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CLIMATE CHANGE AND WATER POTENTIAL OF THE PAMIR MOUNTAINS

https://doi.org/10.15356/2071-9388_03v09_2016_06

Abstract

The Pamir region supplies water for most countries of the Central Asia. Discussions and arguments with regard to reduction of water resources related to climate change are popular today among various governmental and international institutions being a great
concern for modern society. Probable decrease of the Pamirs runoff will affect downstream
countries that can face water deficiency. However, there is no scientific rationale behind
such disputes. The Pamir region is a remote, high-mountainous and hard-to-access area with scarce observation network and no reliable data. It is not sufficiently investigated in order to perform any assessment of climate change. This article represents results of study of climate parameters change (such as temperature, precipitation and river discharge) in the Pamirs. The study area covers all countries included in this mountain region (Tajikistan, China, Afghanistan and Kyrgyzstan). Observation records, remote sensing data and GIS modeling were used in the present work. Chronological data series were divided into two equal time intervals and were treated as climatic periods. Further analysis of climate change helped to estimate its influence on change of water potential in the Pamirs. The paper considers issues of liquid and solid precipitation change in the study area.

About the Authors

Alexander F. Finaev
State Key Laboratory of Cryospheric Science, Cold and Arid Regions Environmental and Engineering Research Institute
China


Liu Shiyin
State Key Laboratory of Cryospheric Science, Cold and Arid Regions Environmental and Engineering Research Institute
China


Bao Weijia
State Key Laboratory of Cryospheric Science, Cold and Arid Regions Environmental and Engineering Research Institute
China


Jing Li
State Key Laboratory of Cryospheric Science, Cold and Arid Regions Environmental and Engineering Research Institute, Institute of Water Problems, Hydropower and Ecology of Tajikistan AS
China


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Review

For citations:


Finaev A.F., Shiyin L., Weijia B., Li J. CLIMATE CHANGE AND WATER POTENTIAL OF THE PAMIR MOUNTAINS. GEOGRAPHY, ENVIRONMENT, SUSTAINABILITY. 2016;9(3):88-105. https://doi.org/10.15356/2071-9388_03v09_2016_06

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ISSN 2071-9388 (Print)
ISSN 2542-1565 (Online)