Paper abstract

Kyrgyzstan is known for its mountainous terrain, and as a result, there are many glaciers. According to Landsat-8 satellite data for 2013-2016, there were 9,959 glaciers in Kyrgyzstan with a total area of 6,683.9 km2, including: 6,227 glaciers larger than 0.1 km2 with a total area of 6,494.0 km2 and 3,732 glaciers smaller than 0.1 km2 with a total area of 189.9 km2. A.G. Shabunin (2018).

Now glaciers are shrinking rapidly not only in Kyrgyzstan, but around the world, due to global warming and other factors. Some glaciers are located in close proximity to Bishkek, (about 35 km) such as the Ak-Sai Glacier (3,500 m) and Adygene (3,200 m) in the Ala-Archa National Park.

The main purpose of the research proposal is to use satellite imagery to analyze the current state and changes of glaciers in Ala-Archa National Park and to study the impact of glaciers on nearby communities in two distinct periods of time: Soviet and Post Soviet.

The study of these glaciers is important for understanding the impact of climate change on mountain ecosystems, as well as for assessing potential risks to downstream communities.

Paper abstract

The kurgans (burial mounds) and ruins of ancient settlements and constructions are important elements of the heritage landscape of Kyrgyzstan and the entire Eurasian region. They are a great source of information about the people who lived on this territory in ancient times. Despite their importance, over the years these archaeological sites have continued to deteriorate under the influence of a number of factors. However, as practice shows, even destroyed kurgans or other heritage objects can be important sources of information about the past.

My study uses the power of declassified historical satellite imagery, combined with modern mapping services and geographic information systems (GIS) to find and locate the ruined archaeological sites. Although historical satellite imagery is available online, it is very rarely used by archaeologists in the Central Asian region. My research is aimed at showing the potential of GIS and historical satellite imagery to study the heritage landscape through case studies from Kyrgyzstan

The research is based on several cases in several areas of Kyrgyzstan: a) on 503 hectares between Ak-Torpok village and the Bishkek-Kara-Balta railroad in Chuy region; b) Ketmen-Tobo valley, which was turned into water reservoir in Jalal-Abad region; c) the areas near the ancient settlement of Ak-Beshim, near the town of Tokmok; d) other cases.

It provides a brief history of archaeological investigations in each area, eyewitness accounts, and the dynamics of heritage landscape change over time. In addition, the international experience of using cartography, GIS, and declassified satellite imagery to locate and study archaeological sites is discussed.

The study proposed the use of a series of historical satellite images from the U.S. CORONA, ARGON, LANYARD, GAMBIT and HEXAGON reconnaissance programs over different periods from 1960s to late 1970s to achieve maximum effectiveness to find, locate and study heritage landscapes of the past. The results of the work show that through the use of images from different periods in combination with modern GIS and digital maps it is possible to detect and locate a sufficiently higher number of lost archaeological sites.

The methods used in this study can contribute directly to ongoing efforts of finding and preserving archaeological sites that were considered lost for further research.

My research is based on Landscape Archaeology theory and scientific papers within this field.

Paper abstract

Balkhash Lake is one of the most significant endorheic natural inland water reservoirs, and its catchment basin is situated between the Republic of Kazakhstan and the People's Republic of China. The lake provides to area potable water, irrigation, fishing, and hydropower production. The Balkhash Lake basin is an integral part of the regional economy on both sides of the border, therefore long-term based research is essential. For this study, we evaluated drought for its complicated natural hazard and an unavoidable occurrence in Central Asia, with consequential effects on the agriculture sectors. Due to a lack of data, drought assessment involves both ground-based observations and simulation-reanalyzed models. Therefore, we utilized remote sensing products to better comprehend the drought circumstances in the Balkhash Lake basin in Central Asia. This study evaluated the link between two sensitive drought indices: the gravity recovery and climate experiment - drought severity index (GRACE-DSI), and the vegetation health index (VHI). research accounts for the variability in regional terrestrial water storage balance impact on vegetation growth. the Balkhash lake level was predicted using the ESA LAND cover dataset from 1992 to 2020, and it illustrated decreasing trend, respectively. From 2002 to 2020, the probability of drought incidence was calculated at Seasonal and monthly time scales. Based on our results, GRACE-DSI is substantially correlated with VHI, GRACE-DSI, and lake water area (r=0.8). Overall, GRACE-DSI and VHI indices are useful for exploring and quantifying drought severity at the basin size.

Paper abstract

The Republic of Kyrgyzstan is a mountainous country with more than 60% of its population living in rural areas practicing animal husbandry as their traditional activity. Therefore, its economy and quality of life rely heavily on the development of livestock-raising. The Central Tian Shan region is one of the areas where wild animals conflict with cattle. The region in question is unique in terms of its environmental conditions and biodiversity. Moreover, it hosts the world’s largest habitat of snow leopards. On the other hand, however, the Middle Tian Shan became an area of active farming and animal breeding. A consequent sharp increase in livestock population prompted a conflict between the traditional habitat of snow leopards (their food reserve), cattle, and the degeneration of soils and ground cover. In conjunction, this can trigger regional environmental crises. This research aims to analyze the conflicts arising between native fauna and farming households, estimate their scale, and find possible ways to alleviate the tension and preserve the natural habitats and food reserves of the snow leopard. The research examines the region of Central Tian Shan. It is a large, physically and geographically prominent area situated in the eastern part of the Kyrgyzstan Republic and borders the Republic of Kazakhstan and the People’s Republic of China.The Central Tian Shan region is characterized by alternating mountain ranges and narrow longitudinal valleys. Another specific feature of the region is szyrts (a type of elevated watersheds). The mountain chain exceeds the height of 6,000 m, with the Khan Tengri being its highest point (6,995 m). Average climatic and environmental conditions of the Central Tian Shan region are discussed in the studies.

To overcome the listed problems, the authors suggest the following:

Transfer from quantity-based livestock farming to quality-based methods (decrease in the total livestock number and rise in the number of the most valuable breeds) to bring down pressure on natural pastures;

Enhancement of highland zones of Central Tian Shan through cattle grazing regulation and provision of the local population with alternative income sources and farming methods (ecotourism, development of eco-products, wildlife photography, mountain climbing, etc.);

Establishment of wildlife migration corridors and sustainable food reserve areas; zoning of the territory to preserve the comfortable habitat of wild animals in subalpine and alpine areas via buffer zones.