From May 5 to May 7, 2023, the Central Asian Regional Glaciological Centre as a category 2 Centre under the auspices of UNESCO (CARGC) conducted a joint training expedition with the scientists from the State Scientific Institution "Center for the Study of Glaciers" of the National Academy of Sciences of Tajikistan (CSG NAST). The event was held in pursuance of the signed memorandum of understanding and cooperation signed on March 17, 2023 in Tashkent as part of the "Green Central Asia" Regional Initiative with the support of GIZ (German Society for International Cooperation), as well as in accordance with the CARGC Work Schedule.

On May 5, at 7:00 in the morning, together with the staff of the CARGC, scientists from Tajikistan went to the mountains in order to reach the Tuiyksu station located at an altitude of 3450 m above sea level.

On the way to Tuiyksu station

After the arrival, for scientists from Tajikistan, an excursion and presentation about the research conducted by the CARGC at the station and Tuiyksu glacier were held. Further, after discussing plans for the next day, there was an excursion to the Lake No. 1, where an early warning system was installed in case of moraine lake outburst.

On May 6, by 8:00 am, a group of 6 people reached the position of the upper pit on the Tuiyksu glacier located at the altitude of 3775 m above sea level, snow height was measured in parallel using 96 stakes drilled into the glacier.

The height of the snow in the upper pit was about 2.5 m., the pit was dug by the joint efforts of all members of the joint expedition. In addition to the height of the snow cover in each pit, the density of snow was also measured. In a similar way, 4 more pits were dug along the central line of the glacier with measurements of the density and height of the snow cover. Work in the last pit in the tongue of the Tuiyksu glacier was completed at about 14:00. After that, all participants of the glacialogical works returned to the station. 

Carrying out snow measurements on the Tuiyksu glacier on May 06, 2023

After a short rest and meal, a group of 4 people started descending to Almaty.

On May 7, the day was devoted to the processing of field measurements data, which were obtained during the expedition to the Tuiyksu glacier. In addition, the CARGC staff familiarized Tajik colleagues with the methodology for calculating the winter mass balance (maximum snow reserves) carried out as part of the fundamental research of the CARGC.

Processing of field measurements

The joint work of CARGC and CSG NAST went without incident, despite the difficult high-mountain conditions. In the future, it is planned to conduct similar joint training expeditions on an ongoing basis.

All expenses of the participants of the training expedition from CSG NAST, including flights, meals and accommodation, were covered by the CROMO-ADAPT project funded by SDC (Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation).