First seismic station of Mongolia installed in 1957 with assistance from the Soviet Union and it was using photo paper for recording seismic data. Since the first station installation time, Mongolian seismic network expanded with a number of the seismic stations and developed the technological improvement. Institute of Astronomy and Geophysics (IAG) operates four types of IMS stations including seismic, infrasound, radionuclide and noble gas stations (PS25, IS34, MNP45, and MNX45) now. Mongolian National Data Centre (MNDC) receives seismic and infrasound data including IMS data using different communication technologies in real and near real-time from stations all around Mongolia including IMS stations. Current status of the CTBTO IMS stations in Mongolia and some radionuclide analysis results of the Mongolian IMS noble gas station (MNX45) will be presented.

The contribution of Kazakhstani stations has been suumarized in comparison with other stations of the International Monitoring System (IMS) in a number of associated phases into the REB bulletin (Reveiwed Events Bulletin) of the International Data Center (IDC). It has been demostrated that all stations of Kazakhstan, both seismic and infrasound ones, are quite effective in monitoring and take one of the first places. This is confirmed by the results of mapping of the epicenters of the events of the world as well as such parameters as minimum amplitude and proportion of a number of events detected with participation of Kazakhstani stations to the general number of events in REB. The region of Central Asia (CA) has been considered in detail in the REB results as well as bulletins of Kazakhstan National Data Center (KNDC) – seismic and infrasound – with examples of estimate of real-time accuracy of locations. Infrasound bulletin of events of KNDC on CA has been compared with REB. In KNDC bulletin the location has been implemented as per data of four infrasound stations, including one Russian station Zalesovo. A larger number of events has been noted in KNDC bulletin in comparison with the REB one.

During 1976–1987 in the former USSR on the territory of Irkutsk and Chita area (the Eastern Siberia) and Sakha Republic (Yakutia) ten peaceful nuclear explosions were conducted in scientific and commercial applications. The peaceful nuclear explosions have yields in the range of 3.2 to 15 kt. The events were registered by regional analog seismic stations network located in the Baikal rift system and surroundings at distances from 173 to 1407 km. The paper shows the first results of the treatment of these seismograms. Using arrival times, regional travel time curves for the both crustal and mantle seismic phases (Pn, Pg, Sn and Sg) were constructed and regional velocities of seismic waves were determined for the whole region and three main tectonic structures – Siberian platform, Baikal-Patom uplift and Transbaikal block. The velocities obtained well correlated with the data known on the velocity structure of the Earth’s crust and upper mantle of the Baikal rift system.

The paper presents a summary of corrected data on the Soviet Peaceful Nuclear Explosions (abbreviated as PNEs) with the author's corrections, taking into account the information on the updated coordinates of the works of the authors Makei, Fujita, etc. As a result, the article presents the calculated epicentral distances for PNEs, travel-time curves and azimuths from the Geophysical Observatory “Borovoe” to the geographical coordinates of the PNEs, which were registered in digital format during the monitoring conducted by Expedition № 4 of the Special Sector of the Institute of Physics of the Earth of the USSR Academy of Sciences since 1966.

International Monitoring System (IMS), using four technologies – seismic, hydroacoustic, infrasound and radionuclide. While awaiting entry-into-force, the IMS is operating in test mode yet, even now, monitoring data have potential use among the scientist for the social welfare means. Contribution to the earthquake hazard and related earthquake engineering determinations is a big development and knowledge expansion of the one of the cited technology i.e. seismic. In this direction Indonesian region bounded by 14°S–10°N and 93–141°E, which is one of the most seismically Trans-Asian and Circum-Pacific belts type active plate regions of the world where large to great earthquakes have occurred during the past hundred years have been considered. Nineteen years recent earthquake data from June 13, 1999 to July 10, 2017 have been taken from International Monitoring System (IMS) Network setup by Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO), Vienna Austria. These data analyses shows that earthquake occurrences agrees with the Gumbel’s Type I extreme distribution function and has been applied to analyses those maximum magnitude data with a satisfactory degree of correlation (0.96). The earthquake hazard that existed in Indonesian region been quantified in terms of recurrence periods and probabilities of occurrence of earthquake of any given magnitude. This investigation indicates that the most probable largest annual earthquakes are close to 6.0. Also, most probable earthquake that may occur in an interval of 50 years is estimated as 6.8. Other medium to large size earthquakes which are expected to occur in this region has been predicted that may help in engineering investigations at particular site and decision making problems if planning to develop certain region for infrastructural activities.

