DUSHANBE, January 8, Asia-Plus - Researchers from Tajikistan will take part in events dedicated to International Polar Year (IPY) 2007-2008 announced by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO).

On Friday February 5, Dushanbe hosted an international conference dedicated to International Polar Year (IPY) 2007-2008 and the Second Tajikistan’s National Report on Climate Change.    

The conference participants included researchers and representatives from the government and international organizations.  The conference considered issues related to a state of the country’s glaciers under the conditions of global climate change, climate changes in Tajikistan, as well as fulfillment by Tajikistan of its obligations on the UN Framework Convention on Climate (UNFCCC).  

Member of polar expedition, Professor Abdulhamid Qayumov noted that IPY 2007-2008, which is scheduled to officially begin in March this year, is a concerted worldwide effort is underway to plan scientific and educational activities for the upcoming International Polar Year (IPY).  IPY promises to advance our understanding of how the Earth''s remote polar regions impact global climate systems and to bring about fundamental advances in many areas of science.  

“The main purpose for participation of Tajikistan in the events of IPY 2007-2008 is to study hydrometeorological and geophysical processes in mountain areas of the country,” Qayumov noted.  According to him, Tajik specialists are expected to participate in expeditions to the mountain areas of Tajikistan and neighboring Kyrgyzstan and Afghanistan to monitor climate and glaciers.  “The possibility of Tajik researchers’ participating in expeditions to Arctic and Antarctica cannot be ruled out,” Qayumov said.   

In parallel with the conference a photo exhibition on the subject of “Glaciers of Tajikistan under the Conditions of Global Climate Change” was organized.

The World Meteorological Organization is an intergovernmental organization with a membership of 187 Member States and Territories. It originated from the International Meteorological Organization (IMO), which was founded in 1873.  Established in 1950, WMO became the specialized agency of the United Nations for meteorology (weather and climate),    operational hydrology and related geophysicial sciences.  It has its headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland.