The geographical location of Kazakhstan, situated in the central part of the Eurasian continent, has played a crucial role in shaping a distinctly continental climate. This positioning has led to Kazakhstan facing a significant challenge in terms of water resource availability. The country’s water resources are highly vulnerable to the dual pressures of climate change and human activities. It is noteworthy that the Yesil River basin is the sole region within Kazakhstan’s borders where water resources are predominantly generated, while all other river basins experience substantial outflows beyond the nation’s boundaries. This research undertaking involves a comprehensive analysis of long-term climatic data collected from meteorological stations located within the confines of the Yesil basin in Northern Kazakhstan. Additionally, the study encompasses the computation of water consumption and annual runoff within this region. Historical meteorological observations spanning from 1961 to 2020 reveal notable trends. Most significantly, a 1.2 °C increase in temperature is observed during the spring season. Winters have also become relatively milder and warmer, particularly towards the end of February, where temperatures have shifted from −16.2 °C in the first 30-year period to −14.6 °C in the second period. These findings underscore the ongoing climatic changes within the region, with significant implications for the management and sustainability of water resources in Kazakhstan.
This article examines the impact of climate change on the hydrometeorological indicators of some lakes and reservoirs in the Akmola and North Kazakhstan regions. Two meteorological variables’ annual and seasonal trends at three weather stations in 1986–2023 were analyzed. The non-parametric Mann–Kendall and Sen’s slope methods were used to determine the presence of a positive or negative trend in weather data and their statistical significance. Hydrometric indicators were studied using the ArcGIS 10.8 program from 1995 to 2023. The results indicate an increasing average spring air temperature, with an annual rise of 0.08–0.09 °C. A significant trend in increasing average annual precipitation was observed in Saumalkol, with a rise of 4.7 mm per year. In contrast, no significant trends were found in the annual and seasonal precipitation data for Sergeyevka. It was also found that the area of Lake Saumalkol increased by 1.6% due to a rise in annual precipitation. In contrast, the area of Lake Kopa decreased by 6.04% because of an increase in the annual average temperature.
This article examines the impact of climate change on the hydrometeorological state of some lakes and reservoirs in the Akmola and North Kazakhstan regions. Time series with values of various climate parameters for the period 1986-2023 are used for the climate analysis; the reliability of the results was assessed using the Fisher criteria. Hydrometric indicators were studied using the ArcGIG program. Using GIS to spatially analyze water climate data, 8-channel satellite images from 1995 to 2023 were used. During the study, it was found that the area of the main lakes has undergone changes.
Landfills represent areas of pronounced anthropogenic disturbance, with substantial impacts on local vegetation. The composition and structure of plant communities serve as indicators of eco-system alteration and may function as reservoirs of species with potential utility in ecological restoration. This study provides the first detailed assessment of vegetation structure on a closed MSW landfill in Kokshetau (Akmola Region, northern Kazakhstan; semi-arid steppe/forest-steppe setting) and demonstrates an integrative, restoration-oriented monitoring and target-setting workflow, including a localized phytoremediation screening framework integrating field performance, ecological indicator values, and literature-based functional traits, with a risk/governance filter. A total of 76 vascular plant species were recorded during the field survey, predominantly comprising annual herbaceous taxa adapted to highly disturbed environments. The families Asteraceae and Poaceae were the most species-rich, while Chenopodiaceae and Brassicaceae were also notably represented. Meadow-steppe species constituted the majority (45.5%) of the phytosociological spectrum. Multivariate ecological and statistical analyses revealed that community composition was primarily influenced by the degree of disturbance (p = 0.016), rather than soil pH, with Cannabis sativa and Bassia scoparia emerging as key indicators of less disturbed sectors, contrasting with actively disturbed dumping areas. Consequently, restoration efforts should prioritize mesophytic species adapted to open, sunlit habitats and capable of establishing on slightly alkaline soils, while accounting for site-specific constraints to support long-term vegetation recovery. Notably, Artemisia absinthium and Bassia scoparia were identified as candidate taxa for phytoremediation-oriented restoration, based on their in situ ecological performance and literature-reported traits, albeit with limitations due to allergenic pollen and invasive tendencies, respectively. These findings support phytoremediation strategy design on disturbed landscapes by emphasizing regionally adapted species selection that balances ecological suitability with potential ecological risks.
In the context of accelerating climate change and increasing urbanisation, the private housing sector is becoming a significant source of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, which contribute to anthropogenic pressure on the urban atmosphere and require detailed quantitative assessment. The aim of this study is to assess CO2 emissions in the private residential sector and compare their spatial distribution with observed temperature trends in the context of regional climate change. Carbon footprint calculations were performed using data on fuel and electricity consumption, complemented by geoinformation analysis to map emission patterns. On average, a single household in Kokshetau accounts for 19.27 tons of CO2 emissions per year from electricity and coal use. A clear trend of annual warming has been identified. The obtained value of Zs = 2.14 confirms the statistical significance of the temperature increase. A stable warming rate (Qmed = 0.03 °C/year) has resulted in a total rise of 1.14 °C since 1986, indicating a long-term shift in the regional climate toward warming. The use of remote sensing data and GIS analysis enabled detailed zoning of the territory based on thermal characteristics. The proposed decarbonization scenarios demonstrate that no single measure can fully achieve the targeted indicators. Maximum efficiency (over a 50% reduction in emissions) is achieved only under a combined scenario.
Due to the growing interest in sustainable and environmentally friendly construction materials, biopolymers are increasingly being explored and applied for soil stabilisation in geotechnical engineering. This study evaluates the effectiveness of three commonly used biopolymers—xanthan gum, chitosan, and carboxymethylcellulose—added at concentrations of 1, 2, and 3% by soil weight to improve the physical properties of heavy sandy clay loam. The influence of varying water saturation levels on the stability and performance of treated soils was also investigated. Laboratory tests included determination of soil plasticity, natural water content, consistency limits, and sorption behaviour using the vapour equilibrium technique with saturated sodium chloride and potassium chloride solutions. The results indicate significant improvements in Atterberg limits, particularly plasticity and liquid limits, reflecting enhanced cohesion and structural integrity. Moisture retention characteristics were strongly dependent on environmental humidity and salt solution type. The study confirms that biopolymers are effective, sustainable, and eco-friendly additives for improving soil performance in engineering applications.