A joint team of scientists from the Glacier Research Center of the National Academy of Sciences of Tajikistan and the University of Fribourg has successfully completed a series of glacier expeditions across Tajikistan. The fieldwork, carried out between 30 July and 28 August 2025 with the support of the GEF-UNDP-UNESCO project, focused on assessing glacier mass balance and collecting vital meteorological and hydrological data.
Expeditions were conducted on four key glaciers: Zulmart (No. 139) in the Eastern Pamirs, Glacier No. 457 in the Gunt River Basin, Yakarcha Glacier in the Varzob River Basin, and Nusai Glacier in the Obihingob River Basin.
The missions brought together multidisciplinary teams, including young researchers and women scientists, highlighting Tajikistan’s growing scientific capacity in climate and glacier studies. On Zulmart and Glacier No. 457, 13 researchers took part, while the Yakarcha expedition included 7 participants.
During the expeditions, scientists measured glacier ablation, snow accumulation, and runoff, while also gathering data from meteorological stations, smart stakes, and other monitoring equipment installed on-site. These findings will contribute to a better understanding of glacier dynamics in Central Asia and support the development of regional adaptation strategies to climate change.
