L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University, a dissertation defense for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) by Ulykpanova Meruyert on the topic «Influence of anthropogenic factors on the geochemical structure of landscapes in the Ertis River basin: within Eastern Kazakhstan» to the educational program «8D05213 – Geography».
The dissertation was carried out at the «Physical and economical geography education department» of L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University.
The language of defense is kazakh
Official reviewers:
Kazangapova Nurgul Burkitbaevna – Candidate of Geographical Sciences, PhD, Associate Professor of the Institute of Agriculture and Forestry of the Kazakh Agrotechnical Research University named after S. Seifullin, specialty: 25.00.27 - "Land Hydrology, Water Resources, and Hydrochemistry" (Astana, Republic of Kazakhstan);
Aldazhanova Gulnar Bulatovna – PhD, Senior Researcher in the G.V. Geldyeva Laboratory of Landscape Science and Nature Management, JSC "Institute of Geography and Water Security", specialty: «6D060900 – Geography» (Almaty, Republic of Kazakhstan).
Temporary members of the Dissertation Council:
Kurepina Nadezhda Yuryevna – Candidate of Geographical Sciences, Senior Researcher, Institute of Water and Environmental Problems, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, specialty: 25.00.33 – «Cartography» (Barnaul, Russian Federation);
Kuderin Amanzhol Alimzhanovich – PhD, Head of the G.V. Geldyeva Laboratory of Landscape Science and Nature Management, JSC «Institute of Geography and Water Security», specialty: «»6D060800 - Ecology (Almaty, Republic of Kazakhstan);
Pashkov Sergey Vladimirovich – Candidate of Geographical Sciences, Associate Professor, Professor in the Department of «Geography and Ecology» at Manash Kozybayev North Kazakhstan University, specialty: 25.00.36 – «Geoecology» (Petropavlovsk, Republic of Kazakhstan).
Scientific consultants:
Ozgeldinova Zhanar Ozgeldinovna – Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Acting Professor of the Department of «Physical and Economic Geography» of the L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University, specialty: «6D060900 - Geography» (Astana, Republic of Kazakhstan);
Ostanin Oleg – Candidate of Geographical Sciences, Associate Professor of the Department of «Physical Geography and Geoinformation Systems» of Altai State University, specialty: 25.00.23 – «Physical Geography and Biogeography, Soil Geography and Landscape Geochemistry» (Barnaul, Russian Federation).
The defense will take place on December 19, 2025, at 11:00 AM in the Dissertation Council for the training direction «8D052 – Environment» in the educational program «8D05213 – Geography» of L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University. Conducting a meeting of the dissertation council in a mixed (offline and online) format.
Link: https://surl.li/dgneoe
Address: Astana, st. Kazhymukan, 13, educational building No. 3, meeting room (room No. 333).
Abstract (English): The study of the geochemical structure of landscapes is an integral component of a comprehensive approach to understanding geoecological processes occurring within natural systems. One of the key reasons for the significance of this research direction is that the geochemical structure of landscapes serves as an indicator of the state of the natural environment and reflects the degree of influence exerted by various natural and anthropogenic processes. At present, as a result of the intensive development of various economic sectors, problems associated with the chemical contamination of environmental components have become increasingly acute. Anthropogenic activity has become a significant geochemical factor influencing the redistribution of elements within landscapes. A.E. Fersman defined the migration of chemical elements across the Earth induced by human activities as technogenic, and the totality of processes responsible for this migration as technogenesis. Therefore, assessing the geochemical structure of landscapes subjected to varying degrees of anthropogenic pressure represents a highly relevant task in contemporary geoecological research. Under the conditions of rapidly increasing anthropogenic pressure on natural landscapes—such as atmospheric emissions, disposal of waste into water bodies, and the intensive use of agricultural land—geochemical research has become a crucial tool for identifying sources of pollution and assessing their impacts on ecosystems. This is particularly important for regions such as the Ertis River basin within Eastern Kazakhstan, where intensive natural resource use and a highly developed industrial sector significantly influence the geochemical structure of landscapes.The Ertis River originates in China and flows through Kazakhstan, where numerous industrial enterprises discharge wastewater containing heavy metals. Among these enterprises are the Ulba Metallurgical Plant, the Ust-Kamenogorsk Lead-Zinc Combine, and the Ust-Kamenogorsk Titanium-Magnesium Plant. Pollution of the Ertis River’s coastal zone also occurs due to various human activities, particularly through the accumulation of municipal and industrial solid waste. Heavy metals represent some of the most widespread and hazardous contaminants for biota in the study region. They are characterized by high toxicity, as well as mutagenic and carcinogenic effects. In this context, geochemical investigations make it possible not only to detect contamination but also to propose measures for restoring