomorphically mosaic land. This suggests a close relationship and interactions (including demographic exchanges and mixing) between the past pastoral ethics in the parkland-steppe and semi-desert areas north of Lake Balkhash between the Aral Sea and the southern Urals in the West and the Alatau–Altai Mountain systems in the East. Whereas the hydronyms of the Sary-Arka may have a rather complex and not fully clear origin with a connection to the Turkic-Tatar medieval tribes and nations’ occupancy in northern Central Asia eventually modified into the present Kazakh language forms, the oronyms of the East Kazakhstan mountain ranges indicate the Mongolian roots.

Interdecadal variations in persistent anomalous cold events over Asian mid-latitudes

Based on the Japanese 55-year reanalysis daily data, this study finds that the frequency of persistent cold events from Lake Balkhash to Lake Baikal exhibits a clear interdecadal variation. Circulation characteristics, such as interdecadal variations in regional persistent cold event frequencies, are the focus of this study. During the 57-year period, a subperiod from the mid-1980s to the late 1990s exhibits inactive characteristics compared with those before and after during the study period. On a subseasonal timescale, the typical circulation patterns of persistent cold events are characterized by wave-train anomalies across the Atlantic Ocean and Eurasian continent, with significantly positive height anomalies that persist over the Ural Mountains in the upper troposphere, positive SLP anomalies over Eurasian mid- to high latitudes and cold SAT anomalies from Lake Balkhash to Lake Baikal. The changes in background circulation at the interdecadal timescale correspond well with the typical circulation patterns at the subseasonal timescale, indicating their important role in modulating the frequency of persistent cold events. Interdecadal changes in the background circulation can be partially explained by transient eddy feedback forcing.

Самоочищающая способность природных вод аридных зон

The paper presents the analysis of literature data and research results on self-purification and self-purification ability of natural waters at arid zones (on example of closed Lake Balkhash). The self-purification processes are a combination of all natural (hydrodynamic, chemical, microbiological and hydrobiological) processes in contaminated natural waters. A large number of pollutants and specific (physical and geographical) conditions of reservoirs causes the complexity and variety of cleaning processes of natural waters. Large amounts of pollutants discharged into water reservoirs and drains impede the self-purification processes. It has been established that the sediments and clay of Lake Balkhash absorb the metal ions. Thus, the process of absorption of Mn2+ ions by clay minerals mainly occurs within the first three hours of contact, whereas sorption by slits continues until 10-15 days. The sediments are good absorbents for cadmium (90%), zinc (86%) and copper (78%). The sorption properties in the dynamic mode decreases in the row of zeolite (SEC = 1.02·10-3), then Fe (OH)3 (SEC = 0.28·10-3) and Al (OH)3 (SEC = 0.10·10-3 mmol-eq/g) with respect to Mn+2 ion with concentrations from 5.0 to 100 μg/L.

К ВОПРОСУ ЗАРЫБЛЕНИЯ ВОДОЕМОВ КАЗАХСТАНА КАЧЕСТВЕННЫМ РЫБОПОСАДОЧНЫМ МАТЕРИАЛОМ ЦЕННЫХ ВИДОВ РЫБ

Rational use of fish stocks in fishing reservoirs impliesa substantiated strategy of stocking water bodies by valuable fish juveniles. In reservoirs used for commercial fishing, ichthyofauna has a property of self-reproducing: in the process of natural spawning of fish there occurs further replenishment of fish abundance. Under intensive fishing and unstable hydrological regime ability of populations for self-reproduction is violated, so in order to maintain a sustainable fish population, measures are required to support fish populations. For this purpose, there is carried out stocking of natural reservoirs where commercial fishing is conducted. At present, the stocking of Kazakhstan fishery reservoirs is mainly carried out by larvae and fingerlings of carp and carnivorous fishes, giving a small commercial return. The analysis of results of the current practice and operating system of fish stocking by valuable fish juveniles shows its inefficiency. It is recommended to take into account the feeding area for a specific species, the biomass of the components of the food base used by this species, the survival at specific age stages of the invader when determining the amount of stocking. There have been proposed measures to increase stocking effectiveness, defined the age stages and principles of selecting producers to obtain fish planting material. For stocking, the genetic diversity of the producers is important, so the breeding stocks in hatcheries should be constantly replenished by wild producers. There has been stated the need of complete separating reproducing and commercial fishery, as well as for the rights of stocking for a particular user (a reservoir tenant), depending on the distributed catch quota. There are shown examples of calculating required stocking material for stocking a water reservoir with sazan and for using residual food supply (stocking Lake Balkhash by grass carp and the Ust-Kamenogorsk water reservoir by ripus).

