The results of the study, which also outlines potential improvements, were presented by climate expert Erkin Abdulahatov at an event organized by VatandoshTV Club. The information in the article was gathered from Abdulahatov's presentation.

Blocking of wind corridors

Wind corridors naturally form in valleys where rivers are present, as these water bodies act as natural wind channels. In Tashkent, the primary wind direction has historically been from the northeast to the southwest. Due to the structured placement of the river irrigation system in this direction, the wind has been effective in dispersing accumulated pollutants from the city.

However, in recent years, excessive construction along the banks of canals and rivers — particularly in protected areas — has disrupted atmospheric air circulation, altering both wind speed and direction. As a result, pollutants that have built up in the city can no longer be effectively dispersed.

Changes in wind direction and speed

From the 1950s to the 1980s, the wind predominantly came from the direction of Qibray, Keles, or Kazakhstan, with wind speeds of 2-3 meters per second. This allowed the polluted air accumulated at a height of 2 meters in the city to be carried away.

In 2020, however, the prevailing wind directions, as represented on the wind rose, shifted eastward, towards the industrial cities of Angren, Almalyk, and Akhangaran. The intensity of winds from the west, particularly from Kazakhstan, also increased. Additionally, dust masses from the Chordara reservoir area and surrounding irrigated lands are being lifted by these winds and carried into Tashkent.

In the last century, the average annual wind speed was 1.7 meters per second, but it has since dropped to 1.4 meters per second. This decrease in wind speed — by half a meter per second — has contributed to the influx of pollutants from various directions and a rise in windless days.

A comparison of wind patterns over the past 15 and 5 years reveals a notable shift. There is no longer a clear prevailing wind direction. Over the last 15 years, dust from industrial cities to the east and west, as well as from Kazakhstan, has been entering the city. However, in the last 5 years, dust from the southwest — specifically from the Sergeli district — has also begun to affect the air quality, with wind speeds now reaching up to 4 meters per second.

Increase in toxic substances over the years