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History of Laboratory

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The Laboratory of Integrated Studies (LIS) was separated from the Department of experimental geophysical research of the Scientific Station of Joint Institute for High Temperatures of RAS with the purpose of electromagnetic, geomagnetic, seismological monitoring and execution of special projects related to study of Tien-Shan and adjacent territories deep structure by complex of geophysical methods.

Electromagnetic observations within Bishkek (Frunze) Geodynamic Proving Ground were started in the early 80's. At the same time, electromagnetic methods based on alternating current in variants of continuous frequency sounding (CFS) began to develop, using MHD generators as a current source. After the high-power electropulse systems were developed and introduced into production, electromagnetic observations in the form of far-field transient electromagnetic sounding were started using various types of installations. The near-field transient electromagnetic sounding was used for monitoring of upper part of structure.

Originally (since 1983 until 1992), the network included six stationary stations located in the northern side of Kyrgyz Range, and 27 field sites concentrated within Chuy Depression, its surroundings and in the zones of the highest density of earthquake focuses.

Since 1982, geomagnetic observations have been carried out at the network similar to the one used for electromagnetic observations: at the same 6 stationary stations and at Karagai-Bulak station located on the northern shore of the Issyk-Kul Lake, as well as 9 field observation stations at a small distance from TEM sites (first tens meters).

In 1991, on the territory of Bishkek Geodynamic Proving Ground, Kyrgyz Digital Seismological Network KNET was established in cooperation with specialists from University of California, Institute of Physics of the Earth (Russian Academy of Sciences) and Institute of Seismology (National Academy of Sciences of the Kyrgyz Republic). The creation of this network had two purposes: to supply data for activities aimed at reducing seismic risks and to record seismic waves in the region for subsequent use in identification of nuclear explosions.

The network consisted of 10 stations with broadband seismometers and 24-bit analog-to-digital encoders, seven of which were installed in the foothills of Kyrgyz Range (EKS2, AAK, KBK), in the northern part of Chuy Valley (USP, CHM, TKM2) and in the south-western part of the Issyk-Kul Lake (ULHL), and three stations are located in the hard-to-reach regions of Tien Shan (AML, UCH, KZA).

Since 1998, the seismological network KNET operates in the real-time mode ensured by the system of telemetric data transfer to the Data Acquisition Center (CHM), to the Research Station RAS (RS RAS) and also to the Institute of Seismology NAS KR. Since May, 2003, seismological bulletins formed at the RS RAS, participate in the compilation of ISC catalogues (International Seismological Center, United Kingdom http://www.isc.ac.uk/).

For a long time, the head of the laboratory was Candidate of Science in Physics and Mathematics Bragin V.D., who worked at the Research Station RAS from 1982 to 2019.

 

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Geographic location

40 km. from Bishkek