Outlook on Climate Change Adaptation in the South Caucasus Mountains

Technology gap analysis

Systematic climate observation and modelling All the Third National Communication reports describe existing monitoring/observation data for climate exposures, such as changes of temperature, participation, humidity, evaporation, etc. within the countries. The Armenian Hydromet Service is carrying out standard full-scale hydro-meteorological observations (horizontal

visibility, cloudiness, atmospheric phenomena, soil temperature on surfaces and in different depths, ambient air temperature and humidity, atmospheric pressure, wind direction and velocity, precipitation, and sunshine duration) at 47 stations; among those, forty stations and two observation points carry out agro-meteorological observations (MoNP 2015). In Azerbaijan, meteorological, agrometeorological, hydrological and oceanographic observations

are conducted by the National Hydrometeorology Department of theMoENR. Environmental pollution observation (soil, water and air) is conducted by the National Monitoring Department of the MoENR. In Georgia, the Hydro-meteorological Department (under the National Environmental Agency of MoENRP) collects and monitors information from twenty-one weather and ninety-five hydro- meteorological posts, among which thirty are automated stations (MoENRP 2015). However, the Third National Communications do not evaluate in detail the efficiency of existing territorial expansion of the networks of hydro-meteorological, water or other monitoring/observation stations and posts. The Armenian Third National Communication states that at a horizontal elevation of 2,500–3,000 m there are no observation stations; the National Communication for Georgia states that predictions made on Svaneti glaciers are made based on number of assumptions (MoENRP 2015); in the Second National Communication of Azerbaijan there are clear gaps in both monthly and yearly databases (MoENR 2010). The Technology Needs Assessments of Georgia and Azerbaijan (UNFCCC 2015), for 2012 and 2013, refer to insufficient monitoring/observation and the lack of historical data needed for accurate forecasts and projections for almost all identified sectors, such as energy, tourism, natural disasters, agriculture, forestry, water etc.

Armenian highlands

73