Northern Tien-Shan Research Articles

Trace elements in thermal waters of the northern Tien Shan: distribution and fate

The article presents new data on the abundance and ways of soluted trace elements (Si, Fe, F, Al, Sr, Br, B, Mn, Ba, Ti, Li, Rb, Mo, As, U, Th, W, Sc, Y, REE, Hf) in thermomineral, surface and groundwaters of the northern Tien-Shan (Issyk-Kul intermountain depression). It is established that trace element composition of thermomineral waters is able to be a marker of hydrogeological settings of water formation and flow: waters of sedimentary rocks of the intermountain artesian basin are enriched with Sr, Ba, Mn, B, Mo and U, while waters of rock massifs contain increased concentrations of F, Rb, W and Sc. Thermodynamic calculations performed for certain trace elements using Visual-MINTEQ 3.1 and GWB 14 programmes allowed us to identify the water migration patterns of the surveyed water points. Calculation of water migration coefficient showed the dependence of microcomponent accumulation rate on the type of water-bearing strata and hydrogeological conditions of water formation.

Impact of Various Disturbance Sources on the Atmospheric Electric Field and Thunderstorm Activity of the Northern Tien-Shan

Features of the manifestations of various sources of disturbances in the atmospheric electric field at the Tien-Shan high-mountain station have been studied, and the statistical relationship between solar and thunderstorm activity has been established. Air currents arising over the ocean, having overcome the mountain gorges of the Himalayas, carry moisture to the Northern Tien-Shan and determine the weather features and thunderstorm activity at the Tien-Shan high-mountain station. It was established that the maximum and minimum thunderstorm activity at the Tien-Shan high-mountain station corresponds to the distribution curve of daily thunderstorm activity for the Asia–Australia region. The investigation showed that coronal mass ejections (CMEs) affect the atmospheric electric field by increasing or decreasing its level or causing its fluctuations, depending on the features of manifestations in the near-Earth space and in the Earth’s magnetosphere. In at least 70% of cases, thunderstorm activity was observed with a 1–2-day delay after impact on the Earth’s magnetosphere by CMEs and HSSs. A number of cases were studied when thunderstorm activity was observed in a quiet geomagnetic field. In these cases, an increase in the values of fmin (the minimum frequency of reflection from the ionosphere) and foEs (the critical frequency of the sporadic E layer) was observed, which indicated an increase in the level of radio wave absorption in the ionospheric D-region and the level of electron density at altitudes of 100–120 km.

Применение изотопов радона для изучения вариаций напряженного состояния горных пород при прогнозе землетрясений

The results of interpretation of monitoring observations of radon-220 (thoron) and radon-222 monitoring observations, carried out in 2002-2004 on the Northern Tien-Shan, are presented. Prognostic capabilities of thoron as a short-term earthquakes precursor are shown. It is noted that the anomalies of thoron are more contrast in comparison with anomalies of radon-222. Insufficient contrast of radon-222 anomalies is explained by methodological in observations by seismic radon stations. The behavior of thoron during the earthquake preparation agrees with the previously established spatial-temporal patterns for radon-222 (Kozlova et al., 2021 Radon isotopes are most suitable for monitoring observations of the earthquake preparation process using gases that are part of the underground atmosphere. The prospect of using other gases is limited by the absence of their continuous generation, by the presence of a cumulative effect, and by the difficulty of registration. The above also applies to the use for prognostic purposes of variations in the content of chemical compounds dissolved in groundwater.

Some rare and new plants in the National Parks of Northern Tien-Shan (Kazakhstan)

The article gives information on the distribution of four rare species (Hepatica falconeri, Kaufmannia semenovii, Neuroloma beketovii, Gymnospermium altaicum) with brief abundance data and state of populations. This studies based on the materials of many years researches carried out by the authors on the territory of two state national natural parks (SNNP) of the Northern Tien Shan (Ile Alatau and Kolsai Kolderi). Nine species (Gagea turkestanica, Bunias orienta-lis, Viola dissecta, Clinopodium integerrimum, Melissa officinalis, Sambucus nigra, Hieracium pilosella, Lapsana intermedia and Xanthium spinosum) were first found on surveyed areas, which allows supplementing the existing publications on the flora of the national parks Ile Alatau and “Kolsai Kolderi”, as well as the Kungei Alatau ridge. Three of them (Gagea turkestanica, Viola dissecta, Clinopodium integerrimum) are native to this area, which indicates that the flora of the region is not well studied. Six others (Bunias orientalis, Melissa officinalis, Sambucus nigra, Hieracium pilosella, Lapsana intermedia and Xanthium spinosum) are alien species, which confirms the ongoing process of synanthropization of the flora of the Northern Tien Shan even within specially protected natural areas.

Anamolous modulations of electromagnetic field during increased seismic activity

The article presents the results of electromagnetic monitoring and geomagnetic observation during increased seismic activity in eastern part of Bishkek geodynamic range (Northern Tien-Shan) in 2017. It includes brief description of seismic conditions of the territory being researched, as well as analyses of the correlation between changes in geophysical field parameters and the earthquakes.

Collection of rare plant species of Kazakhstan in the conditions of the botanical garden of Almaty

The collection of rare species in the botanical garden of Almaty (Kazakhstan) consists of 36 species of rareplants. The Botanical garden is located in the foothill zone of the Zailiysky Alatau ridge, which is part of the Northern TienShan mountain system. A collection of rare and endemic species from the mountainous regions of the Northern, Western Tien Shan, and the Kazakh Altai was created, but most of their work was carried out in the mountains of the NorthernTien Shan. The largest species composition of the collection are groups of plants of the genera Tulipa – 25 %, Iris –14 %,Allium – 8.3 %. The largest ecological group in the collection of rare species is represented by ephemeroid geophytes. Introduction tests have shown that ephemeroid drought-resistant plants adapt best to the conditions of the foothill zone of theTrans-Ili Alatau. Xerophyte plants are short-lived, often suffer from the accumulation of snow in winter and the abundance of spring precipitation. Mesophytic plants are prone to drying out from lack of humidity and high air temperaturesin the summer.

Inventory and changes of rock glacier creep speeds in Ile Alatau and Kungöy Ala-Too, northern Tien Shan, since the 1950s

Abstract. Spatio-temporal patterns related to the viscous creep in perennially frozen sediments of rock glaciers in cold mountains have rarely been studied outside the densely populated European Alps. This study investigates the spatial and temporal variability of rock glacier movement in the Ile Alatau and Kungöy Ala-Too mountain ranges, northern Tien Shan, a region with particularly large and fast rock glaciers. Over the study region of more than 3000 km2, an inventory of slope movements was constructed using a large number of radar interferograms and high-resolution optical imagery. The inventory includes more than 900 landforms, of which around 550 were interpreted as rock glaciers. Out of the active rock glaciers inventoried, 45 are characterized by a rate of motion exceeding 100 cm/a. From these fast rock glaciers we selected six (Gorodetzky, Morenny, Archaly, Ordzhonikidze, Karakoram, and Kugalan Tash) and studied them in more detail using offset tracking between repeat aerial images and historical and modern high-resolution optical satellite data. Two of these rock glaciers showed a steady increase in decadal surface velocities from the 1950s onwards, with speeds being roughly 2 to 4 times higher in recent years compared to the 1950s and 1960s. Three rock glaciers showed similar accelerations over the last 1 to 2 decades but also phases of increased speeds in the 1960s. This development indicates a possible significant increase in current sediment and ice fluxes through rock glaciers and implies that their material transport in the region might gain geomorphodynamic importance relative to material transport by glaciers, assuming the latter decreases together with the regional glacier shrinkage. The study demonstrates how air and satellite image archives are exploited to construct one of the longest decennial times series of rock glacier speeds currently available. Our results are in line with findings from Europe about rock glacier speeds increasing with atmospheric warming and underline local variability of such an overall response.

Relationship between rock deformation and the geophysical and fluid processes of the Earth’s crust

Tien-Shan seismogen (TSS) is the modern mobile macro-fissure structural heterogeneity of lithosphere within which geodynamical processes occur accompanying intensive tectonic movements in earth’s crust and seismic phenomena [10]. The TSS is distinguished as a whole structural formation in the area of the joint structure of the Urals and Western Siberia with the structures of Central Asia by means of a complex of interpretation and analysis of a whole range of materials: geological, geophysical, etc. [1]. In order to study the current geodynamics of the structural irregularities of the Earth’s crust in the territory of North Tien Shan, which is the most seismically active in Central Asia, comprehensive geophysical studies are being conducted. Monitoring consists of three permanent observation points with a 24-hour programme. Those points are situated on seismic active part of Northern Tien-Shan. Kurty point is located in flat part of monitoring area (area with weak seismicity of the earth’s crust) and other points, Turgen and Medeo are located in seismic active part of Tien-Shan. Strainmeters are oriented in the North-South and East-West directions. Based on the experimental data obtained at Kurty, Medeo and Turgen points the bank of data was created. It contains hourly, daily, monthly and annual average values of deformations calculated by directions C-Y and B-3, as well as their modules. In this paper, the link between the deformation of rocks and atmospheric processes (the link between rock deformation and concentration density of electrons in ionospheric layers) are researched. According to trends, electron concentration in E layer increases but in higher layers decreases. Rock deformation in Medeo and Turgen area changes synchronously with the dynamics of the electron concentration in E layer and in Kurty area is antiphase. As a result, it is possible to trace the dependencies and links between the deformation of rocks and the geophysical and fluid processes of the Earth's crust, which, after analyzing and interpreting the data obtained experimentally, can be traced.

