Due to global climate change in Tajikistan, the melting of glaciers, which are sources of fresh water for all of Central Asia, has accelerated. This was once again noted by the Chairman of the Committee for Environmental Protection of the Republic Bahodur Sheralizoda.
According to Sheralizod, the most vulnerable are the glaciers of the Zerafshan river basin (Amu Darya basin). According to him, the area of glaciers here annually decreases to 1.3 square kilometers. “According to the observations of the Zerafshan weather station, their glaciers are considered the most vulnerable,” summed up the head of the Committee for Environmental Protection of the republic.
Glaciers in Tajikistan occupy 6% of the country’s territory or 8476 square kilometers.
The area of the Zeravshan glacier is 132.6 km2. It is located at altitudes from 4000 to 5200 meters.
According to the most optimistic forecasts, by 2050 the average flow of the Amudarya will decrease by 15%, while consumption, on the contrary, will increase significantly due to population growth, economic development and the development of new lands for arable farming.
Source: Meteo Jurnal