degraded landscapes, optimizing natural resource use, and improving the quality of life for the local population. The study of the geochemical structure of landscapes constitutes an essential component of comprehensive research on geoecological processes occurring within natural systems. One of the key reasons for the significance of this field is that the geochemical structure serves as an indicator reflecting the ecological condition of landscape environments and revealing the influence of various anthropogenic processes. At present, the intensive development of economic activities has exacerbated problems associated with the chemical contamination of environmental components. Anthropogenic impact, as a geochemical factor, plays a significant role in the redistribution of elements within landscapes. A.E. Fersman defined the movement (migration) of chemical elements on Earth resulting from human activities as technogenic, and referred to the totality of processes driving this movement as technogenesis. Therefore, assessing the geochemical structure of landscapes subjected to varying degrees of anthropogenic pressure is a highly relevant and timely task in contemporary environmental research. Under conditions of rapidly increasing anthropogenic pressure on natural landscapes, geochemical studies related to atmospheric emissions, wastewater discharge, and the intensive use of agricultural lands have become essential tools for identifying pollution sources and assessing their impacts on geosystems. This is particularly important for regions such as the Ertis River basin in Eastern Kazakhstan, where intensive exploitation of natural resources and a well-developed industrial sector significantly influence the geochemical structure of landscapes. The Ertis River originates in China and flows through Kazakhstan, where numerous industrial enterprises discharge domestic and industrial wastewater containing a wide range of heavy metals. These include the Ulba Metallurgical Plant, the Ust-Kamenogorsk Lead-Zinc Plant, the Titanium-Magnesium Plant, and several other industrial facilities. Pollution of the Ertis River’s coastal zone also results from human activities, particularly through the accumulation of municipal and industrial solid waste. Among the most widespread and hazardous contaminants for biota in the study region are heavy metals, which are characterized by high toxicity, as well as mutagenic and carcinogenic effects. In this context, geochemical investigations not only make it possible to detect contamination but also provide a basis for proposing measures to restore degraded landscapes, optimize natural resource use, and improve the quality of life for the local population. The aim of this dissertation research is to assess the impact of anthropogenic factors on the geochemical structure of landscapes within the Ertis River basin in Eastern Kazakhstan in order to determine the extent of technogenic anomalies of pollutants. Research Objectives: – to analyze natural factors influencing the formation of the geochemical structure of landscapes; – to develop a geochemical map of the landscapes within the study basin; – to identify the sources and types of anthropogenic impact in the study region; – to determine the background concentrations of major chemical elements in landscape components and assess their role in shaping the geochemical structure; – to determine the content and spatial distribution of chemical elements in landscape components and identify the pollutant fluxes originating from the main sources of anthropogenic impact; – to analyze the geochemical conditions governing the migration of substances within the landscapes of the study region; – to assess technogenic anomalies of heavy metals in the soils of the study area; – to develop recommendations for the optimization and rehabilitation of landscapes. The study is based on the methodology of landscape–geochemical research, the fundamental principles of which were developed in the works of A.I. Perelman, N.S. Kasimov, and M.A. Glazovskaya. The main research methods employed include the comparative–geographical approach, statistical analysis, spatial interpolation techniques, and the geosystem–basin approach. Chemical–analytical work was carried out in the certified testing laboratories of EkoNus LLP in Karaganda and the National Center for Expertise and Certification JSC in Semey. The concentrations of chemical elements in the samples were determined using atomic absorption spectrometry; pH was measured with a pH meter in accordance with GOST 26423-85; titrimetric analysis followed GOST 26424-85; argentometric analysis followed GOST 26425-85; and turbidimetric analysis followed GOST 26426-85. To process the obtained results, variational–statistical analysis was applied, while geoinformation cartography and remote sensing data were used for map construction. Provisions Submitted for Defense: 1.Geochemical classification and mapping based on the landscape–geochemical approach make it possible to assess natural factors and the conditions governing the migration of chemical elements. 2.Regional background values of total chemical element concentrations in surface waters, soils, and vegetation of the Ertis River basin within Eastern Kazakhstan have been established, enabling the identification of regional features of the geochemical structure of landscapes. 3.The content and spatial distribution of pollutants within the landscape components of the Ertis River basin in Eastern Kazakhstan are determined by the contrasting levels of anthropogenic load resulting from economic development. 