By Tanveer Ahmed
GILGIT: The Gilgit-Baltistan Environmental Protection Agency (GBEPA), in collaboration with Italian non-profit EvK2CNR, has officially handed over a state-of-the-art network of Automated Weather Stations (AWS) across Gilgit-Baltistan, strengthening climate monitoring in the region. The initiative was implemented under the Glaciers and Students project.
EvK2CNR, with decades of expertise in high-altitude research across the Himalayas and Karakoram, including the renowned Pyramid Observatory, contributed to the installation and rigorous field validation of the stations. These AWS units provide real-time, systematic data on temperature, precipitation, wind, humidity, and solar radiation, offering critical insights into one of the world’s most climate-sensitive mountain ecosystems.
GBEPA Director Khadim Hussain highlighted that the data from these stations will support evidence-based policymaking, regional development planning, and climate risk assessments. The system is also expected to improve early warning capabilities for glacial lake outburst floods, monitor changing water availability, and aid adaptive strategies to build resilience against climate threats.
The collaboration reflects a shared commitment to sustainable development, informed environmental governance, and proactive climate action in Gilgit-Baltistan, home to rapidly changing glaciers vital to global climate science. Both GB-EPA and EvK2CNR will maintain the stations, ensuring data integrity and expanding their applications to benefit researchers, policymakers, and local communities.
Khadim Hussain described the project as a “vital step forward in safeguarding the fragile ecosystems of the Karakoram and Himalayas for future generations.”
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