Central Asia’s Ili River Ecosystem as a Wicked Problem: Unraveling Complex Interrelationships at the Interface of Water, Energy, and Food

The Ili River originates in the mountains of Xinjiang, China, and flows across an increasingly arid landscape before terminating in Kazakhstan’s Lake Balkhash, which has no outlet to the ocean. The river has been extensively impounded and diverted over the past half century to produce hydroelectric power and food on irrigated land. Water withdrawals are increasing to the extent that they are beginning to threaten the ecosystem, just as it is becoming stressed by altered inflows as glaciers retreat and disappear. If the Ili River ecosystem is to be preserved, it is crucial that we thoroughly understand the spatial and temporal nuances of the interrelationships between water, energy, and food—and the vulnerability of these components to climate change. The ecosystem has all of the characteristics of a classically-defined “wicked problem”, and so it warrants treatment as a complex and dynamic challenge subject to changing assumptions, unexpected consequences, and strong social and economic overtones. Research should thus focus not just on new knowledge about the water, energy, or food component, but on advancing our understanding of the ecosystem as a whole. This will require the participation of interdisciplinary teams of researchers with both tacit and specialized knowledge.

Challenges for Sustainable Use of the Fish Resources from Lake Balkhash, a Fragile Lake in an Arid Ecosystem

Lake Balkhash is the largest water body in Central Asia. More than three-quarters of its inflow comes from the Ili River, which is under increasing strain due to the diversion of water for energy and food production. Commercial fishing in Lake Balkhash began in 1929 and is currently in a state of crisis. The construction of the Balkhash dam and reservoir in the late 1960s reduced Ili River flows into the lake and upset the natural cycle of spring floods, which greatly reduced spawning and feeding areas for carp (Cyprinus carpio). Carp populations were consequently reduced by more than 90% during the filling of the reservoir and have not recovered, even though the lake’s level subsequently rose. Catches of carp and freshwater bream (Abramis brama orientalis) have shown an inverse relationship since the 1960s, and the age structure of freshwater bream is changing. Historically, most captured fish of this species were 4- to 7-years-old, but smaller, 3- to 5-year-old fish have dominated recent catches. The total fish harvest from Lake Balkhash is currently at near historical lows, not just because of environmental factors, but also because of structural changes triggered by the collapse of the Soviet Union. Poaching, government disinterest, lack of enforcement of fishing regulations, and the economic challenges faced by today’s small fishing enterprises all contribute to the problem.

Runoff variations in Lake Balkhash Basin, Central Asia, 1779–2015, inferred from tree rings

Long highly-resolved proxies for runoff are in high demand for hydrological forecasts and water management in arid Central Asia. An accurate (R2 = 0.53) reconstruction of October-September discharge of the Ili River in Kazakhstan, 1779–2015, is developed from moisture-sensitive tree rings of spruce sampled in the Tian Shan Mountains. The fivefold extension of the gauged discharge record represents the variability of runoff in the Lake Balkhash Basin for the last 235 years. The reconstruction shows a 40 year long interval of low discharge preceded a recent high peak in the first decade of the 2000s followed by a decline to more recent levels of discharge not seen since the start of the gauged record. Most reconstructed flow extremes (± 2σ) occur outside the instrumental record (1936–2015) and predate the start of large dam construction (1969). Decadal variability of the Ili discharge corresponds well with hydrological records of other Eurasian internal drainages modeled with tree rings. Spectral analysis identifies variance peaks (highest near 42 year) consistent with main hemispheric oscillations of the Eurasian climatic system. Seasonal comparison of the Ili discharge with sea-level-pressure and geopotential height data suggests periods of high flow likely result from the increased contribution of snow to runoff associated with the interaction of Arctic air circulation with the Siberian High-Pressure System and North Atlantic Oscillation.

