Estimating changes in the Khisar glacier, using remote sensing data and GIS technologies for the assessment of water use in agriculture (Surkhandarya valley, Uzbekistan)
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Climate change isspeeding up the melting and retreat ofglaciers, which isabig threat towater security indry and semi-dry areas like Uzbekistan. Tounderstand how glaciers affect regional hydrological systems and tocome up with adaptive water management strategies, itisimportant tokeep aneye onhow they change over time. This study examines the temporal changes ofthe Khisar Glacier inthe Surkhandarya Basin bycombining remote sensing data from different times with aGIS-based spatial analysis. Welooked atLandsat images from 1990, 2000, 2010, and 2024 tosee how the size ofthe glaciers has changed and how that relates toweather and water variables. The results show that the glacier area has shrunk significantly, from 8.6km2 in1990 to5.1km² in2024, a40.7% decrease over the past three decades. The mean annual temperature inthe basin rose byabout 1.9C during the same time, and the Surkhandarya River's average summer discharge fell by about 22%. These results show how closely rising temperatures, melting glaciers, and lower river flow are linked. They also show how vulnerable glacier-fed water systems are to climate change. Combining satellite observations with climate and hydrology data is a good way to keep an eye on glaciers and assess water resources over time. The GIS-based monitoring framework created in this study provides useful tools for planning how to adapt to climate change and manage water resources in a way that is good for the environment in the Surkhandarya region and other glacier-dependent basins in Central Asia.
Language: English
Subfield: Atmospheric Science
Field: Earth and Planetary Sciences
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W7136143654