In Uzbekistan, researchers are studying the country’s
largest glacier, Pakhtakor, located in the east near the borders with
Kazakhstan and the Kyrgyz Republic. Since 2023, three expeditions have been
conducted. Results from the first two showed that the glacier and its snow
cover had decreased by three meters, with repeated measurements indicating an
additional 30 cm of melting. This year, the third expedition reached the snow
accumulation zone for the first time. Researchers measured the snow thickness
and found just 110 cm and 80 cm of precipitation at two locations. Experts say
this is very low, as snow cover in mountainous areas typically reaches 2.5-3
meters annually.
«I took part in an expedition organized in cooperation with
Germany for the first time and saw firsthand how climate change is affecting
the Pakhtakor Glacier. Over the course of a year, the glacier has melted by
more than three meters - an alarming trend. Glaciers are a vital source of
fresh water, and their rapid melting underscores the need to conserve this
essential resource. We installed new measurement stakes to monitor how the
situation evolves next year,» said Feruzjon Ochildiyev, PhD candidate at the “Tashkent
Institute of Irrigation and Agricultural Mechanization Engineers” National
Research University, Uzbekistan.
Glaciers in Uzbekistan play a vital role in the ecosystem,
contributing up to 25% of the region’s total runoff. During expeditions to
Pakhtakor, an automatic weather station was installed to continuously monitor
temperature, humidity, precipitation, and wind direction. The data collected is
valuable not only for Central Asia but also for scientists worldwide, helping
develop solutions to mitigate the impacts of climate change.
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