From Data Gaps to Decision Support: The Role of Hydrological Monitoring and Earth Observation in Central Asia

Ben Jarihani; Bakhtiyor Pulatov; Vasila Sulaymonova; Mokhira  Kurambaeva

doi:10.52536/3006-807X.2026-2.001

Authors

Ben Jarihani James Cook University, Australia Author https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1728-0008
Bakhtiyor Pulatov Central Asian University of Environmental and Climate Change Studies (Green University), Uzbekistan Author https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9764-482X
Vasila Sulaymonova EnviroVision Environmental and Engineering Consulting Company, Kyrgyzstan; TU Bergakademie Freiberg, Germany Author https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8450-5847
Mokhira Kurambaeva Central Asian University of Environmental and Climate Change Studies (Green University), Uzbekistan Author https://orcid.org/0009-0004-3934-2611

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.52536/3006-807X.2026-2.001

Keywords:

Central Asia, transboundary water governance, hydromet networks, earth observation, data sharing, decision support systems, climate resilience, cryosphere monitoring

Abstract

Water resource management in Central Asia is increasingly challenged by climate change, glacier retreat, population growth, and rising socio-economic demands. While regional discourse has largely focused on transboundary governance and institutional coordination, a critical underlying constraint remains the limited availability, consistency, and integration of hydrological data. The decline of hydrological monitoring networks and fragmentation of data systems have significantly reduced the reliability of observations, constraining forecasting accuracy and water allocation processes. This commentary argues that interoperable hydrological monitoring and data-sharing systems are not only technical requirements but foundational preconditions for credible water allocation, forecasting, climate adaptation, and trust-building in transboundary basins. Persistent data gaps, particularly in high-altitude, groundwater, and precipitation monitoring, continue to limit effective planning and decision-making (Liu & Li, 2025).

This policy commentary argues that strengthening hydrological monitoring systems – through the restoration of in-situ observation networks and their integration with Earth Observation (EO), machine learning, and digital technologies – represents a foundational requirement for effective water governance in Central Asia. The paper highlights how interoperable monitoring and data-sharing systems can improve transparency, reduce uncertainty in water availability assessments, support more credible forecasting and allocation decisions, and ultimately strengthen cooperation across transboundary river basins. Advances in satellite-based observations, data analytics, and modelling tools provide new opportunities to enhance monitoring capacity, improve transparency, and support evidence-based water management. Bridging the gap between data collection and policy implementation is essential for reducing uncertainty, strengthening transboundary water governance, and advancing climate resilience. An integrated approach will be critical for enabling sustainable and cooperative water management across Central Asia.

Author Biographies

Ben Jarihani, James Cook University, Australia

Prof. Dr. Ben Jarihani is a hydrologist, environmental scientist, policy researcher, and remote sensing specialist with expertise in water resources management, environmental policy, climate change impacts, natural hazards, and Earth Observation applications. He is a Senior Lecturer in Environmental Earth Science at James Cook University, Australia, and Adjunct Professor with Central Asian University of Environmental and Climate Change Studies (Green University).

Dr. Jarihani has more than 25 years of experience in research, teaching, policy advisory, and international consulting across Australia, Central Asia, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia. His research focuses on hydrological modelling, flood and drought assessment, water security, environmental governance, transboundary water management, geomorphology, land degradation, wetland restoration, and the application of satellite remote sensing, GIS, drones, and artificial intelligence for environmental monitoring and decision support.

He has led and contributed to numerous projects funded by international organizations, including the World Bank, Asian Development Bank, USAID, the European Union, and national governments. Since 2019, he has been actively involved in research, policy dialogue, and capacity-building initiatives across Central Asia, supporting sustainable water management, climate resilience, environmental governance, and regional cooperation through science-based approaches and innovative geospatial technologies.
Bakhtiyor Pulatov, Central Asian University of Environmental and Climate Change Studies (Green University), Uzbekistan

Central Asian University of Environmental and Climate Change Studies (Green University), Uzbekistan
Vasila Sulaymonova, EnviroVision Environmental and Engineering Consulting Company, Kyrgyzstan; TU Bergakademie Freiberg, Germany

Vasila Sulaymonova is a geoscientist specializing in geomorphology, geochronology, and Earth-surface processes in Central Asia. She is a Technical Staff Member (Technische Mitarbeiterin) at TU Bergakademie Freiberg, Germany, and serves as Managing Director and GIS Specialist at EnviroVision Consulting LLC. Previously, she worked at the University of Central Asia, where she taught geoscience courses and contributed to World Bank-funded research projects. Her research focuses on landscape evolution, remote sensing, cosmogenic nuclide dating, and environmental change in mountain regions.
Mokhira Kurambaeva, Central Asian University of Environmental and Climate Change Studies (Green University), Uzbekistan

Scientific Research Institute for Environmental Protection and Nature Conservation Technologies, Central Asian University of Environmental and Climate Change Studies (Green University), Uzbekistan

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