In July 2022, 25 participants from four Central Asian countries attended a training workshop focused on numerical modeling of Glacier Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs). The workshop was organized by the UNESCO Regional Office in Almaty, with support from the University of Zurich (Alessandro Cicoira), the Snow and Avalanche Research Centre SLF in Davos (Perry Barlet, Jessica Munch, and Olga Gorynina), and the State Institute Kazselezashita. Participants were carefully selected from national authorities, research centers, and universities involved in GLOF risk mitigation.

The training primarily focused on the RAMMS software. On the first day, the program included lectures on flow dynamics, GLOF breaching, and open-access data, which laid the groundwork for practical applications. By the second day, participants were capable of independently acquiring data and running numerical simulations. That afternoon, a field visit to Talgar, led by Mr. Murat Kassenov from Kazselezashita, provided valuable insights into GLOF dynamics, mitigation measures, and the limitations of the software, with guidance from experts from Kazselezashita and the University of Zurich.

In the following two days, participants conducted multiple simulations, including those for the four pilot sites of the GLOFCA Project, as well as additional case studies relevant to their work. The workshop concluded with presentations from each country discussing their study cases, successes, and challenges, followed by the awarding of certificates of completion. Institutions received four-year licenses for RAMMS and ongoing support under the GLOFCA initiative.

Overall, the workshop delivered vital training in numerical GLOF simulations while also fostering international networking and collaboration. Several partnerships were initiated, which contributed to capacity building, development, and cooperation within the GLOFCA framework.

The training focused on the RAMMS software. On the first day, lectures on flow dynamics, GLOF breaching, and open-access data provided a foundation for practical applications. By the second day, participants could independently acquire data and run numerical simulations. That afternoon, a field visit to Talgar, led by Mr. Murat Kassenov (Kazselezashita), offered insights into GLOF dynamics, mitigation measures, and software limitations, guided by experts from Kazselezashita and the University of Zurich.

Over the next two days, participants conducted multiple simulations, including those for the four pilot sites of the GLOFCA Project, as well as additional case studies relevant to their work. The workshop concluded with presentations from each country on their study cases, successes, and challenges, followed by the distribution of learning certificates. Institutions now have four-year RAMMS licenses and ongoing support under GLOFCA.

The workshop provided essential training in numerical GLOF simulations while fostering international networking and collaboration. Several partnerships were initiated, contributing to capacity building, development, and cooperation within the GLOFCA framework. 

The recorded sessions are available below.

In April 2023, the University of Zurich conducted a series of webinars on Early Warning Systems for Glacier Lake Outburst Floods, aiming to integrate local knowledge with international best practices. Under a formal invitation from UNESCO Almaty, partner countries selected national speakers, while four international experts shared insights from successful hazard management projects in China, Peru, and Switzerland.

The webinars attracted broad participation, with 92 attendees, 6 panellists, and 5 technical support staff. Gender representation included 38 females and 65 males. By country: Kazakhstan – 35 (F-19, M-16), Kyrgyzstan – 21 (F-6, M-15), Tajikistan – 7 (M-7), Uzbekistan – 15 (F-4, M-11), and others (Turkmenistan, Austria, Germany, Italy, Switzerland, Netherlands, Norway) – 25 (F-8, M-17).

The series served as a platform to recap project progress, foster regional exchange on GLOF-related topics, and launch activities for the summer and subsequent project phases.

As part of the project, UZH developed an EWS concept note outlining quality standards for EWS implementation: reliability, accuracy, efficiency, durability, and scalability. These standards, defined in the project document, will guide future discussions with local partners and the planning of EWS at pilot sites.

Additionally, a checklist for EWS design is being developed. This document translates the concept note into actionable steps, outlining tasks and responsibilities for the planning, design, installation, testing, and operation of an effective EWS. It is intended to serve as a foundation for all subsequent phases of the project.