From September 15 to October 12, 2025, Laura Ryssaliyeva, a PhD student at Al- Farabi Kazakh National University (KazNU) from Kazakhstan, is conducting a research visit at the International Center for Climate and Environment Sciences (ICCES) at the Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) in Beijing. Under the supervision of Prof. Zhaohui Lin, this visit is an integral part of the student’s PhD program and supports the project titled “Risk assessment of atmospheric droughts and development of an early warning system for Northern Kazakhstan using machine learning.”
During the visit, Laura will focus on generating future projections of meteorological droughts in Northern Kazakhstan. This involves processing regional and global climate-model datasets, computing key drought indices under Shared Socioeconomic Pathway (SSP) scenarios, and comparing them with the historical baseline data from 1990 to 2024. The work will also include producing spatial maps and time-series analyses to evaluate the dynamics of droughts over time.
The primary goals of the visit are to identify the most suitable drought index for long-term forecasting in arid regions and to deliver robust projections that will inform the project outcomes and contribute to the concluding chapters of the student’s dissertation. This visit is supported by the “Zhas Galym” state grant of the Republic of Kazakhstan, which enables the student to engage in this valuable research experience at ICCES. The opportunity to work with leading experts in the field and access advanced research facilities will undoubtedly enhance the student’s academic and research capabilities.
