Spatial distribution of earthquakes over 25 years on geoelectrical models: MT Profile TIPAGE-Alai case study

This study compares the regional geoelectric model of the TIPAGE-Alai profile along the 73.4° E meridian (Southern Tien Shan) with the distribution of earthquake hypocenters over a 25-year period (2000–2024) based on the International Seismological Center (ISC) catalog. The results demonstrate a correlation between deformation zones and the clustering of earthquake hypocenters, which contributes to a better understanding of geodynamics as a relationship between electrical conductivity, crustal deformation, and seismic processes in the region. These data highlight the tectonic significance of the Pamir–Tien Shan junction as an active intracontinental collision zone.

1. Bataleva E.A., Nepeina K.S. Manifestation of “flower structures” in geophysical models of the Central Tien Shan // IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science. 2021. Vol. 929 (1). P. 012001. doi: 10.1088/1755-1315/929/1/012001

2. Bataleva E.A., Batalev V.Yu., Rybin A.K. On the question of the interrelation between variations in crustal electrical conductivity and geodynamical processes // Izvestiya, Physics of the Solid Earth. 2013. Vol. 49 (3). P. 402-410. doi:10.1134/S1069351313030038. EDN:RKWBVN.

3. Bataleva E.A., Batalev V.Y., Rybin A.K. Interrelation of conductivity, seismic velocities and the seismicity for Central Tien Shan lithosphere // Lithosphere (Russia). 2015. Vol. 5. P. 81–89. (In Russ.).

4. Berdichevsky M.N., Dmitriev V.I. Models and methods of magnetotellurics. Springer, Berlin, 2008. doi: 10.1007/978-3-540-77814-1.

5. Burtman V.S., Molnar P. Geological and geophysical evidence for deep subduction of continental crust beneath the Pamir. GSA, Boulder, Colorado, 1993. 76 p. doi:10.1130/SPE281-p1.

6. Coutand I., Strecker M.R., Arrowsmith J.R., Hilley G., Thiede R.C., Korjenkov A., Omuraliev M. Late Cenozoic tectonic development of the intramontane Alai Valley, (Pamir-Tien Shan region, central Asia): An example of intracontinental deformation due to the Indo-Eurasia collision // Tectonics. 2002. Vol. 21 (6). P. 1053. doi:10.1029/2002TC001358.

7. Dzhumabaeva A., Baykulov S., Abdrakhmatov K., Patyniak M., Landgraf A., Ramon A., Strecker M. New data on paleoseismology in the territory Alay Depression (Southwestern Tien-Shan) // Vestnik Instituta Sejsmologii NAN KR .2022. No. 1 (19). P. 36–46. (In Russ.).

8. Grebennikova V., Fortuna A. Seismicity of the Zaalay Ridge (Pamir-Alay Zone) // Vestnik Instituta Sejsmologii NAN KR. 2018. No. 1 (11). P. 18–31. (In Russ.).

9. ISC-GEM earthquake catalogue. International Seismological Centre, 2025. doi:10.31905/D808B825

10. Leonov M.G. Intermountain cavities of Gissar-Alay region (Tien Shan): structure and evolution // Lithosphere (Russia). 2013. Vol. 3. P. 3–24. (In Russ.).

11. Leonov M.G., Rybin A.K., Batalev V.Yu., Matyukov V.E., Shchelochkov G.G. Tectonic structure and evolution of the Hissar–Alay Mountain Domain and the Pamirs // Geotectonics. 2017. Vol. 51 (6). P. 566–583. doi:10.1134/S001685211706005X. EDN:UXLKHS.

12. Leonov M.G., Przhiyalgovskii E.S., Morozov Yu.A., Lunina O.V., Mazukabzov A.M., Nikitin А.V. Mesozoic-Cenozoic intramountain basins of the Tien Shan and western Transbaikalia: comparative characteristics and correlation of events. Article 1. Question formulation. Intramountain basins of the Gissar-Alai and Central Tien Shan // Geodynamics & Tectonophysics. 2025. Vol. 16 (3). P. 0826. (In Russ.). doi:10.5800/GT-2025-16-3-0826.

13. Matyukov V. New geophysical data about deep structure of Pamir-Tien Shan connection zone // Nauka i Novye Technologii. 2012. Vol. 7. P. 20–24. (In Russ.).

14. Matyukov V. Profile magnetotelluric survey of Pamir-Alai zone: deep geoelectric structure and geodynamic conclusions // Scientific Researches in the Kirghiz Republic. 2013. Vol. 2. P. 37–46. (In Russ.).

15. Matyukov V.E., Rybin A.K., Batalev V.Yu., Bataleva E.A. Deep geoelectric structure of the Pamir-Alai zone // Problems of Geodynamics and Geoecology of Intracontinental Orogens: Proceedings of the 6 International Symposium, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. Bishkek, 2014. P. 200–201. (In Russ.).

16. Metronix Geophysics. URL: https://www.metronix.de/en/geophysics/metronix-geophysics.

17. Nepeina K., Bataleva E. Evaluation of hypocenters distribution based on the geoelectric models in the Tien Shan earthquake-prone areas // Problems of Geocosmos-2020. Springer Proceedings in Earth and environmental sciences. Springer, Cham, 2022. P. 309–316. doi: 10.1007/978-3-030-91467-7_22

18. Omuraliev M., Omuralieva A. Dynamics of seismic processes at the Junction of the Pamir And Tien Shan mountain building areas: the Zaalai Range and Alay Basin // Vestnik Instituta Sejsmologii NAN KR. 2018. No. 1 (11). P. 57–78. (In Russ.).

19. Przhiyalgovskii E.S., Lavrushina E.V. The structures of the Alai and Kichi-Karakol depressions and the latest deformations in their mountainous surroundings (Southern Tien Shan) // Lithosphere (Russia). 2020. Vol. 20 (6). P. 771–790. (In Russ.). doi:10.24930/1681-9004-2020-20-6-771-790.

20. Ritter O., Junge A., Dawes G. New equipment and processing for magnetotelluric remote reference observations // Geophysical Journal International. 1998. Vol. 132 (3). P. 535–548. doi: 10.1046/j.1365- 246X.1998.00440.x.

21. Rodi W.L., Mackie R.L. Nonlinear conjugate gradients algorithm for 2-D magnetotelluric inversion // Geophysics. 2001. Vol. 66 (1). P. 174–187. doi: 10.1190/1.1444893

22. Rybin A.K. Geoelectrical inhomogeneities of the Earth's crust of the Northern Tien Shan and seismicity distribution // Bulletin of Voronezh State University. Geology Series. 2010. No. 2. P. 225–237. (In Russ.).

23. Rybin A.K., Matyukov V.E., Batalev V.Yu., Bataleva, E.A. Deep geoelectric structure of the Earth’s crust and the upper mantle of the Pamir–Alai zone // Russian Geology and Geophysics. 2019. Vol. 60 (1). P. 108–118. doi: 10.15372/RGG2019008. EDN: ZCZRTW

24. Rybin A.K., Bataleva E.A., Nepeina K.S., Matyukov V.E. Volumetric and spatial segmentation of the Tien Shan lithosphere according to geophysical data // Geodynamics & Tectonophysics. 2021. Vol. 12 (3). P. 508–543. (In Russ.). doi:10.5800/GT-2021-12-3-0537.

25. Sass P., Ritter O., Ratschbacher L., Tympel J., Matiukov V.E., Rybin A.K., Batalev V.Yu. Resistivity structure underneath the Pamir and Southern Tian Shan // Geophysical Journal International. 2014. Vol. 198 (1). P. 564– 579. doi:10.1093/gji/ggu146.

26. Strecker M.R., Frisch W., Hamburger M.W., Ratschbacher L., Semiletkin S., Samoruyev A., Sturchio N. Quaternary deformation in the eastern Pamirs, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan // Tectonics. 1995. Vol. 14 (5). P. 1061– 1079. doi:10.1029/95TC00927

27. Yang W., Dupont-Nivet G., Jolivet M., Guo Z., Bougeois L., Bosboom R., Zhang Z., Zhu B., Heilbronn G. Magnetostratigraphic record of the early evolution of the southwestern Tian Shan foreland basin (Ulugqat area), interactions with Pamir indentation and India–Asia collision // Tectonophysics. 2015. Vol. 644–645. P. 122–137. doi:10.1016/j.tecto.2015.01.003.

28. Zubovich A., Schöne T., Metzger S., Mosienko O., Mukhamediev S., Sharshebaev A., Zech C. Tectonic interaction between the Pamir and Tien Shan observed by GPS // Tectonics. 2016. Vol. 35 (2). P. 283–292. doi: 10.1002/2015TC004055