What is it ?
The workshop is the 6th in a series that has brought together the community of users and developers of the Open Global Glacier Model (OGGM). This year’s workshop is organized jointly with the Python Glacier Evolution Model (PyGEM) community. It is open to anybody interested in global glacier modeling with focus on active developers and users of OGGM or PyGEM. The primary goal is to discuss the challenges and solutions in modeling glaciers at large scales, to learn from each other, and to develop ideas and visions for the advancement of such models. The workshop will include scientific presentations, hands-on coding sessions, discussion/brainstorming sessions, and generally be held in an informal manner (with a possible hike to a nearby glacier).
Agenda
The workshop will include:
- Scientific presentations by the participants (ca. 15-20 min) on topics related to the theme of the workshop. These can include the state, recent developments and results of large-scale glacier modeling.
- Discussion/brainstorming sessions focused on topics of interest, such as future developments and visions for global glacier models.
- Hands-on sessions in smaller groups including:
- Beginner tutorials: these sessions are for current and future OGGM/PyGEM users to learn how to set-up and customize a model run.
- Advanced tutorials: on topics such as How to contribute to OGGM/PyGEM, use OGGM/PyGEM with your own data, or use parts of OGGM/PyGEM with another model.
- Q&A session: on model problems and possible solutions.
- Glacier excursion: Weather and snow conditions permitting we also plan a ½ day excursion to one of the nearby outlet glaciers of the Hardangerjøkulen Ice Cap.
We like to keep the schedule flexible in order to meet the needs, interests and suggestions of the participants. Tentatively, we plan to have presentations mostly in the mornings and group discussions and hand-on sessions in the afternoons.
Who can participate ?
Anyone working on large-scale glaciological modeling, in particular using OGGM or PyGEM, but also any other global glacier modeler keen on learning more about OGGM/PyGEM! In particular, we would like to encourage model users (current and future) as well as model developers to join us. The number of participants is limited to approximately 30 due to the housing limitations at the Finse Research Center. Therefore users and developers of OGGM or PyGEM will be given priority in case interest exceeds capacity.
Location
The workshop will be held at the Finse Alpine Research Center run by Oslo and Bergen University. The station is located near the >70 km2 Hardangerjøkulen Ice Cap with one of the outlet glaciers only a couple of km away and well visible from the Research Station. Finse is a tiny mountain village with only a few houses located at the Oslo - Bergen railroad at 1,222 meters (4,009 ft) above sea level, about 250 m above the treeline. There is no road to Finse. Facilities are very limited, e.g., there is no grocery store, pharmacy or bank. In mid September the weather can be highly variable. Air temperatures may fall below freezing and heavy snowfall may occur combined with high winds.
Transportation
Finse is only accessible by train, from either Oslo central station (Oslo S) (ca. 4.5 hrs; ca. 6 trains per day between ca. 6:00 and 23:00; ca. 600 NOK one way) or Bergen (ca. 2.5 hrs). Tickets can be bought at www.vy.no. From the Gardermoen Airport, Oslo central station can be reached by train in 20-30 minutes (many trains per hour). From Finse train station it is a 15-20 minute walk (ca. 1.5 km) along a small dirt road/hiking path to the research station (which may be snow-covered at that time).
Airport Gardemoen to Oslo
From the airport you need to take a train to the central train station (Oslo S ) where the train to Finse departs. Turn to the right when getting out of customs and walk about 50 m where you can buy the train ticket to Oslo at a counter or ticket machine. There are 2 independent companies selling tickets side by side:
- flytoget (flight train), fastest, ca. 20 minutes, 220 NOK
- ´normal´ train by company ´vy´, ca. 30 minutes, 115 NOK. This train may actually get you faster to Oslo depending when you get there since it goes more often. Trains R10, R11 and L12 go to Oslo.
You can also buy the tickets online (www.vy.no or https://flytoget.no/en/). From the ticket counter/machines it is a 2 minute walk to the platform (down an escalator).
Arrival / departure dates
The workshop starts at Finse on 16 September with dinner and ends on 21 September after breakfast. The Research Station closes on 21 September for winter, therefore one needs to leave the facility latest in the early afternoon on that day. Thus we recommend all participants flying into Oslo Gardermoen to land 16 September in the morning and book a return flight not earlier than late afternoon on Sept. 21.
Accommodation / meals
All participants will be housed at the Finse Research Station which has a number of 2-4 bed rooms which participants will share. We will be the only group at the station at that time. A cook at the station will provide all meals for the workshop. The station has a lecture hall and internet (4G eduroam and University of Oslo guest login).
Workshop fee
The workshop fee including meals, accommodation and a bed linen + towel set is 5225 NOK.
Packing list
Workshop necessities
- Laptop for the hands-on sessions (the wifi connection goes through eduroam)
- If needed, travel adapter for power outlet
- Name tag (e.g. from a previous conference)
- Indoor shoes/slippers (there are no shoes allowed inside and the floor can be cold)
- Head torch/ flashlight might be useful (e.g. if you arrive with a late train and need to walk to the research station after sunset)
Covid protocol
- FFP2/N95 masks
- At least 5 covid self-tests
- Suitable medication in case you fall ill
Glacier excursion
We will have an excursion to the nearby glacier, if weather conditions permit. Note the weather at the station can be anything from sunny and temperatures around 15 °C to snowstorm. For the excursion, please bring:
- Hiking boots
- Suitable clothing
- Rain pans
- Waterproof jacket
- Hat
- Neck gaitor
- Gloves
- Small backpack
- Water bottle or thermos.
- If you have them, you may want to bring microspikes.
- Sunglasses
- Make sure you have appropriate health insurance.
Drinks and food
- Note there is nothing to buy in Finse and the Research Station. If you arrive earlier than the start of the workshop earlier or leave later than the end, you are on your own for meals.
- Bring your own alcohol with you, if you plan to have some drinks (e.g. with the pub quiz), or order it to be delivered at the local post office. This goes as follows: Vinmonopolet will send free of charge to Finse, you just have to pick it up at the postoffice at the train station. You need to log on to the Vinmonopolet and order in the app. Use the address and use the address: Rallarvegen 2476, 5719 Finse. It normally takes 3-4 days if the things are “på lager”, it might take longer.
COVID protocol
Recent covid outbreaks at conferences and workshops have shown how disruptive it can be, with many people being sick and stuck abroad. This is something we really want to prevent. Even more because the research station is both remote (with no medical facilities in its surroundings) and will close right after our stay. Taking this in consideration, combined with that we will be living close together, we have decided on the following protocol:
- Everybody needs to bring at least 5 covid rapid-tests. Everybody should take a test the day of or the night before boarding the train to Finse. If you test positive, you should not travel to Finse. We also request testing the following couple of days.
- Everybody brings sufficient masks (FFP2/N95 or similar, no cloth masks). Wearing masks will be optional first, but will become necessary if someone tests positive.
- If anybody tests positive for covid, the person will need to isolate and can no longer participate in the workshop in person. We may adjust the testing protocol as appropriate.
We hope that you agree with this protocol, which aims at everyone’s safety. Please get in touch with us if you have any questions!
Registration
If you wish to participate in the workshop, please fill out the following form. Due to the limited capacity of the workshop location, we would kindly like to ask you to do so before 31 May (indicating your interest does not mean you’re registered right away for the workshop). If you have any questions please send an e-mail to info@oggm.org.
Organizers
Anouk Vlug, Regine Hock, David Rounce, Fabien Maussion and Ben Marzeion
Past workshops
If you like to get a better feeling of what the workshop could be like, you can have a look at the summary reports of the previous editions: