The article provides an analysis of Cenozoic floras collected and studied at different times in the valley of the Uly-Zhilanshik River (South Torgai Depression, Kazakhstan), and also discusses the prospects for reconstructing the Cenozoic paleoclimate based on the study of fossil floras. The Uly-Zhilanshchik River valley is a key area for understanding the processes of environmental change in the Paleogene and Neogene. These studies of these paleofloras make it possible to reconstruct paleogeographical conditions: paleolandscapes and climate change. It was shown that floras of the same age were not of the same type and had their own regional characteristics. Floristic composition represented in floras from sediments of different ages along the river. Uly-Zhilanshik, allows us to trace the stages of retreat of the Chegan Sea and further aridization of the territory. The article was prepared during the implementation of the grant project AP19677563 “Study of paleoflora and climate of Central Kazakhstan at the boundary of the Oligocene and Miocene and the initial stage of desertification of the region” (2023 – 2025)

Studying paleoclimatic conditions across geological epochs is essential for understanding climate evolution and its influence on Earth’s biosphere. Leaf macrofossils serve as a crucial data source for reconstructing ancient climates due to their sensitivity to environmental changes. Advanced analytical methods, such as the Climate Leaf Analysis Multivariate Program (CLAMP) and the coexistence approach (CA), enable precise assessment of past climatic parameters using fossilized leaf remains. The Erzhilansay locality, dated to the early Miocene, represents a remarkable site with exceptionally preserved and diverse plant fossils, making it pivotal for paleoclimatic reconstructions. This study reveals that mean annual temperatures and summer temperatures in the early Miocene were relatively stable over millions of years. In contrast, winters were notably milder, exhibiting warmer and more consistent conditions. Precipitation levels were significantly higher, fostering the development of dense vegetation, unlike the arid environment seen today. These findings underscore the importance of employing integrated methodologies to reconstruct ancient climates and interpret geological-scale climate changes. The study also offers critical insights into climate dynamics, supporting the development of strategies to mitigate current environmental challenges.

Бұл зерттеу Шығыс Қазақстандағы Қиын-Керіш аймағындағы «Кораблик» қимасының ерте олигоцен дәуіріндегі флорасына негізделген палеоклиматтық реконструкцияға арналған. Зерттеудің мақсаты – Coexistence Approach (CA) әдісін қолданып, сол кезеңдегі климаттық жағдайларды анықтап, аймақтық экологиялық өзгерістердің өсімдік жамылғысына әсерін бағалау. Нәтижелер аймақта ерте олигоценде жылы және ылғалды климат басым болғанын және бұл жағдайлардың флора құрамындағы түрлі таксондар арқылы көрініс тапқанын көрсетті. Жұмыстың ғылыми маңызы – аймақтың климаттық тарихы туралы деректерді байытуында, ал практикалық маңызы – осы реконструкция әдісін Қазақстанның басқа қималарын зерттеуге қолдану мүмкіндігін қамтамасыз ету.

This article reconstructs the Early Miocene climate of the Turgay Trough in Central Asia, using the Coexistence Approach (CA) and paleofloristic data from Kushuk. Its main goal is to determine climatic parameters and ecosystem changes in the Early Miocene. Results indicate a warm-temperate climate with mild winters and sufficient rainfall, featuring a mean annual temperature of 14.2°C and mean annual precipitation of 898.5 mm. These conditions supported diverse forest ecosystems, including broadleaf and mixed woodlands. A comparison with the modern climate shows a strong contrast, suggesting increased continentality and reduced moisture availability. This evidence supports a gradual climatic cooling and drying during the Miocene, driven by global and regional factors such as tectonic uplift and oceanic currents.The study underscores the climatic evolution of Central Asia and validates the CA method as an effective tool for paleoclimatic studies. Findings can be applied to climate modeling and assessing how shifts in temperature and precipitation influenced Neogene ecosystems. Planned research will examine the interplay of climatic and geological factors, focusing on how changes in precipitation patterns shaped habitat distribution and species composition. These data provide a basis for refining paleoclimatic models and reconstructing biosphere dynamics in the Neogene, thereby advancing our understanding of how climate influenced regional development and biodiversity.

This study presents a quantitative reconstruction of the climatic conditions associated with the Turonian flora of the Beleuty River locality, situated within the present-day Ulytau Region of Kazakhstan. Paleoclimate reconstruction was performed using the Coexistence Approach based on the climatic ranges of nine nearest living relatives (NLRs) of fossil plant taxa. Climatic data for the selected NLRs were obtained from the Palaeoflora Database, version 2024. Seven climatic parameters were reconstructed: mean annual temperature (MAT), cold month mean temperature (CMT), warm month mean temperature (WMT), mean annual precipitation (MAP), and precipitation of the wettest (MPWET), driest (MPDRY), and warmest (MPWARM) months. The reconstructed intervals were 18.6–25.0 °C for MAT, 8.1–19.8 °C for CMT, 25.0–29.5 °C for WMT, 585–1613 mm for MAP, 125–245 mm for MPWET, 3–43 mm for MPDRY, and 38–206 mm for MPWARM. The results indicate generally warm climatic conditions and suggest marked seasonal variability in precipitation. Sensitivity analysis revealed that Bauhinia sp. strongly controls the lower temperature limits. When this NLR was excluded, the lower limits decreased to 13.8 °C for MAT, 1.8 °C for CMT, and 19.3 °C for WMT, whereas all precipitation intervals remained unchanged. These results provide new quantitative constraints on the continental paleoclimate of Central Kazakhstan during the Turonian.