We are pleased to announce the start of OGGM-Next, a new 12-month project aimed at modernising the Open Global Glacier Model (OGGM) and securing its role as a core piece of global glacier modelling infrastructure.
The project is funded by the UK Research Software Maintenance Fund and will officially start in April 2026.
Why OGGM-Next?
Over the past decade, OGGM has grown into a widely used, community-driven model capable of simulating all ~280,000 glaciers worldwide. It underpins many scientific studies, contributed to IPCC assessments, and supports applications ranging from hydrology to climate risk analysis.
At the same time, OGGM is now showing its age. Some of its code date back to 2015, and while it has evolved continuously, parts of the system are increasingly difficult to maintain, extend, or adapt to modern workflows.
Meanwhile, the scientific landscape is moving fast. New approaches such as ensemble modelling, machine learning, and digital twins require more modular, scalable, and cloud-ready tools.
OGGM-Next is about making sure OGGM keeps up with these evolutions.
Project overview
- Duration: 12 months (April 2026 – March 2027)
- Funding: £150,000 (£187,000 Full Economic Cost)
- Lead: Fabien Maussion (University of Bristol)
- Co-leads: Francesca Pianosi, James Thomas
- Core team: Nicolas Gampierakis (Research Software Engineer), Chloe Hancock (Research Associate), Richard Westaway (Project Managemer)
Partners: University of Edinburgh, Leeds Beckett University, British Geological Survey, University of Lausanne, Carnegie Mellon University, University of Bremen
What we will work on
OGGM-Next is structured around four main priorities:
1. Reducing technical debt
OGGM has an extensive test suite and a mature code base — but both have grown organically over time.
We will streamline and simplify the testing infrastructure, making it easier to maintain and faster to develop new features.
2. Modernising model configuration
Current parameter handling in OGGM makes large ensemble experiments and model coupling harder than they should be.
We will:
- standardise parameter handling across the model,
- ensure full reproducibility of simulations,
- and test modern frameworks (e.g. Hydra) for future workflows.
3. Making OGGM cloud-ready
OGGM outputs are currently distributed as downloadable archives, which limits discoverability and efficient use.
We will transition to:
- cloud-native data formats (GeoZarr),
- object storage access, and
- improved metadata and discoverability.
The goal is simple: access only the data you need, without downloading everything.
4. Improving documentation and training
OGGM already has extensive documentation and tutorials — but they are spread across multiple platforms and can be hard to navigate.
We will:
- reorganise documentation around user needs,
- create clearer “getting started” pathways,
- and develop structured training material.
The project will conclude with an online train-the-trainers workshop, with a focus on supporting users in the Global South.
A project aligned with a broader moment
OGGM-Next comes at a timely moment.
The United Nations has declared 2025–2034 the Decade of Action for Cryospheric Sciences, and the next IPCC assessment cycle is already underway. At the same time, multiple UK and international projects are actively relying on OGGM.
Investing in the model’s foundations now ensures that it remains robust, transparent, and fit for purpose in the years ahead.
What OGGM-Next is (and is not)
OGGM-Next is not a science project in the traditional sense. We are not adding new physical processes or building new infrastructure from scratch.
Instead, the focus is on: improving the software itself, reducing maintenance burden, and enabling future science.
In short: this is an investment in the foundations.
Follow the project
We will share updates as the project progresses, including technical developments, documentation improvements, and training opportunities.
- OGGM website: https://oggm.org
- Code: https://github.com/OGGM/oggm
- Education platform: https://edu.oggm.org
As always, feedback from the community is welcome.
OGGM-Next aims to ensure that OGGM remains a sustainable, open, and widely used tool for glacier modelling — ready for the next decade of cryospheric science.