Сарыарқа топонимдері қалыптасуының географиялық негіздері

В статье рассматриваются физико-географические условия (рельеф, климат, гидрография, почвы), флора и фауна Сарыарки, и географические основы особенностей отображение их в местных топонимах. Сарыарка - один из крупных физико-географических и природно-исторических регинов Казахстана. Сарыарка граничит на севере с Западной Сибирью, на юге достигает озера Балхаш, на востоке Калбинского хребта и Тарбагатая, на западе Торгайского плато. Территория Сарыарки характеризуется сложностью рельефа в Центральном Казахстане. На особенности рельефа влияют его геологическое строение и рельефообразующие факторы. Из-за географического расположения территории наблюдается резкоконтинентальный климат, нехватка водных ресурсов и их неравномерное распределение, засушливые ландшафты. Эти природные особенности отражены в топонимах территории. Во время работы по классификации географических названий и группировки видов топонимов, были определены доминирующие названия, связанные с физико-географическими условиями региона.

Morphological diversity of carp Cyprinus carpio in the western part of the Balkhash Lake and Kapshagay water reservoir

Negative human impact on freshwater ecosystems lead to decreasing of diversity and fall down offish catches around the world. Fishes are one of the biological indicators of state of aquatic ecosystems.And so, carp Cyprinus carpio from the Balkhash watershed was chosen for the investigation in respect tohigh level of human impact and big commercial importance of the fish here. Investigation of variabilityof external morphology of carp from the western part of the Balkhash Lake and the Kapshagay waterreservoir had been done. Existence of external morphological abnormalities (malformations), fluctuating asymmetry of bilateral characteristics, variability of 30 morphometric and 12 meristic measures aswell as distribution of pores of the head lateral line. Principal components analysis was applied to intrapopulation variability assessment. Many of the investigated fishes were in well condition, but individual variability for both water bodies became larger then it was before strong human impact. Developmentalhomeostasis was disturbed in the both water bodies. The carp was presented generally with similarmorphological forms in the western part of the Balkhash Lake and Kapshagay water reservoir samplesof carps with a few specific forms. Big percent of external malformations was revealed in the sample ofcarp from the western part of the Balkhash Lake. That could be a result of lack of adaptation ability inconditions of strong negative human impact in this part of the lake.Key words: ichthyomonitoring, variability, carp, Balkhash basin, homeostasis

Renewable Energy Potential of Kazakhstan

2017 is the year when the capital of Kazakhstan Astana is hosting the EXPO2017 “Future Energy” conference. It is interesting to consider how Kazakhstan is developing renewable energy usage. Kazakhstan with its huge territory and not very large population is having great potential for renewable energy production. Most of the territory has sufficient amount for solar energy harvest and also large amount of area with high speed of wind, which has large potential to produce sufficient amount of wind energy. Areas such as Jungar Gates and Chylyk Corridor have a huge potential for the production of energy by wind turbines. The part of Kazakhstan between the Balkhash Lake and Aral Sea is not very populated due to shortage of water. At the same time this area has a very high level of solar irradiation. It is possible to harvest there a large amount of solar energy if it would have many solar panel arrays installed. The problem difficult to overcome would be the maintenance of these solar panel arrays due to low population and pure living conditions. There are at least two major reasons to go for renewable energy development in the country. First one – Kazakhstani leadership is looking into opportunities to change from a resource economy (it is one of the oil producing countries – it has more than 2% of the world oil reserve and many other resources) to a technology driven one. In this case resources will be used to produce different products. Due to that, one of the challenges is to move from fossil fuel driven energy production to alternative sources and the potential is there. Another stimulus is that Kazakhstan is the country which has joined to Kyoto protocol and Paris agreement. Thus, Kazakhstan tends to reduce greenhouse effect and also Kazakhstan is going towards the generation of energy from alternative sources. The government of the country is developing the legislation in direction to encourage producers and users to increase share of alternative sources for energy generation in Kazakhstan. It provides users with benefits if they supply energy produced by alternative sources to the grid with preferable rates.

