| “Mountain observatories are sites, networks of sites, or data-rich regions where multidisciplinary, integrated observations of biophysical and human environments are conducted over a lengthy period of time in consistent ways, according to established protocols using both in situ and remote observations” (Shahgedanova et al., 2021). |
The Central Asia Mountain Observatory Network (CAMON) currently brings together five observatories: Tuyuksu (Kazakhstan), Ala-Archa and Chon Kyzyl-Suu (Kyrgyzstan), Pskem (Uzbekistan), and Khorog (Tajikistan). The University of Reading helps coordinate CAMON and facilitates its activities. The network was formally inaugurated at the Mountain Research Initiative (MRI) and GEO Mountains workshop, which took place in Almaty, Kazakhstan in April 2023 where a memorandum of understanding was signed. However, the network is rooted in a much longer history of environmental monitoring in Central Asia and collaboration between the institutions running the observatories.
Joint monitoring and research activities began in the 1960s. The collapse of the Soviet Union resulted in the interruption of monitoring at some observatories in the 1990s and 2000s. However, in the 2010s-2020s, monitoring was renewed, expanded, and diversified. Currently, each observatory runs networks of manual and automatic weather stations and hydrological gauges (Interactive Map), employs remote sensing, and provides data for calibration and validation of climate, hydrological and glaciological models.
Glaciological and hydro-meteorological monitoring is the strength of CAMON. Three glaciers – Tuyuksu (Tuyuksu), Golubina (Ala-Archa) and Kara-Batkak (Chon Kyzyl-Suu) – are the reference glaciers supplying data to the World Glacier Monitoring Service. Mass balance measurements commenced at the Barkrak glacier (Pskem) in 2016. The CAMON observatories actively participate in research on hazards focusing on Glacier Lake Outburst Floods (GLOF), landslides, and debris flows in collaboration with the UNESCO regional GLOFCA project and the national disaster-prevention agencies. Recently, an extensive sampling programme focusing on water stable isotopes, tritium, and hydrochemistry was established at the CAMON observatories (Saidaliyeva et al., 2023).
There are aspects of monitoring which should be improved by CAMON, namely monitoring of biota and collection of socio-economic data. We are planning to fill in these gaps working together with MRI and the Global Observation Research Initiative in Alpine Environments (GLORIA) programme.
The CAMON observatories actively collaborate with researchers, educational institutions, and practitioners. We are happy to establish new collaborations and to welcome new observatories to CAMON providing that they satisfy the conditions of rigorous observational and scientific practices, multidisciplinarity, and commitment to long-term monitoring.
If you are interested in establishing collaboration, please contact Professor Maria Shahgedanova (m.shahgedanova@reading.ac.uk) and/or contact persons for the relevant CAMON observatory (Our Observatories).