The paper presents an implementation of a plan on improvement, upgrade and introduction of new software and technical means in Kazakhstan National Data Center for the purposes of improving the quality of data acquisition, processing and storage in accordance with modern requirements and trends of information technologies’ development.

The methodological aspects of a systematic approach to solving the problem of predicting the long-term geodynamic stability of the geological environment during underground isolation of radioactive waste in geological formations are discussed. The system approach acts as a way of organizing scientific research and is not so much a method of solving, as a method of setting tasks. It is especially important at the first stage of collecting and systematizing data on the study area. It also helps to focus efforts on identifying the fundamental laws of geodynamic development of the region, which determine the preservation of the insulating properties of rocks for a long time. The methodological aspects of a systematic approach to solving the problem of predicting the geodynamic stability of the geological environment during underground isolation of height-level radioactive waste in geological formations are considered. The systems approach acts as a way of organizing scientific research and is not only a method for solving a problem, but also a method of setting tasks. It is especially important at the first stage of collecting and systematizing diverse geological and geophysical data. The systems approach helps to focus efforts on identifying the fundamental patterns in the tectonic structure and geodynamic patterns of development of the region, which determine the preservation of the insulating properties of the geological environment for the entire radiobiological hazard of height-level radioactive waste.

The article considers seismicity of Kazakhstan territory at the location places of main nuclear facilities and its interrelation with gravity anomalies in free air coinciding with natural sites of excessive mass of geological environment. By example of Semipalatinsk Test Site territory (STS) we investigate the gravitational factors of excessive mass of geological environment with high seismicity showing the availability of main and secondary active faults able to influence on seismic safety on nuclear facilities.

In order to improve and develop methods of geophysical control for the purposes of on-site inspection, especially at the sites with limited access, that are suspicious in implementation of a nuclear test, it is proposed to use a new view on interaction of rocks and water. According to this view, one can establish leached zones, migration zones and deposits of matter (including radioactive one) in real geological conditions remotely by using electrical survey methods. In order to detect hydrodynamic structures that pass via UNE foci, tritium exhalation measurements are used – the main marker of distribution of radioactive contamination from UNE foci. The eligibility of these views has been proved theoretically, experimentally and by geophysical surveys in real conditions of Semipalatinsk Test Site.

The paper studies the issues of mapping of hydrodynamic structures, both natural and technogenic ones, including the ones transferring radionuclides remotely by using electrical survey methods of apparent electrical resistivity (AR) and self-potential (SP). At that it has been taken into account that modern distribution of radionuclides from the foci of underground nuclear explosions (UNE) takes place mostly with underground waters. AR and SP methods allow to detect natural and technogenic crushed zones as well as establish the presence of underground water flows in them. The presence and location of water flows with radioactive contamination is established by measuring the tritium exhalation based on a methodology developed at the Institute of Geophysical Research. Examples are presented for the joined interpretation of AR, SP and tritium exhalation methods data that prove the applicability of the technique to detect hydrodynamic structures, including the ones transferring radionuclides.

The article shows opportunities of seismic survey – refraction correlation method, method of refracted waves, method of refracted scattered waves, – during the study of technogenic structures at the example of one of emplacement boreholes of the Semipalatinsk Test Site. According to the data of seismic survey, central fissure zone (UNE focus) is detected, where there is an alternation of compacted and decompressed rocks as well as adjacent strong fissure zones. At a distance of 200–300 m from the UNE focus there are additional fissure zones.

An analysis of ring and linear zones of decreased electrical resistivity (AR) on the sites of underground nuclear explosions (UNE) of Semipalatinsk Test Site has been implemented; the zones were detected using field surveys and we established their difference from the AR distribution at the sites distanced from the UNE implementation places. Linear zones of decreased values of AR belong to the occurrences of geological faults renewed by nuclear explosions, whereas ring zones – to the faults occurred as a result of local mechanical impact of a UNE onto the background rocks. Linear and ring zones belong to the technogenic structures. It has been established that technogenic zones have significantly great contrast and width in comparison with the occurrences of natural zones of faults distanced from the UNEs epicenters. The presented interpretation of geo-electrical features does not contradict the existing geological views and can be used during the study of water flows and assessment of radiation safety in the interior of UNEs sites.

A methodology of self-potential that allows to confidently detect sites of underground water movements, including the ones near the foci of underground nuclear explosions (UNE), based on the contrast and intensity of self-potential features, has been developed. The main features of distribution are the decrease of self-potential values at the sites of the source and narrowing of the underground water flows and increase of self-potential values at the sites of slowness and widening of these flows. At the UNE sites the nature of self-potential is complicated – linearly stretched in different directions, often – mosaic one. In a number of cases ring structures co-concentric with the UNEs foci have been noted.

According to the results of an area survey of tritium exhalation in a number of sites at the Semipalatinsk Test Site, three main types of increased tritium activity distribution have been established: 1 – linear-mosaic at the sites of weak and virtually absent disturbances of geological structures by nuclear explosions outside the sites of explosions; 2 – mostly linear, connected with the natural faults, intensely renewed by the explosions at the sites of explosions; 3 – ring ones, connected with technogenic (ring) structures, occurred directly by the explosions. Usually the distributions of tritium of the second and the third types are detected together. A great stability of results and the depth of the survey of tritium exhalation has been noted in comparison with the results of radon exhalation measures. A spatial connection of abnormal increases of tritium activity with hydrodynamic structures detected by the structural geophysics methods has been established. The advantage of using the method of gaseous survey of tritium activity to confirm the connection of hydrodynamic structures with the foci of underground nuclear explosions has been proved.

New data on seismic history of Jungariya were presented. Additional catalogs of strong earthquakes created the basis for geo-dynamic constructions and tectonic interpretations in Jungariya. The detected epicenters of the strongest earthquakes must be taken into consideration when calculating the maps of seismic zoning of new generation.

In article, distribution of space-temporal seismic activity of Western Tien-Shan region was considered. Two groups of strong earthquakes in Western and Central Uzbekistan were extracted. Regularity has been detected on redistribution of the accumulated tectonic energy in the form of seismicity alternatively on the regions. It was shown that earthquakes on hypocenters’ depths were distributed in certain seismogenic layers independent from their magnitude level. Deflections were discovered from the regularity of grouping of strong earthquakes in seismic regime of the region. Probably natural and technogenic triggers preceded the triple strong Gazly earthquakes in 1976 and 1984 with М=7,0–7.3. Natural triggers: active processes of fissures on the north Gazly with length ~ 100 km near Tamdibulak and absence for more than 40 years of appreciable earthquakes in epicentral region Gazly. Technogenic triggers: constant 40-years-long gas pump from “Gazly” fields and two nuclear explosions implemented near Gazly earthquakes in 1976 and 1984 of tectonic nature.

The facts and examples of seismicity connection with localized excess masses of the earth's crust, located both on the earth's surface in the form of different elevations of different density rocks, and to a lesser extent at depths under the day surface in the form of limited volumes of rocks with high density are described. These relationships are shown both globally and regionally for Central Asia using geodetic and gravimetric data in the form of detailed maps of digital elevation models and free-air gravity anomalies obtained from high-precision satellite imagery.

