The Center for Hydrometeorological Service (Uzhydromet) and the State Committee for Ecology and Environmental Protection (Goskomekologiya) will have 50 new stations for climate monitoring in the country. Automatic weather stations (AMS) will be installed at the stations in the regions of the country. Undoubtedly, this is a useful and necessary acquisition for meteorologists of Uzbekistan.
Climate change monitoring is a process that requires specific technical equipment. The latest scientific studies demonstrate that global warming is caused not only by an increase in carbon dioxide emissions but also by other previously unaccounted decay products, such as nitrogen oxides, sulfur oxides, ozone, and fine particulate matter PM2.5 and PM10.
In September 2019, as a part of the implementation of the project of the Regional Environmental Center for Central Asia (CAREC) “Climate Adaptation and Mitigation Program for Aral Sea Basin” (CAMP4ASВ), CAREC and Uzhydromet signed up a contract for the supply of 50 automatic meteorological stations with installation in hydrometeorological stations of Uzhydromet.
The activities of the CAMP4ASB project are aimed at enhancing access to modern knowledge and data in the field of climate change for Central Asian countries. In addition, the project attracts investments and builds up technical capacity in terms of local monitoring.
The equipment will enable Uzbekistan to fulfill its commitments made under the UNFCCC. It will ensure the accuracy and efficiency of sampling and analysis of samples, which, in turn, will allow environmental authorities to promptly respond to the excess over the maximum permissible standards of pollutants.It will become easier to collect and process the information on the volumes of carbon dioxide, aerosol emissions, and their composition.
Meteorological stations will automatically measure more than 20 different atmospheric air components, including fine particulate matters from PM2.5 to PM10. After analysis, the obtained information will be used in the development of national environmental standards, assessment, and forecasting of climate change.
Summarizing the monitored data on the pollution of the environment, including all flora and fauna, national reports on the condition of the environment will be prepared annually. Also, the data will be taken into account when preparing reports on the use of natural resources.
The national coordinator of CAMP4ASB in Uzbekistan, Natalya A. Agaltseva, commented on the importance of modernizing Uzhydromet and the participation in the CAMP4ASB project:
“Considering the large-scale modernization of Uzhydromet and the efforts made to modernize climate monitoring, the support from the CAMP4ASB project aimed at introducing automated measurement systems is currently more important than ever. Overall, new modern equipment, which will be installed at the observation points, will strengthen the material and technical base and scientific and technical potential of Uzhydromet, strengthen the climate and hydrometeorological monitoring system, increase the level of climate change adaptation and preparedness for it, as well as improve the climate services for all interested users in Uzbekistan.”
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Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation Program for Aral Sea Basin
