To strengthen the capacity of partner institutions in cryosphere monitoring, ICIMOD has designed customized capacity-building activities consisting of field-based monitoring. These activities have been designed on the basis of an assessment of the needs of ICIMOD’s partners.

ICIMOD is working towards sustainable cryosphere monitoring in Kabul basin, Afghanistan. The specific cryosphere-related capacity-building activities of SWaRMA focus mainly on field-based monitoring. In this regard, the initiative is organizing two back-to-back trainings in July 2019. The first is a refresher training to be held from 9–13 July.

Following this, in August 2019, Kabul University and the Ministry of Energy and Water (MEW) Afghanistan will embark on the first cryosphere expedition to a benchmark glacier in the Kabul basin. The refresher training will enhance participants’ knowledge of field measurements and safety, field plan design, and activities related to the installation of glacio-hydrometeorological stations along the Chumar Valley in Panjshir Province.

Objectives:

The specific objectives of the training are:

1. Revisit the glacier mass balance measurement protocol and its importance along with measurement processes and practices
2. Share relevant information on glacio-hydrological sensors, including the best site selection for these sensors and the installation of automatic weather stations with sensors
3. Refresh participants’ knowledge of measurement processes and practices
4. Facilitate hands-on practice sessions on using snow density kits and stream drills, Kovac ice drills, and other equipment
5. Facilitate demonstration sessions and provide practical tips on reading pressure level sensors, and temperature and precipitation sensors

List of participants Training schedule Evaluation results