The key facts

  • From October 1 to 26, Tashkent received 3.9 mm of precipitation against a norm of 23.7 mm — almost 6 times less than the norm.
  • Over the past decade, unfavorable meteorological conditions during the cold half of the year have increased by 57%.
  • On October 25–26, dust masses covered Tashkent and the region, as well as parts of the Syrdarya and Jizzakh regions.

Natural factors intensify air pollution

Air pollution in Uzbekistan, particularly in Tashkent, is linked not only to anthropogenic sources but also to unfavorable meteorological conditions and natural factors. This was stated by Doctor of Philosophy in Technical Sciences, director of the National Center for Climate Change Farrukh Sattarov, Zamon.uz reports. According to him, low precipitation, wind, and natural atmospheric air exchange processes play a key role.

Precipitation nearly six times below the norm

As of October 26, Tashkent had received only 3.9 mm of precipitation against a monthly norm of 23.7 mm — almost 6 times less than the norm. Low precipitation weakens the washing of dust particles out of the air and creates conditions for their accumulation in the atmosphere. According to scientific observations, over the past decade, unfavorable meteorological conditions associated with strong winds and low precipitation have become 57% more frequent during the cold half of the year compared to previous years, which hinders the natural purification of the air.

Satellite monitoring revealed dust masses

The Ministry of Ecology and Climate Change monitors air quality not only through ground-based monitoring stations but also using satellites. For October 1–26, satellite images were analyzed using the SILAM model and compared with the AQI air quality index. The analyses showed that during periods when dust masses entered Tashkent and adjacent territories, the index rose: on October 4–5, with precipitation, the AQI was 66–71, while in the following days, against the background of low precipitation and dust accumulation, air quality deteriorated. Images from the European EUMETSAT platform and the Meteosat satellite showed large dust masses over Tashkent and adjacent territories on October 25–26 — the process covered the city and the region, as well as parts of the Syrdarya and Jizzakh regions.

Forecast and assessment of the situation

According to experts' forecasts, the impact of the dust masses and unfavorable conditions related to air pollution may persist until the beginning of next week. The publication emphasizes that various factors affect the deterioration of air quality, so a proper assessment of the situation requires jointly analyzing meteorological conditions, the movement of dust masses, and monitoring data. It should be noted that in the Russian-language version of the article, the monitoring is attributed to the Ministry of Ecology and Climate Change, whereas the Uzbek-language version mentions the Ecological Party (Ecological Movement) of Uzbekistan; the publication does not clarify this discrepancy.

Why this matters

The situation affects residents of Tashkent, the Syrdarya, and Jizzakh regions, where, according to satellite observations, large dust masses have been recorded. In practical terms, this means that with a precipitation deficit (3.9 mm versus a norm of 23.7 mm), the natural purification of the air is weakened, and, according to experts' forecasts, the deterioration of air quality may last until the beginning of next week. Assessing the situation requires a joint analysis of meteorological data, dust movement, and monitoring, rather than reliance on a single data source.