An important place in the realization of multiparameter geophysical observations carried out by the Research Station RAS in the Tien Shan region is occupied by the magnetotelluric complex, which includes three components: magnetotelluric sounding (MTS), deep MTS (DMTS), and magnetovariational sounding (MVS). Magnetotellurics is a classical method of deep geophysics in terms of solving a fundamental scientific problem of studying the deep structure of the earth's crust and the upper mantle of our planet.

Magnetotelluric measurements performed in a broad band provide unique information on the fluid regime of the tectonosphere, zones of graphitization, dehydration and partial melting. Models of electrical conductivity of the earth's crust and upper mantle, built for many regions of our planet, give the new material for diagnosing the condition of the earth's interior and the processes taking place into them. Today the time to various types of deposits and seismic zones to the boundaries of geoelectric blocks becomes obvious. And the presence of conductive formations in the cross-section may indicate intense tectonic movements of blocks and the corresponding PT-conditions accompanying this process, as well as the development of rheologically weakened zones. The possibilities of magnetotellurics are unique in terms of studying modern geodynamic processes, where it acts as one of the main actors in the approach of the complex use of seismological, geophysical and geodetic data. MTS-MVS methods is widely practical adopted, first af all, under to their sufficient simplicity, mobility, depth and environmental safety.

The works with using MTS, MVS and DMTS methods are carried out on the territory of the Tien Shan and adjacent regions in a "profile" version. At the same time, it is possible to distinguish regional profiles of MT-MV observations with a of several kilometers step between sounding points and local (detailed) profiles with a step from the first hundreds of meters.

The main scientific problems solved by the laboratory:

• study of the deep geoelectric structure of the earth's crust and upper mantle of the Tien Shan and adjacent areas;

• construction of “objective” two-dimensional and three-dimensional geoelectric models of various spatial scales for the lithosphere of the Tien Shan and Pamirs using MTS-MVS data;

• construction of complex geological and geophysical models of the deep structure and dynamics of the lithosphere of the Tien Shan and Pamirs;

• development of theoretical and methodological foundations of the created system of geophysical monitoring of the geodynamic activity of the earth's crust in the Tien Shan.

The directions of advanced research’s of laboratory:

• development of inversion the registration results of the electromagnetic field with purpose to obtain three-dimensional models of geoelectrical inhomogeneities of the earth's crust at the experimental Kentor minitest site;

• realization a longtime field experiment to create and develop a seismoelectromagnetic monitoring system;
• supplementing the results of traditional methods of studying the stress-strain state of the earth's crust in seismically active regions of the Tien Shan with magnetotelluric monitoring materials to obtain practical recommendations for identifying potentially dangerous seismically zones;

• development of scientific and methodological foundations and new technologies for estimate the stress-strain state of the geological environment of electromagnetic monitoring of seismically active regions;

• introduction of new electrical prospecting methods and technologies, for example, electrotomography, to identify the tensosensitive zones of the earth's crust, confined to active faults.