Workshop on Cryospheric Modelling with Open Global Glacier Model (OGGM) Organized by WIT, LUMS
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The Centre for Water Informatics and Technology (WIT) collaborated with the Himalayan University Consortium (HUC), University of Innsbruck, and University of Bremen to host a five-day workshop on glacial modelling from 11-15th March 2023. This training was meant to provide insights into glaciers in High Mountain Asia and their role in the hydrological system and to equip the participants with the requisite skillset to use Open Global Glacier Model (OGGM) to aid their research. OGGM is an open-source glacier modelling framework with the ability to simulate past and future mass balance, volume, and geometry of any glacier in the world. From a pool of more than 300 applicants representing diverse backgrounds from academic, governmental, and non-profit sectors across Pakistan, a total of 21 participants were selected to attend the workshop.
The sessions started off with an introduction to OGGM by Dr. Fabien Maussion (lead instructor) followed by a presentation on the role of machine learning in large scale monitoring of glacial lakes. Dr. Jawairia Ahmad, one of the workshop organizers from WIT, talked about regional hydrology and the cryospheric trends in seasonal snow across the Upper Indus Basin. On the second day, simulation building in python using OGGM was demonstrated with live tutorials by Dr. Anouk Vlug and Patrick Schmitt. Seminars on processes and modelling of climate mass balance, glacier surge, and ice flow dynamics were also delivered on the second and third day. The third day of the workshop concluded with an excursion to the Glacial Monitoring Research Centre (GMRC) in Lahore, which also houses the master station that receives data from GMRC stations located in northern areas of Pakistan. This trip also included a visit to the digital stream gauges installed at MBL canal by WIT.
The workshop also included practical training sessions on temperature index modelling, peak water and run-off partitioning, flowline modelling and real glacier experiments using OGGM. The aim of this workshop was to provide participants with a practical understanding of the potential and limitations of open-source tools like OGGM. Through hands-on training, researchers gained proficiency in advanced techniques and tools, expanding their research capabilities. This event was part of WIT's ongoing initiative to advance cryospheric science and glacier modeling in Pakistan.
Read the featured article from the Particle 19th Edition here to get to know more about the Centre's commitment to this cause and visit here to learn about WIT’s recent expedition to collect in-situ snow data from Skardu.
