AgroClima Research Lab
(ARL@IITPKD)
"Explore the unseen threads that bind
climate, water, and agriculture,
crafting a resilient fabric of life..."
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About
About
Our team works on two of the most fundamental aspects of nature: weather and water. Human activities and natural cycles interact and create various interconnections and interdependencies that have global socioeconomic implications. Anthropogenic activities, global warming, and associated ocean-atmospheric interactions have caused an unprecedented increase in levels of extreme events such as floods, droughts, marine and land heat waves, etc. Prediction and forecasting of these events are crucial to natural disasters and minimize damage to people and property. Our ongoing research in water resources engineering, meteorological science, and agricultural engineering influences the planning and management of water resources, freshwater accessibility, water and food security, and promoting sustainability.
The AgroClima research team at the Indian Institute of Technology, Palakkad focuses on understanding the complex relationships between climate phenomena and hydrological systems. We use state-of-the-art technologies such as Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (AI/ML), hydrologic models, and weather forecasting models (such as the Weather Research Forecasting Model) to analyze and model extreme weather events in high resolution. The team evaluates and monitors hydrological variables and climate parameters in real time by combining spatial data and leveraging satellite imagery. Research includes exploring the impacts of climate change on water resources, creating models to assess and quantify current and future risks, and facilitating cross-sector collaboration. The team's findings aim to inform policymakers and stakeholders, promote sustainable water management, and improve technological approaches in the field of agro-hydroclimatic research.
Research Interests
Research Interests
Climatic Oscillations
Climate Change
Extreme Event Analysis
Urban Heat Island
Meteorological and Agricultural Drought Analysis
Non-Point Source Pollution
River Basin Management
Hydrologic Modelling
Hydraulic Modelling
Applied Statistics
AI/ML applications
Remote Sensing Applications in Disaster Management and Risk Analysis
Recent Recognitions
Recent Recognitions
Congratulations 👏
Mrs. Chinju Saju won the Best Oral Presentation Award at ECOFEST ’25 – International Conference on Accelerating Action for a Sustainable Planet: Towards SDG 2030, organized by Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, on May 13, 2025.
Mr. Pushpinder Kaushal got a job at VA TECH WABAG in Chennai as an Executive Trainee.
Ms. Drisiya J won the Best Oral Presentation Award at ECOFEST ’25 – International Conference on Accelerating Action for a Sustainable Planet: Towards SDG 2030, organized by Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, on May 13, 2025.
Best Oral Presentation & Young Scientist Award in 5th International Conference on Environmental, Agricultural, Chemical and Biological Science, ICEACBS 2025 organized by VOICE, Society for Microchemistry, Biochemistry and Biotechnology Somnogen Canada Inc, Toronto Canadaon and AIITE New Delhi India, held on June 7-8 ,2025.
Best Research Paper Award in International Conference on Advances in Science $ Technology organized by ITM Dehradun and MetaSciTech Society, held on June 23-25, 2025.
Events and Activities
Events and Activities
AGU 2025
Ms. Drisiya J attended AGU International Conference in online mode and presented a poster on 15-19 December 2025.
GIAN Workshop - 2025
Ms. Amrutha S, Ms. Drisiya J and Ms. Jishitha N P attended GIAN workshop on "Holistic view of Hydroclimate Extremes and climate change impacts (HVHE2025)" organized by National Institute of Technology, Calicut on 1-5 December 2025.
INTROMET-2025
INTROMET-2025
Ms. Drisiya J presented a poster in the INTROMET-2025 organized by IITM Pune on 18 th-20th Nov 2025.
IAHS 2025
Ms. Drisiya J attended and presented a poster in the 12 the scientific assembly of the international association of hydrological sciences on 5-10 of October 2025.
CSEE - WRF Modelling Workshop
Ms Jishitha N P attended 1 month online workshop on "Numerical Weather Predection: Hands on WRF Modelling", organized by Center for Sustainable Environment and Education on 27th September to 27th October 2025.