ROLE OF SNOW DEPTH IN THE INFLUENCE OF EL NIÑO ON SUMMER CLIMATE ANOMALIES OVER EAST ASIA

AbstractWith the datasets of Global Land Data Assimilation System (GLDAS) NOAH land surface model, GPCC monthly mean rainfall, and NCAR/NCEP global monthly mean reanalysis from 1948 to 2010, by using methods of filtering, composite and linear regression and correlation, the characteristics of Eurasian snow depth anomalies in El Niño mature winter, its influences on soil moisture after snow melting, and finally on East Asian summer monsoon are investigated, and the main conclusions are as follows: In El Niño mature winter, snow depth in regions of the Iranian Plateau, the northeast of Lake Balkhash and the southern Tibetan Plateau increases remarkably, so are the related snow melting and soil moisture. The above‐mentioned three regions are identified as the key regions for snow depth to store and extend the El Niño signals. In spring, the snow begins to melt, and the soil moisture increases correspondingly, thus the El Niño signals are transmitted from winter snow depth to soil moisture in spring. As a result, sensible heat flux decreases and latent heat flux increases, and the atmospheric circulations are greatly influenced. The anomalous soil moisture in the Iranian plateau is most important for the East Asian summer monsoon in El Niño decaying summer, since it has similar impact pattern on the anomalous summer precipitation as the El Niño composite. The spring and summer soil moisture in both the southern Tibetan plateau and the northeast of Lake Balkhash increase simultaneously, which significantly contribute to the increased precipitation in North China. Therefore, to investigate and predict the East Asian summer monsoon variability by using El Niño signal, the roles of snow depth in storing and modulating El Niño impacts in those key regions should be considered.

Statistical mapping and 3-D surface plots in phytoplankton analysis of the Balkhash Lake (Kazakhstan)

Abstract Phytoplankton of the Balkhash Lake was represented by 91 species with average abundance of 1,002.4 mln. ind. m−3 and average biomass of 0.853 g m−3 in summer 2004. Maps of spatial distribution revealed that phytoplankton abundance was confined within the near-estuary sections of the rivers. Correlation analysis and 3D Surface Plots showed that the average mass of the algal cell decreased with increased phytoplankton abundance, species richness, and Shannon Bi index values. Synchronicity of the spatial dynamics of W-Clarke and Δ-Shannon values evidenced the possibility of obtaining information on the structure of communities by both calculated and graphical methods.

Wild Apple Growth and Climate Change in Southeast Kazakhstan

Wild populations of Malus sieversii [Ldb.] M. Roem are valued genetic and watershed resources in Inner Eurasia. These populations are located in a region that has experienced rapid and on-going climatic change over the past several decades. We assess relationships between climate variables and wild apple radial growth with dendroclimatological techniques to understand the potential of a changing climate to influence apple radial growth. Ring-width chronologies spanning 48 to 129 years were developed from 12 plots in the Trans-Ili Alatau and Jungar Alatau ranges of Tian Shan Mountains, southeastern Kazakhstan. Cluster analysis of the plot-level chronologies suggests different temporal patterns of growth variability over the last century in the two mountain ranges studied. Changes in the periodicity of annual ring-width variability occurred ca. 1970 at both mountain ranges, with decadal-scale variability supplanted by quasi-biennial variation. Seascorr correlation analysis of primary and secondary weather variables identified negative growth associations with spring precipitation and positive associations with cooler fall-winter temperatures, but the relative importance of these relationships varied spatially and temporally, with a shift in the relative importance of spring precipitation ca. 1970 at Trans-Ili Alatau. Altered apple tree radial growth patterns correspond to altered climatology in the Lake Balkhash Basin driven by unprecedented intensified Arctic Oscillations after the late 1970s.

The Current Status and Future of Central Asia’s Fish and Fisheries: Confronting a Wicked Problem

Central Asia’s arid lowland ecosystems are dependent on water that originates in nearby mountains and is carried by rivers to terminal lakes and freshwater seas with no outlets to the ocean. Fish traditionally thrived in these waterways, but they have become increasingly jeopardized by water impoundment and diversion for energy and crop production. Fish capture in the five new Central Asian republics consequently entered a period of long decline, a trend that was accelerated by removal of the centralized controls imposed by the former Soviet Union. Production levels have recovered during the past decade, but only in some countries. A similar trend is evident with aquaculture, which reached its lowest production levels in 2003–2008 but now is partially recovering. In both cases, progress is most evident in water-deficient Uzbekistan. Fish capture in Kazakhstan’s Ili River ecosystem, including Kapchagay Reservoir and Lake Balkhash, is now dropping precipitously. Effects on the lake’s fisheries have been magnified by the disproportionate rates of disappearance of valuable carp and pike-perch. The interrelationships between water, energy, and food underlie these threats to Central Asia’s fish and define a classic “wicked problem” that must be addressed regionally with explicit attention given to fish as important components of the ecosystem. Recent developments, although not all positive, give reason for cautious optimism that the region’s fisheries and aquaculture industries can be stabilized.

