Tajik Scientists Document Glacier Melt Above 5,000 Meters

Why this is here: Researchers found seasonal snow cover has virtually disappeared above 5,100 meters on Glacier No. 457 over the last five years, hindering ice replenishment.

Tajik scientists from the University of Central Asia and the National Academy of Sciences recently completed winter fieldwork on Glacier No. 457 in the Pamir Mountains of Tajikistan. The expedition, conducted May 6 to 15 along the Nukhchashma River, marked the first direct winter measurements of snow dynamics in the country since its independence. Researchers studied snow accumulation and density to assess the glacier’s winter mass balance.

The team discovered the glacier’s thickness decreased by over one meter, a substantial change since monitoring began in 2020. Seasonal snow cover above 5,100 meters has largely vanished in the past five years. This loss prevents the glacier from replenishing ice in its upper reaches.

Working at elevations around 5,000 meters presented challenges with extreme weather and limited visibility. Scientists dug snow pits to collect data, hoping to improve regional water resource monitoring. Further research is needed to fully understand the long-term impacts of this accelerated melting on downstream communities.