FROM DATA GAPS TO DECISION SUPPORT: THE ROLE OF HYDROLOGICAL MONITORING AND EARTH OBSERVATION IN CENTRAL ASIA

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.