Dr. Raghavendra Raju Nadimpalli

I am an Atmospheric Scientist working in the areas of tropical cyclone prediction, numerical weather prediction, and land–atmosphere interactions, with a primary focus on the North Indian Ocean and the Indian region. My research combines high-resolution mesoscale modeling, data assimilation of satellite and radar observations, and development of diagnostic tools to improve the prediction of high-impact weather systems such as tropical cyclones, severe thunderstorms, and monsoon depressions. Several of my research outputs have been transitioned for operational use at the India Meteorological Department (IMD).

I received my Ph.D. from the Indian Institute of Technology Bhubaneswar, where I worked under the guidance of Prof. U. C. Mohanty and Dr. Sourav Sil. My doctoral work focused on adapting and enhancing the NOAA Hurricane Weather Research and Forecasting (HWRF) model for Indian Ocean cyclones, with particular emphasis on improved model initialization, assimilation of non-conventional observations, and diagnostics of cyclone track and intensity changes.

In addition to cyclone research, I study land surface feedbacks and their role in modulating severe convection and monsoon systems. I have contributed to the development of high-resolution, long-term soil moisture and soil temperature datasets over India under the Monsoon Mission program of the Ministry of Earth Sciences, in collaboration with Prof. Dev Niyogi at Purdue University, where I also carried out a research visit. My broader goal is to bridge research and operations by developing scientifically robust tools that enhance weather prediction capabilities for India. 

Past work experience:

• Project Scientist, IIT Bhubaneswar (April 2020- August 2021)

• Research Associate, IIT Bhubaneswar (April 2019- Mar 2020)

• Project Scientist, IIT Bhubaneswar (April 2018- Mar 2019)

• Senior Research Fellow, IIT Bhubaneswar (Oct 2015- April 2018)

• Junior Research Fellow, IIT Bhubaneswar (Oct 2013- Oct 2015)

• Junior Research Fellow, Andhra University (Jul 2012- Mar 2013) 

Professional recognition:

• Visiting Scholar to Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA to work on improving extreme weather prediction over urban areas, 15 November 2019- 15 February 2020

• Visiting research scientist to India Meteorological Department and National Center for Medium range weather forecast to work on Land surface assimilation system, 15- 27 November 2018

• Visiting scientist to National Centre for Medium-range weather forecast to work on Radar assimilation in NWP models, 15 May- 5 June 2018

• Visiting scientist to India Meteorological Department, New Delhi for enabling ensemble variational data assimilation system in operational HWRF of IMD to forecast TCs over NIO region, 10 June- 15 July 2017

• Visiting scientist to Environmental Modeling Center (EMC), National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP), Atlantic Oceanic Meteorological Laboratory (AOML), NOAA, Maryland, USA and Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA, 15 January – 15 July 2016

• Visiting research scientist to India Meteorological Department, New Delhi for operational implementation of HWRF system to predict TCs, 17- 26 January 2015