4.The landscapes of the Ertis River basin in Eastern Kazakhstan differ in their conditions of substance migration, which is reflected in the variety of factors determining variations in background element concentrations and the spatial heterogeneity of the geochemical structure. 5.Technogenic anomalies within the landscapes of Eastern Kazakhstan in the Ertis River basin serve as indicators of the combined influence of multiple pollution sources. The criterion for identifying technogenic anomalies is a coefficient equal to the ratio of heavy metal concentrations in the analyzed sample to their average background levels. Based on the obtained results, the following conclusions can be drawn: 1. Within the Ertis River basin, 68 individual landscapes were identified and shown on the map. In the legend, according to themes and subthemes, the following zoning categories were distinguished: classes (plains, mountains); types of plain landscapes (steppe, semi-desert); types of mountain landscapes (nival, mountain-meadow, forest, forest-steppe, steppe, semi-desert, desert landscapes); subtypes (northern steppe, southern steppe). 2. Based on the landscape map constructed using A.I. Perelman’s classification, a geochemical landscape map was developed. Within the basin, 12 geochemical landscapes were identified, characterized by differences in water exchange, denudation, and biogenic accumulation of elements in waters, soils, and plants. In arid steppes, plains with slow and moderate water exchange predominate, where elements—especially in plant root systems—accumulate through biogenic pathways. In sub-boreal deserts, plain landscapes with slow water exchange are widespread, where chemical denudation predominates. In mountain-meadow landscapes with intensive water exchange and a distinct boundary between autonomous and subordinate landscapes, mechanical denudation is dominant. Biogenic accumulation of elements in desert soils is weakly expressed, particularly for nitrogen and chlorine, whereas the flora is characterized by intensive biogenic accumulation of Na, Cl, S, K, and P. 3. Background values for the soil cover and vegetation of the study region were determined. A comparative analysis of background concentrations in surface waters, soils, and vegetation was carried out using data from various authors. A distinctive feature of the geochemical landscapes of the Ertis River basin is the elevated background content of a number of elements, associated with the presence of secondary dispersion halos (lithochemical anomalies) of ore-forming elements (copper, zinc, lead) and accompanying elements (lead, zinc, etc.). In the soils of the southern steppes of the basin, within the biogeochemical barrier zone, the upper part of the humus horizon shows significant biogenic accumulation of P, S, K, Ca, and, in places, Mg, Na, Sr, Mn, Cu, Zn, Mo, Co, As, Ag, Ba, Pb, and other trace elements. Under oxidizing conditions in the mountain–meadow landscapes of the basin, accumulations of mobile and weakly mobile elements such as Zn, Cu, Ni, Pb, Cd, Hg, Ag, and Bi are possible. In the alkaline oxidizing environment of soils in the sub-boreal deserts of the basin, low organic matter content and very weak moisture conditions determine the low intensity of migration and accumulation of many elements. 4. Economic activities carried out within the study basin—and consequently the key factors of anthropogenic modification of geochemical landscapes—include industrial and agricultural activities: mineral extraction, hydrotechnical construction, livestock grazing, as well as the expansion of settlements and transportation infrastructure. According to the results of geochemical studies conducted at background key sites and in areas exposed to strong anthropogenic pollution, it was established that the spectrum of contamination of geochemical landscape components in the Ertis River basin by technogenic products indicates a multi-sector industrial structure with a predominance of metallurgical production cycles.Technogenic fluxes of most pollutants discharged with wastewater from the Ust-Kamenogorsk industrial center are transported along the shoreline of the Ertis’s main tributary—the Ulba River. A significant increase in the concentrations of NH4+, Mg2+, NO2–, and Cu2+ and Zn2+ in water, Cu2+, Zn2+ and Pb2+ in soil, and Cu2+, Zn2+, Pb2+ and Cd2+ in plants was identified as the distance to the emission source decreases. Enhanced accumulation of toxic substances in the geochemical landscapes within the dispersion zone leads to the transformation of natural complexes, creating new geochemical conditions that alter the parameters of mass and energy exchange. 5. To compare the obtained field data with the results derived from satellite imagery, various spectral band ratios of Landsat-8/OLI were examined in order to identify metal-bearing zones within the study area. The maps of clay mineral and carbonate indices, constructed based on field research conducted in 2022–2024, confirm the findings of the field surveys. Maximum values of the clay mineral index (1.43–1.95) and the carbonate index (0.58–0.66) were detected in Landscape 6, which includes key industrially developed areas such as copper deposits (Nikolaevskoe) and polymetallic ore deposits (Belousovskoe, Ridder-Sokolnoe, Tishinskoe). In these areas, a significant exceedance of the maximum permissible concentrations (MPC) of heavy metals was recorded, for example, copper (148.6 mg/kg), exceeding the MPC by a factor of 49.5, and lead reaching 190.2 mg/kg, which is six times higher than the MPC. These data confirm the high technogenic load on the specified landscapes, associated with the activities of mining enterprises. 