The Early Iron age Burial Ground Kaspan-6 in Jetusy

The article presents results of the research work on the kurgans of the Saka time in Jetysu. Based on the analysis of burial construction elements it is assumed that socially important people were buried in the Kaspan kurgans. Some elements of complex funeral and commemorative events were revealed. A number of elements such as parameters of grave construction, presence of earthwork, clay filling, dromos, skull trepanation allow speaking about elite features of such burials. In 2013-2015 the expedition of the A.Kh. Margulan Institute of Archaeology with the Legabue Study and Research Centre (Venice, Italy) conducted research of a large burial ground Kaspan (Kerbulak District, the Almaty region). Besides the authors, on the Kazakh side such researchers as K.A. Jambulatov, T.M. Duisenov, D.B. Duisenbay took an active part in field works and Massimo Kazarin (Legabue Study and Research Center) and Nicolo Fiore (University Ca ‘Foscari) participated in the work on the Italian side. The studied area is a part of south-east Jetysu (From Kazakh “jety” - seven, “su” - river. The Land of Seven Rivers). The region includes different natural landscape zones: mountains with eternal snow, vast piedmont plains, sandy deserts, numerous rivers. In the north it is bounded by the Lake Balkhash. The geographic region, called the Ile-Balkhash basin, is identified with the names of the Jetysu seven major rivers. The largest river is the lie. The rest of the rivers are Karatal, Bien, Aksu, Lepsy, Baskan, Sarkand originate in Jetysu Alatau. A large number of these mountain rivers flow into the Lake Balkhash. Monuments near the village Kaspan are confined to the towering points on the ground, they are located in the valley of the Bizhe (Byzhy) river. The valley is surrounded by the Jetysu Alatau mountains. It is known that treasure was found in the Bizhe valley, in an area of modern Algabas village. It belongs to the early Saka time.

Spatial dynamics of species richness of phytoplankton of Lake Balkhash in the gradient of abiotic factors

Abstract The spatial distribution of species richness of phytoplankton was studied along the Balkhash Lake water area during the summer of 2004. With statistically weak connections of phytoplankton with environmental parameters, three-dimensional graphs revealed a complex character of its spatial variability in the gradient of environmental factors. Macrophytes had a stimulating effect on the species richness of planktonic algae. We found a correlation between species richness of Cyanobacteria, Chrysophyta, Euglenophyta and Dinophyta and the ionic composition of water. The important role of temperature was traced. Species richness of algal communities increased with increasing temperature in the gradient of nutrients and correlated with the abundance of macrophytes.

Tree-ring indicators of rainfall and streamflow for the Ili-Balkhash Basin, Central Asia since CE 1560

We reconstructed previous July–current April total precipitation in the upper Ili-Balkhash Basin of Central Asia, using a transfer equation based on the correlation between regional tree-ring width series and local precipitation data. Dry periods were identified from 1586–1612, 1637–1669, 1695–1721, 1759–1782, 1804–1864, 1907–1930 and 1974–1993, while wet periods occurred from 1560–1585, 1613–1636, 1670–1694, 1722–1758, 1783–1803, 1865–1906, 1931–1973 and 1994–2006. Spatial correlation analysis indicates that our precipitation reconstruction is broadly representative of precipitation in the entire Ili-Balkhash Basin. The precipitation timeseries is also strongly related to streamflow measurements, revealing that variations in precipitation in the upper Ili-Balkhash Basin have a dramatic influence on streamflow into Lake Balkhash. The precipitation reconstruction also compares well with various streamflow reconstructions from the Tien Shan, and exhibits an increasing streamflow trend in the 1980s through 2000s. Spectral analysis showed significant 60-, 33-, 11-, 2.8- and 2.1-year cycles over the past 447years. Our 447-year precipitation reconstruction provides the basis for comparing past and present hydroclimate changes, which will be important for detection and attribution of hydroclimate variation in the Ili-Balkhash Basin.