Research Thrust Areas

Within our research work, we are keen to understand the kinematics and thermodynamics of atmospheric boundary layer (i.e. lower most part of the troposphere, extended from a few tenths of m to a 1-2 km above ground level). We explore boundary layer features and turbulence characteristics over diverse land surface (arid, semi-arid, tropics, inland vs. coastal, urban-sub-urban-rural environments) in different spatial scales (local-regional-continental scales), on diverse timescales (diurnal-synoptic-seasonal, inter-annual) and over different topographical regions (flat terrain, mountaintops, slopes, valleys) using active (e.g. lidar, sodar, ceilometer), passive (e.g. MWR) remote sensing instruments, soundings (e.g. tethered balloon, rawinsondes) and measurements from tall towers (100-400 m above ground level).

We are interested to explore some unique lidar (light detection and ranging) applications for atmospheric research like (1) Doppler lidar investigations of entrainment processes and morning and evening transition periods and key turbulence mechanisms over semi-arid and arid regions, (2) airborne lidar explorations of boundary layer depths in both warm and cold sectors of different frontal systems (e.g. cold front, warm front, stationary front) in mid-latitude, (3) potential of simultaneous airborne lidar measurements of boundary layer depth (CPL: Cloud Physics Lidar) and columnar content of CO2 (MFLL: Multi-functional Fiber Laser Lidar).

Within the Carbon Cycle component of our research work, we are interested in exploring spatio-temporal variability of atmospheric greenhouse gases (GHGs like CO₂, CH4) using both ground-based towers and airborne in-situ and remote sensing measurements, land-atmosphere interaction and effect on GHG distributions in the lower troposphere, transport processes in the lower troposphere during fair weather and synoptically active environment.

We are also interested in studying boundary layer features over mountainous regions; Impact of thermally driven circulations (up/down slope, up/down valley flows, gap flow) and their impact on tracers (aerosol, CO, CO₂, O₃ etc.) in mountain-valley atmospheres; Impact of ridges in governing spatial variability of convective boundary layer features (e.g. terrain following, independent) and turbulence kinetic energy; Pre-convective and convective processes including convection initiation over mountainous regions.