The Leh Indian Glaciology Summer School (LIGSS) 2025 (Theme: Climate) will target young and upcoming glaciologists (bachelors, masters, PhD and early career researchers) from India and abroad with interdisciplinary skills to examine the profound interplay between climatic processes and glacial dynamics in the Himalayas. Centered on glaciology and climate science, the school will delve into how shifting temperature, precipitation, and extreme weather patterns drive glacier retreat, alter mass balance, and influence regional hydrology that supports regional ecosystems and millions downstream. Participants will explore advanced techniques for integrating climate data, such as remote sensing, reanalysis datasets, and climate modeling, into glaciological research to better better understand past trends and project future impacts. The curriculum blends 12 in-person lectures, hands-on computer tutorials, evening research seminars, and a one-day field excursion to Khardung Glacier, complemented by collaborative group projects and presentations. Beyond structured sessions, the school prioritizes mentorship, offering sufficient opportunities for direct interaction with instructors and tutors. By fostering technical expertise, scientific collaboration, and fieldwork experience, the program aims to cultivate a new generation of researchers equipped to tackle pressing challenges in Himalayan cryosphere science and its global climate implications.

Fees: No fees, but selected participants must cover their travel expenses to and from Leh.

Application Open: 1 April 2025

Application Deadline: 15 April 2025

Results: 22 April 2025

Dates for Summer School: 17-29 June, 2025

 Arrival & Acclimatization: 17 June, 2025 ; Departure: 29 June, 2025

Venue: Mahabodhi International Meditation Center, Leh (3500 masl), Ladakh, India 

Capacity: 20 participants

Theme Coordinator: Pankaj Kumar (IISER Bhopal)

School coordinators:  Saurabh Vijay (IIT Roorkee), Argha Banerjee (IISER Pune), Sandipan Mukherjee (GBP NIHE), Purushottam Garg (GBP NIHE) 

The Application Form for LIGSS-2025 is designed to assess applicants’ background, research interests, and motivation for participating in the program. 

The target participants are bachelor's, master's, and PhD students, as well as early-career researchers.

Please use the GOOGLE LINK to submit your application. No other means of submission will be accepted.

All the best.

Unit 0: Preschool

Python for Climate Science (Full-day tutorial for beginners to moderate users)

Unit 1: Introduction to Climate Science and Cryosphere

Global energy balance

Earth-System and its components: Geosphere, Cryosphere, Hydrosphere, Atmosphere, Biosphere interactions. 

Global and local energy balance: Black body, shortwave and long wave radiation, Greenhouse effect.

A 0-d climate model.

Cryosphere-climate interactions, Albedo feedback, Snowball earth events.

Global circulation

Natural Forcing over different time scales: Orbital cycles, solar variability, volcanic aerosols.

Anthropogenic Forcing: GHG, black carbon/aerosols.

1-d climate model: Meridional heat imbalance, global circulation (winds and ocean currents), heat and moisture flux. 

Climate variability and change

Global scale processes and variability; ITCZ and its seasonality, ENSO, teleconnections …

Regional circulation Systems: Monsoon and Western Disturbances (WD). Role of the Himalayan orography.

Anthropogenic climate change

Unit 2: Fundamentals of Climate and Glacier Modelling  

Fundamentals of Climate Modelling

Introduction to Climate Modelling: Definition and purpose of climate models, Historical evolution: From simple energy balance models (EBMs) to modern Earth System Models (ESMs), Importance of modelling glaciers in climate science)

Basic Components of Climate Models: Atmospheric dynamics (Navier-Stokes equations, energy balance, Radiation and feedback mechanisms, Role of greenhouse gases and aerosols, Cryosphere representation (glaciers, ice sheets, permafrost)

Glacier Modelling Fundamentals: Energy and mass balance approach in glacier modelling, Ice flow and thermodynamics, Feedback processes (e.g., ice-albedo feedback), Challenges in modelling glacier responses to climate change

Types of Climate Models and Cryosphere Representation

Overview of Climate Model Types: ESMs, AGCMs, Glacier-specific Models

Representation of the Cryosphere in ESMs: Snow cover, ice sheets, glaciers, permafrost, Ocean-cryosphere interactions (e.g., ice-ocean feedback), Limitations: Coarse resolution, lack of fine-scale ice dynamics

Role of Models in Climate Science: Simulating past, present, and future climate-glacier interactions, Policy and decision-making: How model outputs inform climate action, briefly discuss CMIP

Evaluating Models and Applying Results

Model Evaluation: Observational datasets for model validation (e.g., satellite, reanalysis data, Performance metrics: Bias, RMSE, skill scores, Case studies: Evaluating glacier mass balance in global models

Multi-Model Ensembles: Why use multiple models? Addressing uncertainties in climate projections, CMIP and GlacierMIP initiatives, Projecting future glacier mass balance using ensemble techniques

Sensitivity and Feedback Analysis in Glacier Models: Assessing climate sensitivity in glacier models (e.g., temperature vs. precipitation impacts). Quantifying feedbacks: Ice-albedo, meltwater lubrication, and debris-cover effects on glaciers.

