Climate Change of Tajikistan

       
1. Introduction:
The climate of Tajikistan is arid continental, with cold winters and very hot, sunny summers. It's a
mountainous country, both temperature and rainfall vary with altitude and slope exposure. At high
altitudes, there are extensive glaciers and snowfields, the easternmost and the south-western areas are
the driest and are desert. Annual mean temperatures vary from 17°C in the south to -6°C in the lower
Pamirs. Maximum temperatures are typically observed in July and minimum in January. The annual
precipitation in lowland, hot deserts of northern Tajikistan, and cold mountain deserts of east Pamir
averages from 70 to 160 mm.

2. Impacts of climate change on road pavement:

I. Climate change-induced summer extreme temperature variations can cause severe road pavement
damage due to expansion, contraction and slab curling. Besides, asphalt binder rheology varies with
temperature. Older asphalt binder grading systems did not directly account for temperature effects for
flexible pavements. The Super pave performance grading (PG) system corrects the deficiency by grading
asphalt binder based on its performance.

II. Climate change-induced increased rain/precipitation leads to dynamic aquaplaning. A layer of water
on the road surface can cause the vehicle to lose contact with the road surface resulting in road
accidents are increased. Light rain, snow, etc. leads to making the roads extremely slippery that
influences accidents. Rain also leads to making the roads slippery and creates rain cut that influences to
increase accidents as well. Heavy rainfall leads to floods that disrupt transportations and
communications systems by damaging roads. Floods, mud and earth streams caused by the extreme
precipitation events may affect the foundation of constructed new bridges and culverts. Heavy floods
may block the structure of the drainage that leading to overflowing on the pavement. Slope erosion and
siltation of surrounding areas may occur due to insufficient capacity of newly constructed culverts and
drains due to heavy rainfall and flooding. An increase in the intensity and frequency of heavy rainfall
may hamper the communication on the newly constructed bridge.

III. Air temperature influences pavement temperature, while other atmospheric conditions (solar
radiation, UV radiation, clouds, etc.) can accentuate these phenomena. Wind/air can cause faster
changes in the pavement of surface temperature due to air mixing over the road and shoulder falls can
be observed on the pavement.

IV. The solar radiations generate an increase in warming or cooling of the pavement temperature. This
temperature of the radiation pair generates the following impacts:
 The appearance of rutting, thermal ageing, adhesion, differential settlement of dry
foundations, etc.
 Thermal cracking and fatigue phenomena caused by daily and seasonal temperature
changes
 Radiation can accentuate phenomena related to the high temperatures and can cause
UV ageing problems in materials (oxidation of bitumen and contained polymers).

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3. Climate change mitigation measures of road pavement:

I. Use efficient mitigation measures by using energy-efficient vehicles and equipment that will contribute
to a reduced amount of emission of Greenhouse Gases (GHGs).

II. Control overloading of heavy vehicles that will reduce CO 2 emissions due to weight management.

III. Promote energy-efficient public transportation instead of private cars. Public transportation will
contribute less emission of Greenhouse Gases (GHGs) compared to private cars as public transportation
will carry more public together.

IV. Arrange roadside afforestation for controlling the slope erosion of the roads. Afforestation will act as
a natural mitigation measure by significantly absorbing CO 2 from the atmosphere.

4. Climate change adaptation measures of road pavement:

I. Introduce rigid concrete cement pavement that will increase resistance during extreme temperatures.
Concrete is not susceptible to softening and rutting due to high temperature as it is asphalt pavement.
Cement concrete surfaces reflect more heat from solar radiation and ensure lower surface temperatures
in summer compared to asphalt concrete pavements.

II. Enhance embankments to protect against flooding which will increase the resilience of the
embankments to climate change against flooding. It helps to decrease the loss of life and damage to
assets.

III. Widen culverts and bridges to avoid backwater for decreasing upstream flooding. It improves
drainage systems by increasing the capacity that will prevent clogging of drains from storm debris, and
flooding.

IV. Arrange roadside afforestation measures for controlling slope erosion. Afforestation will ensure road
safety and significantly reduce maintenance costs. Green infrastructure (Tree plantation) on roadsides is
important to decrease heating up. It increases the stability of roads by protecting landslides. Green
infrastructure along with the roads balances the temperature of the road surface by providing cooling
effects and protecting the melting of surface bitumen of the roads.