International expedition carried out on Tajikistan glacier to modernise Gorbunov high-altitude station

According to the Agency of Hydrometeorology under the Committee for Environmental Protection under the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan, a joint scientific research expedition was held from 25 August to 7 September 2026 on the Tajikistan glacier, in the high-mountain Pamir area, with specialists from Tajikistan and representatives of the University of Fribourg in Switzerland and the Institute of Science and Technology Austria. The main aim was to fully modernise the station’s equipment, improve the observation system, and restore the transmission of meteorological data.

During the expedition, a technical inspection of the station and its equipment was carried out, working sensors were replaced, and new observation sensors were installed. The team also carried out calibration and testing of the equipment, weather observations, and an assessment of the area around the station. One key result was the full restoration of data transmission to the Agency’s rapid data collection centre.

The report says the restoration and modernisation of the Gorbunov station is an important step in cryosphere research and monitoring, and forms part of the International Decade of Cryosphere Sciences for 2025-2034.