6. Coefficients of various types of element migration were calculated. As a result, it can be concluded that the migration and accumulation of chemical elements in landscapes depend on numerous factors, such as geochemical barriers, relief, chemical composition of waters, and changes in environmental conditions, which lead to the formation of unique landscape anomalies and geochemical processes. Element migration within water flows occurs primarily during periods of snowmelt and after heavy rainfall, when rivers become saturated with water and the transport of elements intensifies. In mountain–meadow landscapes, where Type III landscapes predominate, lateral migration is observed, during which elements accumulate in accumulative landscapes due to their transport in suspended and dissolved forms from the river basin territory. Dry steppe and sub-boreal desert landscapes belong to the calcium–sodium class and are characterized by slightly alkaline and alkaline conditions. In these landscapes, geochemical differentiation occurs mainly through radial migration of elements with soil–groundwater. The soils of the study area, especially those on mountain slopes, demonstrate significant profile differentiation with the accumulation of elements such as lead, copper, and zinc in the humus horizons. This is associated with radial differentiation and differences in the redox conditions of the upper and lower soil horizons. 7. The coefficient of technogenic anomalies (As) was calculated, which is one of the key indicators allowing for the assessment of the degree of concentration of chemical components in the environment and the identification of anthropogenic impacts. Based on the results of the study, a cartographic representation of soil contamination levels within the Ertis River basin was produced. It was established that the Ertis River basin is predominantly characterized by geochemical landscapes with strong and very strong degrees of soil contamination. Geochemical landscapes in which mining and processing industries dominate the land-use structure (the Ust-Kamenogorsk industrial hub) are characterized by strong and very strong contamination levels, with all their components being severely disturbed. 8. Based on the analysis of soil contamination levels in the geochemical landscapes, recommendations were developed for the strongly and very strongly contaminated geochemical landscapes of the Ertis River basin. Considering the current geoecological condition of the geochemical landscapes, the following measures were proposed to improve the state of soils and surface waters: phytoremediation, bioremediation, and hydromelioration. Based on the obtained results, the following conclusion was formulated: the results can be used not only to determine measures for ecological rehabilitation of the study area but may also serve as a model for improving geochemical research of geosystems aimed at addressing practical issues of environmental management. The scientific novelty of the research is as follows: 1.A medium-scale map of the geochemical landscapes of the Ertis River basin in Eastern Kazakhstan has been developed, reflecting the geochemical conditions of substance migration and concentration within the geochemical landscapes. An analysis of the morphological structure of the geochemical landscapes was carried out: 4 groups, 3 types, and 3 subtypes were identified, and 12 geochemical landscapes were defined. 2. Based on comprehensive investigations conducted in the Ertis River basin of Eastern Kazakhstan, the background composition of the studied substances was determined for the main components of the landscapes (surface waters, soils, and vegetation). 3.Under field conditions, spatial differences in pollutant elements were identified, and the main regularities of distribution and migration of contaminants in natural waters, soils, and plants were established. Theoretical and Practical Significance of the Study. The results of landscape–geochemical investigations can be used to assess the condition of local and regional natural–anthropogenic geosystems. By determining the intensity of migration and differentiation of chemical elements, it becomes possible not only to characterize contemporary processes but also to predict the accumulation or removal of beneficial or harmful elements and compounds within the landscape. Thus, the conclusions obtained are of significant importance for committees responsible for ecology and environmental protection, as well as for institutions managing land resources and land use, since they include an analysis of the geochemical impact of industrial and agricultural activities on natural landscapes. Structure of the Dissertation. The dissertation consists of an introduction, three chapters, a conclusion, a list of references, and eight appendices. The main content is presented on 201 pages of typescript and is illustrated with 42 figures and 36 tables. The reference list contains 182 sources. The main provisions and conclusions of the dissertation research are presented in six published works, four of which were published in journals indexed in the international Scopus database, while the remaining works were approved at international scientific and practical conferences.
Conclusion of the Research Ethics Committee
Defense of the dissertation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LXUA6-S5Pwc
