Hydrometeorologist Day in Tajikistan Date in the current year: June 5, 2024

The history of Tajikistan’s hydrometeorological service dates back to the late 19th century, when the first hydrometeorological research was carried out in Central Asia. The first hydrometeorological station in what is now Tajikistan was opened in the city of Khujand in 1870. Four more stations followed: in Uroteppa (now Istaravshan) in 1873, in Panjakent in 1879, in Murghob in 1892, and in Khorog in 1898.

Despite the emergence of hydrometeorological stations, there was no hydrometeorological service as such in Central Asia. Its precursor, a system of hydrometeorological departments under the Land Improvement Administration, was created in 1910.

Hydrometeorological research in Central Asia in general and Tajikistan in particular began to develop following the adoption of the decree “On the organization of a hydrometeorological service in the RSFSR” in 1921. The decree authorized the foundation of the Turkestan Meteorological Institute (Turkmet). All hydrometeorological stations were under the jurisdiction of Turkmet, later Sredazmet (Central Asia Meteorological Institute). A meteorological bureau was organized in Stalinabad (now Dushanbe).

An independent hydrometeorological service, the Main Hydrometeorological Directorate of the Tajik SSR, was founded in Tajikistan in 1933. By the time of its formation, there were only a handful of hydrometeorological stations in Tajikistan. The following years were the years of rapid development of the country’s network of hydrometeorological stations and expansion of hydrometeorological study of the territory of Tajikistan with its complex mountainous landscape, where every change in terrain creates a new climatic region.

By the late 1980s, Tajikistan had an extensive hydrometeorological network consisting of more than 60 stations and hundreds of hydrometeorological posts. Meteorological observations were carried out around the clock instead of three times a day like they used to. The hydrometeorological service of Tajikistan experienced a setback due to the collapse of the Soviet Union and the subsequent civil war, but the situation has improved over the past few years.

The main task of the hydrometeorological service of Tajikistan is to provide the government and relevant agencies and organizations with weather forecasts, information about the long-term and current state of the atmosphere, hydrological regime of rivers, lakes and reservoirs, agrometeorological conditions, warnings about anticipated natural disaster, etc.

Hydrometeorologist Day is one of the official professional holidays listed in the law of the Republic of Tajikistan “On Holidays” that was adopted in 2011. Like all professional holidays in Tajikistan, it is not a non-working day unless it falls on a weekend.

Tajikistan is not the only former Soviet republic to celebrate a professional and/or environment-related holiday on the same day as World Environment Day. Examples include Ecologist’s Day in Russia and Kazakhstan, Environment Protection Day in Belarus, and Ameliorator’s Day in Azerbaijan.