History of glacier science
University of Fribourg
Lay summary
This project revisits the history of Imperial Russian and Soviet glaciology in the Pamir Mountains. It examines how scientists produced glaciological knowledge about the iconic Fedchenko Glacier. Fedchenko is of key importance for the history of glaciology: it is not only one of the largest glaciers in the world, but also was crucial for Soviet glaciological observations in Central Asia since the 1920s. These observations inform ongoing research on mountain glaciers and effects of climate change today, as Fedchenko feeds the Amu Darya, Central Asia’s biggest river and main source for irrigated agriculture.
The first scientific observations of the Fedchenko Glacier resulted from an Imperial Russian expedition in 1878, led by V.F. Oshanin. A joint German-Soviet expedition first mapped Fedchenko in 1928 and subsequent Soviet expeditions continued glaciological, hydrological, and meteorological research, and, in 1933, resulted in building the Gorbunov hydrometeorological station at 4169 m asl on Fedchenko. The station was operational for almost 60 years and was abandoned in 1992 due to the Tajikistani civil war. The establishment of the Gorbunov station marked an important shift in the modalities of Soviet glaciological observation in the Pamirs, from research expeditions to continuous on-site measurements. However, supplying and maintaining the high-altitude research station was a huge logistical operation, involving the transport of persons, instruments, and supplies first by horses and later by helicopter. In recent times, there is an increasing interest from local and international scientists to automate on-site measurements but also document the history of Soviet glaciological observations in the Pamir Mountains. This research project relies on a mixed-methods approach combining archival research in the former Soviet states with oral history through interviews of local stakeholders. It examines the history of glaciological observations through scientific and administrative records, and through personal memories.
Details
| Regional focus | High-altitude |
| Location | Pamir mountains |
| Funded amount | 25,000 CHF |
| Project dates | 7th May 2024 – 31st May 2026 |
| Category | Opportunity Funding |