Metamorphism and K-Ar white mica ages of pelitic schists in the Makbal Complex, Kyrgyz Northern Tien-Shan

Metamorphism and K-Ar white mica ages of pelitic schists in the Makbal Complex, Kyrgyz Northern Tien-Shan

Seismotectonics of the Inner Tienshan: Suusamyr Basin and adjacent areas

The Ms=7.3 Suusamyr earthquake of August 19, 1992 occurred in an area reputedly aseismic. Because it was not expected there, this event attracted worldwide attention of researchers in seismology and seismotectonics, but their results have not been included in the most recent seismic zoning map of Kyrgyzstan. New studies of neotectonic structures and focal mechanisms of earthquakes in the Suusamyr area and adjacent areas give reason to revise the established notions about the seismicity of the region. The seismic hazard in Inner Tienshan appears important and Mmax are comparable to those of the Northern and Southern Tienshan, where numerous destructive events were documented in the XIX and XX centuries. For the southern parts of the study area, along Naryn River, where hydroelectric power stations are planned, the new data should be used.

Atmospheric temperature coherent variations effects, preceding strong earthquakes

We analyzed satellite measurements of temperature at upper troposphere/lower stratosphere (UTLS) levels separated by the tropopause above the epicentral area of a strong earthquake with a magnitude of M=7.3 in the Northern Tien-Shan (Kyrgyzstan) that took place on August 19, 1992. The developed algorithm and method of continuous wavelet transform allowed detecting of abnormal behavior, temporal, spatial and spectral coherence of short-period temperature variations, preceding the seismic event. The results show that the spatial structure and dynamics of temperature anomalies in the area of UTLS have a sufficiently stable relation to seismic activity.

Climate and topographic controls on snow phenology dynamics in the Tienshan Mountains, Central Asia

Abstract Although previous studies have characterized changes in seasonal snow cover or made predictions about snow cover in a changing climate, no comprehensive spatiotemporal analysis of snow phenology has been presented for the Tienshan Mountains, Central Asia. Relying on daily cloud-free snow cover fraction products originating from Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) for 2002/03–2017/18, the snow phenology parameters (i.e., snow cover duration [SCD], snow onset date [SOD] and snow end date [SED]) are derived for each hydrological year within the study period and the characteristics analyzed for the Tienshan Mountains. The spatiotemporal changes of snow phenology have strong altitude dependence. The mean gradients of SCD, SOD, and SED with elevation are 6.0, −2.55, and 3.44 d/100 m, respectively. Because of differences in solar radiation and water vapor sources, the north-facing areas generally have a higher SCD, earlier SOD, and later SED than south-facing areas. Also, the trends of the snow phenology parameters at high and low altitudes show opposite changes. Consistent with the increase in snow cover area in recent years, SCD for the entire Tienshan region showed a clear uptick, especially in Northern Tienshan. This prolonged SCD was more related to advanced SOD than to SED, as decreased temperature and increased precipitation in autumn are conducive to snow accumulation.

Three new species of Scythrididae from the northern Tien-Shan Mountains (Lepidoptera: Scythrididae)

Three new species of the family Scythrididae are described from Central Asian mountains: Scythris cultelloides Nupponen & Sinev, sp. n., S. danilevskyi Nupponen & Sinev, sp. n. and S. ganesha Nupponen & Sinev, sp. n. One unknown species is reported but not formally described because only a single female is available.

SEISMO-TECTONICS OF EASTERN TIEN-SHAN AND DZHUNGARIYA

It was demonstrated that within the eastern part of Northern Tien-Shan and Dzhungarya active faults with wings shifted in the late Pleistocene – Holocene have the striking different from the direction of the newest structures, mainly sublateral ones. These faults represent right-shift disjunctive structures of north-western strike. They are the responsible ones for modern seismic situation at the investigated territory.

Mapping and inventorying active rock glaciers in the northern Tien Shan of China using satellite SAR interferometry

Abstract. Rock glaciers are widespread in the Tien Shan. However, rock glaciers in the Chinese part of the Tien Shan have not been systematically investigated for more than 2 decades. In this study, we propose a new method that combines SAR interferometry and optical images from Google Earth to map active rock glaciers (ARGs) in the northern Tien Shan (NTS) of China. We compiled an inventory that includes 261 ARGs and quantitative information about their locations, geomorphic parameters, and downslope velocities. Our inventory shows that most of the ARGs are moraine-derived (69 %) and facing northeast (56 %). The altitude distribution of ARGs in the western NTS is significantly different from those located in the eastern part. The downslope velocities of the ARGs vary significantly in space, with a maximum of about 114 cm yr−1 and a mean of about 37 cm yr−1. Using the ARG locations as a proxy for the extent of alpine permafrost, our inventory suggests that the lowest altitudinal limit for the presence of permafrost in the NTS is about 2500–2800 m, a range determined by the lowest ARG in the entire inventory and by a statistics-based estimation. The successful application of the proposed method would facilitate effective and robust efforts to map rock glaciers over mountain ranges globally. This study provides an important dataset to improve mapping and modeling permafrost occurrence in vast western China.

Instrumental magnitude constraints for the 11 July 1889, Chilik earthquake

Abstract A series of large-magnitude earthquakes above 6.9 occurred in the northern Tien-Shan between 1885 and 1911. The Chilik earthquake of 11 July 1889, has been listed with a magnitude of 8.3, based on sparse macroseismic intensities, constrained by reported damage. Despite the existence of several juvenile fault scarps in the epicentral region, that are possibly associated with the 1889 earthquake, no through-going surface rupture having the dimensions expected for a magnitude 8.3 earthquake has been located – a puzzling dilemma. Could the magnitude have been overestimated? This would have major implications not only for the understanding of the earthquake series, but also for regional hazard estimates. Fortunately, a fragmentary record from an early Rebeur–Paschwitz seismometer exists for the Chilik event, recorded in Wilhelmshaven (Germany). To constrain the magnitude, we compare the late coda waves of this record with those of recent events from Central Asia, recorded on modern instruments in Germany and filtered with Rebeur–Paschwitz instrument characteristics. Additional constraints come from disturbances of historic magnetograms that exist from the Chilik and the 1911 Chon-Kemin earthquakes. Scaling of these historic records confirm a magnitude of about 8 for the 1889 Chilik earthquake, pointing towards a lower crustal contribution to the fault area.

About the desert lidless skink Ablepharus deserti in Kazakhstan and parapatry of A. deserti and Asymblepharus alaicus (Reptilia: Scincidae)

A retrospective analysis of the data on distribution of the Desert Lidless Skink, Ablepharus deserti Strauch, 1876 in Kazakhstan is undertaken. Based on new species records and museum collection revision a view on Ablepharus deserti distribution in the republic is markedly expended. The perspectives in the study of territorial and ecological interrelations of Ablepharus deserti and Asymblepharus alaicus in the mountain foothills of Western and Northern Tien-Shan are outlined.

SP-064 RESULTS OF AUTOLOGOUS PERIPHERAL HEMATOPOIETIC STEM CELL TRANSPLANTATION FOR PATIENTS WITH MULTIPLE MYELOMA WITHOUT MAINTENANCE THERAPY

In the process of updating existing PSHA maps in Central Asia, a first step is the evaluation of the seismic hazard in terms of macroseismic intensity by applying a data driven method. Following the Site Approach to Seismic Hazard Assessment (SASHA) [11], the evaluation of the probability of exceedance of any given intensity value over a fixed exposure time, is mainly based on the seismic histories available at different locations without requiring any a-priori assumption about seismic zonation. The effects of earthquakes not included in the seismic history can be accounted by propagating the epicentral information through a Intensity Prediction Equation developed for the analyzed area. In order to comply with existing building codes in the region that use macroseismic intensity instead of PGA, we evaluated the seismic hazard at 2911 localities using a macroseismic catalog composed by 5322 intensity data points relevant to 75 earthquakes in the magnitude range 4.6–8.3. The results show that for most of the investigated area the intensity having a probability of at least 10% to be exceeded in 50 years is VIII. The intensity rises to IX for some area struck by strong earthquakes in the past, like the Chou-Kemin-Chilik fault zone in northern Tien-Shan, between Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan, or in Gissar range between Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. These values are about one intensity unit less than those evaluated in the Global Seismic Hazard Assessment Program (GSHAP; Ulomov, The GSHAP Region 7 working group [29]). Moreover, hazard curves have been extracted for the main towns of Central Asia and the results compared with the estimates previously obtained. A good agreement has been found for Bishkek (Kyrgyzstan) and Dushanbe (Tajikistan), while a lower probability of occurrence of I=VIII has been obtained for Tashkent (Uzbekistan) and a larger one for I=IX in Almaty (Kazakhstan).