CSEE - WRF Modelling Workshop
Ms Amrutha S attended 1 month online workshop on "Numerical Weather Predection: Hands on WRF Modelling", organized by Center for Sustainable Environment and Education" on 27th September to 27th October 2025.
Python Essential for Hydrology - Workshop
Ms. Drisiya J and Mr. Abinesh Colin attended workshop on "Python Essential for Hydrology" organized by National Institute of Hydrology (NIH) Roorkee on 14-18 July 2025.
ICAST 2025
Ms. Drisiya J attended and acquired Best Research paper Award in the International Conference on "Advances in Science & Technology" organized by ITM Dehradun and MetaSciTech Society on 23-25 June 2025.
ICEACBS 2025
ICEACBS 2025
Ms. Drisiya J attended and acquired Best Oral Presentation & Young Scientist Award in the Voice of Indian Concern for the Environment (VOICE), Society for Microchemistry, Biochemistry and Biotechnology Somnogen Canada Inc, Toronto Canada and All India Institute of Training and Education (AIITE) New Delhi India 7-8 June 2025.
ICEACBS 2025
ICEACBS 2025
Mrs. Chinju Saju attended the 5th International Conference on Environmental, Agricultural, Chemical and Biological Science (ICEACBS 2025), organized by Voice of Indian Concern for the Environment (VOICE), Society for Microchemistry, Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Somnogen Canada Inc. (Toronto, Canada), and All India Institute of Training and Education (AIITE), New Delhi, India, on June 7–8, 2025.
ECOFEST ’25 International Conference
Ms. Drisiya J attended and acquired Best Oral Presentation Award in ECOFEST ’25 International Conference on Accelerating Action for a Sustainable Planet: Towards SDG 2030 organized by Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Agricultural Engineering College and Research Institute, Coimbatore on 13-05-2025.
ECOFEST ’25 International Conference
Mrs. Chinju Saju attended and won the Best Oral Presentation Award in ECOFEST ’25 – International Conference on Accelerating Action for a Sustainable Planet: Towards SDG 2030, organized by Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, on May 13, 2025.
National Workshop – VIC Hydrological Modelling
Ms. Drisiya J attended National Workshop on VIC Hydrological modelling organized by KSCSTE- Institute for Climate Change Studies, Kottayam, Kerala, India on 01-01-2025.
Decoding Climate Change using Machine Learning
Decoding Climate Change using Machine Learning
Ms. Jadeera Aboobaker participated in a national workshop titled "Decoding Climate Change using Machine Learning" hosted by KSCSTE-Institute for Climate Change Studies, Kerala from 2nd to 4th September 2024.
Sponsored Projects
Sponsored Projects
Physics-aware AI/ML tool for spatiotemporal agricultural drought prediction, 2023-2025.
Enhancing simulation of hydrological fluxes by using an integrated hydrological model, 2023-2026.
Development of a River Basin Management Plan for Bharathapuzha, Kerala, 2022-2024.
Real-Time Air Quality and Weather Monitoring System for IIT Palakkad Campus, 2021-2023.
Linkage of Large-Scale Ocean-Atmospheric Phenomena on Hydroclimatic Extremes in India, 2019-2022.
Evaluating practical approaches for farm bacterial testing in support of the FSMA Produce Safety Rules. Alabama Agricultural Experiment Stations, USA, 2016-2018.
Research Openings
Research Openings
2 Ph.D. Positions
1 MS Position
If you are passionate and dedicated towards research in water and climate studies, please contact me at sarmistha@iitpkd.ac.in.
Blogs
Blogs
Challenges and Advances in Hydrological Modeling
Challenges and Advances in Hydrological Modeling
Hydrological modeling is a dynamic field that constantly faces challenges, but it also benefits from technological advancements. Here, we delve into the hurdles that hydrological modelers encounter and explore new solutions and more
Build with Nature (BwN) Technology: A Need of the Hour for Sustainable Development
Build with Nature (BwN) Technology: A Need of the Hour for Sustainable Development
In an era of environmental challenges, there is a rising recognition that our approach to growth must be harmonious with nature more
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