We have been studying some seismicity characteristics in the region of Iran including those connected with preparation for large earthquakes. It was established that ring-shaped seismicity structure have been formed within depth range of 0-33 km prior to large Ezgeleh earthquake of 12.11.2017 (Mw=7,3). Shallow seismicity rings are characterized by threshold magnitude values (Mt1) and big axis lengths (L). Earlier we have obtained correlation dependences of Mt1 and lgL values on magnitudes of main events Mw for intracontinental earthquakes with mechanisms of reverse and oblique-reverse faulting, prevailing in the region of Iran. Using these dependences we estimated magnitude of large event which could be prepared in the area of ring structure: Mw=7,1±0,1 for the zone of the Ezgeleh earthquake. Big ring structures were identified at the south-west, north and east of Iran, where large earthquakes are not known according to instrumental and historical data. We estimated magnitudes of possible large earthquakes by characteristics of these structures: Mw=7,2±0,3, Mw=7,1±0,2 and Mw=6,6±0,1 in the regions mentioned respectively. Large seismic event, which probably is being prepared within the south-western part of Iran, can represent a special danger due to nearness of it’s source to the nuclear power plant “Busher”. We discuss the reasons of ring structures formation.

We have been studying some seismicity characteristics in the region of Northern Caucasus since 1964. It was established that ring-shaped seismicity structure have been formed within depth range of 0–33 km prior to large Racha earthquake of 29.05.1991 (Mw=7,0). Seismicity rings are characterized by threshold magnitude value (Mt) and big axis length (L). Earlier we have obtained correlation dependences of Mt and lgL values on magnitudes of main events Mw for intracontinental earthquakes with mechanisms of reverse and oblique-reverse faulting, prevailing in the region of Northern Caucasus. Using these dependences we estimated magnitudes of large event which could be prepared in the area of ring structure: Mw=7,1±0,2 for the zone of the Racha earthquake. This value is close enough to real magnitude of the event mentioned. New big ring structures were identified at the western outskirt of the Great Caucasus and in the region of the Eastern Caucasus, where large earthquakes are not known according to instrumental and historical data. We estimated magnitudes of possible large earthquakes by characteristics of these structures: Mw=7,0±0,2 and Mw=6,9±0,2 in the regions mentioned respectively. Large seismic event, which probably is prepared at the westernmost part of the Great Caucasus, can represent a special danger due to great density of population and nearness of a few big cities: Krasnodar, Novorossiysk, Sochi etc. It is supposed that ring structures formation is a consequence of geologic systems self-organization, connected with deep-seated fluids migration.

The paper presents a new electrical survey equipment, technical parameters of which allow to use it to trace small variations of electrical resistivity and induced polarization. These capabilities allow to monitor deep geophysical processes, particularly at the atomic branch facilities as well as in places of underground nuclear explosions’ implementation. The application of the equipment is possible in reconnaissance geophysics as well.

The paper describes a new seismic station, and the set of instruments installed at the station. It also shows some results of data application received by Kaskelen station.

The author studied characteristics of explosions in Medeo (October 21, 1966, April 14, 1967 and November 20, 1973) implemented for construction of the dam, information on macro-seismic occurrences of these explosions in Almaty city as well as seismic effect in comparison with strong industrial and research explosions during the construction of dams in Central Asia. A travel-time curve of main regional phases for close and regional distances was described; it was constructed on the basis of historical archived seismograms as well as a composite travel-time curve for the region of Northern Tien Shan near Almaty. There was a comparison drawn with the travel-time curve, constructed on records of a strong Kambarata explosion on December 22, 2009, in Kyrgyzstan. The obtained results may be used to improve localization of seismic events and modeling of early warning system in Almaty.

The authors presented results of the research of opportunities to increase the truthfulness of geophysical data when identifying filtration zones in loamy ground based on the expansion of a number of studied informational parameters. Besides the traditionally used natural self-potential (SP), polarization ability and gas permeability were engaged. The efficiency of improvement of technologies was demonstrated at the example of identifying local filtration places in the cinder dump No.1 of CHP-2 plant in Almaty.