Locations and magnitudes of earthquakes in Central Asia from seismic intensity data

We apply the Bakun and Wentworth (Bull Seism Soc Am 87:1502–1521, 1997) method to determine the location and magnitude of earthquakes occurred in Central Asia using MSK-64 intensity assignments. The attenuation model previously derived and validated by Bindi et al. (Geophys J Int, 2013) is used to analyse 21 earthquakes that occurred over the period 1885–1964, and the estimated locations and magnitudes are compared to values available in literature. Bootstrap analyses are performed to estimate the confidence intervals of the intensity magnitudes, as well as to quantify the location uncertainty. The analyses of seven significant earthquakes for the hazard assessment are presented in detail, including three large historical earthquakes that struck the northern Tien-Shan between the end of the nineteenth and the beginning of the twentieth centuries: the 1887, M 7.3 Verny, the 1889, M 8.3 Chilik and the 1911, M 8.2 Kemin earthquakes. Regarding the 1911, Kemin earthquake the magnitude values estimated from intensity data are lower (i.e. MILH = 7.8 and MIW = 7.6 considering surface wave and moment magnitude, respectively) than the value M = 8.2 listed in the considered catalog. These values are more in agreement with the value M S = 7.8 revised by Abe and Noguchi (Phys Earth Planet In, 33:1–11, 1983b) for the surface wave magnitude. For the Kemin earthquake, the distribution of the bootstrap solutions for the intensity centre reveal two minima, indicating that the distribution of intensity assignments do not constrain a unique solution. This is in agreement with the complex source rupture history of the Kemin earthquake, which involved several fault segments with different strike orientations, dipping angles and focal mechanisms (e.g. Delvaux et al. in Russ Geol Geophys 42:1167–1177, 2001; Arrowsmith et al. in Eos Trans Am Geophys Union 86(52), 2005). Two possible locations for the intensity centre are obtained. The first is located on the easternmost sub-faults (i.e. the Aksu and Chon-Aksu segments), where most of the seismic moment was released (Arrowsmith et al. in Eos Trans Am Geophys Union 86(52), 2005). The second location is located on the westernmost sub-faults (i.e. the Dzhil'-Aryk segment), close to the intensity centre location obtained for the 1938, M 6.9 Chu-Kemin earthquake (MILH = 6.9 and MIW = 6.8).

Empirical relationship between particulate matter and aerosol optical depth over Northern Tien-Shan, Central Asia

Measurements were obtained at two sites in northern Tien-Shan in Central Asia during a 1-year period beginning July 2008 to examine the statistical relationship between aerosol optical depth (AOD) and of fine [PM2.5, particles less than 2.5 μm aerodynamic diameter (AD)] and coarse (PMCoarse, particles between 2.5 and 10 μm AD) mass concentrations and composition. The measurements represent the first extended particulate matter measurements in the northern Tien-Shan region of Central Asia. A sun photometer (Microtops II) was used to measure AOD from the surface, which is a widely used aerosol monitoring technique that is used in the AERONET network. In parallel, less routine measurements of continuous hourly PM2.5 data were obtained with the TEOM/FDMS whereas daily average PM2.5 and PM10 were obtained using URG-3000ABC samplers. Daily samples were collected on an every-other-day basis throughout the year. Since clouds interfere with the AOD measurement, a cloud screening procedure based on LIDAR measurements was applied to the AOD data and cloud impacted days were removed from the AOD data set. Depending on the season, the correlation coefficient (r) varied from 0.56 up to 0.87. Higher correlation coefficients between PM2.5 mass and AOD were observed during the spring and autumn periods and appeared to result from the transport of Asian dust (desert crustal material) particles from outside the area. One of the main source areas was the Taklimakan desert located in northwestern China. Linear regression results between AOD and PM2.5 are presented that allow for an estimate of PM2.5 mass concentrations at the surface based on the AOD data, which can be used to help interpret AOD measurements made in Central Asia and potentially other regions of the world.