Department of Glaciology

Structure of the department:

• Laboratory of snow and glacier research

Collecting, processing, recording, storing and distributing information about the activity and development of the state system of monitoring hydrological processes, as well as the hydrological plan of rivers, lakes and reservoirs in the territory of Uzbekistan.

Providing state authorities, economic sectors and the population with information about the actual state of hydrological conditions in the service area and some types of information products.

Providing the authorities of Uzbekistan, population and interested organizations with hydrological scientific analysis data.

The main tasks of the department

  The main scientific directions of the Department of Glaciology are:

• Their distribution in time and space due to climate changes;

• Execution of contract works according to the orders of organizations serving the national economy;

• Providing advice to state operational services, project institutes, transport system and educational institutions.

• Conducting lectures in the field of glaciological research in higher education institutions and providing assistance in improving the qualifications of bachelors, masters and junior teachers;

• Collecting, analyzing and summarizing ground, aviation and satellite data on snow cover in the city of Tashkent. Maintaining a database of specialized observations of snow volume.

• Improving the methods of snow reserve assessment in the mountains;

• Determination of legislation in space and time on the distribution of characteristics of stable snow volume in the mountain basins of Uzbekistan;

• Calculation of the stable snow cover regime in places under climate change;

• Survey of the snow regime in the service areas of the avalanche control stations (together with the SLS staff);

• Development of reference documents on avalanche operations taking into account modern requirements;

• Carrying out scientific projects and programs on the issues of studying the stable snow reserve regime in the conditions of climate change;

• Preparation of methodological recommendations on the use of mathematical methods in taking into account the features of the snow cover regime;

• Creation of basic GAT-maps with characteristics of stable snow reserve, including dates of formation, structure and duration of snow, as well as analysis of minimum snow reserve data;

• Analysis of developed methods for assessment of avalanche risk and hydrometeorological provision in Kamchik Pass;

• Provide practical assistance to employees of Uzgidromet units in training;

• Collecting, analyzing and summarizing ground, aerial and satellite data on glaciers and ice zones in the mountains of Uzbekistan;

• Maintaining a database on complex observations of glaciers;

• Inventory of the glaciers of Uzbekistan (together with Uzgidromet departments);

• Assessment of the current state of freezing of mountain districts of Uzbekistan (together with Uzgidromet).

Field of use

• The department, together with the OMOGYaiGK department of Uzgidromet, is carrying out contract work on the assessment of the landslide risk of national economy areas. The developed recommendations are of practical importance for assessing the level of comfort and danger of mountain areas in the sectors of the national economy.

• Within the framework of its competences, the results of research and development and accumulated experience, the department provides consulting services to all interested organizations of Uzbekistan.

• Introduces the results of scientific and research work carried out in the department to Uzgidromet units (especially OMOGYaiGK). The presented materials are used in providing various information and bulletins to the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the Ministry of Agriculture and Water Management, the Ministry of Emergency Situations of the Republic of Uzbekistan, other state bodies and public economic organizations.

• Department of Glaciology provides methodical support to UzgidrometOMOGYaiGK in preparation of materials for updating the management manual on avalanches.