Vakhsh River Basin in Tajikistan Getting Wetter, Impacting Climate Change Mitigation.
The study analyzed changes in humidity and precipitation in the Vakhsh River basin in Tajikistan from 1970 to 2013. They used data on rainfall and evaporation, and found that the upper river area became more humid over time, while the overall basin became drier. The basin was driest in the 1970s and wettest in the 2000s, with different regions showing varying trends. The amount of wetter regions increased over the years. The humidity levels varied on both yearly and decade-long scales, with certain patterns repeating every few years. Annual rainfall was closely linked to humidity levels, especially in the 1980s to 2000s, while evaporation had a negative correlation with humidity after 1985. This research can help in understanding and managing the impacts of climate change in river basins.