Unit 3: Global and Regional Cryosphere Projections

Glacier and ice-sheet response to climate change

• Predicting glacier response to climate forcing at  global to regional scale - context and questions
• Overview of modelling tools/results to address them 
• Downscaling to glacier scale … 

Himalayan Cryosphere Under Climate Change

• Change and variability of Himalayan climate (RCM, renalysis, ..)
• computing the response of Himalayan snow and glaciers. 
• reconciling observed vs. modelled glacier loss
• open questions

Future of Himalayan cryosphere (Lecture 9)

• Future climate scenarios and glacier response
• Uncertainties in Climate forcing, and that in glacier models
• Open questions

Unit 4: AI/ML for Climate-glacier interaction: 

Prerequisites for deep learning

• Basics of probability and statistics
• Fundamentals of linear algebra
• Optimisation
• Intuitions of High dimensional spaces

Basics of deep learning

• Introduction to artificial neural networks
• Basics of Deep Learning
• Training a neural network
• Popular Networks architectures

Applications to climate science

• Deep learning for climate modeling
• Deep learning for weather modeling
• Deep learning for glacier modeling

The course material will be UPLOADED after the summer school. Stay Tuned.

The list of selected participants will be uploded on 22 April 2025. Stay Tuned.

Mahabodhi International Meditation Centre (MIMC), Leh, Ladakh, India

The Mahabodhi International Meditation Centre (MIMC), located in Leh, Ladakh, India, is a renowned institution dedicated to meditation, spiritual growth, and humanitarian services. Founded in 1986 by Venerable Bhikkhu Sanghasena, MIMC offers a serene environment for meditation and self-discovery. 

All classes, tutorials, accommodation, and meals will be provided at the Mahabodhi International Meditation Centre (MIMC) in Leh, Ladakh. Participants will stay on a dual-sharing basis, ensuring a comfortable and peaceful environment. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner will be served at the center, offering nutritious meals throughout the program. The serene surroundings and well-equipped facilities will support both academic learning and personal well-being during the status.

WEBSITE LINK: http://www.mahabodhi-ladakh.info/

GOOGLE LOCATION: https://maps.app.goo.gl/R2uG7DafCwVYPYgx8

HOW TO REACH THE CENTER

1. Train from Delhi to Jammu Tawi:

   • Route: Board a train from Delhi to Jammu Tawi, the nearest major railway station to Leh, approximately 700 km away.​

   • Travel Time: Around 10–12 hours.​

   • Note: Jammu Tawi is well-connected to Delhi with several trains operating daily. ​

2. Bus or Taxi from Jammu to Leh:

   • Route: From Jammu, you can hire a taxi or take a Jammu and Kashmir State Road Transport Corporation (JKSRTC) bus to Leh.​

   • Travel Time: The journey spans approximately 700 km and typically takes 2 days, with an overnight stop, often in Kargil.​

   • Availability: Bus services are operational only from May to October, when the Srinagar-Leh Highway is open. ​

By Bus via Manali:

Alternatively, you can travel from Delhi to Leh via Manali:

1. Bus from Delhi to Manali:

   • Route: Several state-run and private buses operate from Delhi to Manali.​

   • Travel Time: Approximately 12–14 hours.​

2. Bus from Manali to Leh:

   • Route: From Manali, take a bus to Leh, covering about 474 km.​

   • Travel Time: This journey also takes 2 days, with an overnight halt, typically in Keylong.​

   • Availability: Services are available from June to September, during the open season for the Manali-Leh Highway.​

By Air:

Leh Airport, called Kushok Bakula Rimpochee Airport (IXL), is connect with a few major cities of India

Important Considerations:

• Acclimatization: Leh is situated at an altitude of approximately 3,500 meters. It's advisable to plan for acclimatization upon arrival to prevent altitude sickness.​

• Weather Conditions: Road accessibility to Leh is seasonal, heavily influenced by weather conditions. Always verify the current status of highways before planning your trip.​

• Advance Booking: Due to limited transportation options and high demand during the tourist season, it's recommended to book tickets in advance.​

Upon reaching Leh, the Mahabodhi International Meditation Centre is located about 12 km from the city center. Local taxis are available for transportation to the center. ​