Rajagopalan Balaji joins elite group of honorary fellows in meteorology
笔谤辞蹿别蝉蝉辞谤听Rajagopalan Balaji, a 麻豆免费版下载Boulder professor of civil engineering and an expert in hydrology, climatology and water resources,听was elected as an听honorary fellow of the听 in December. The honor was received on his behalf at the inaugural ceremony of TROPMET 2024, India鈥檚 annual tropical meteorology conference.
Rajagopalan has dedicated more than 25 years researching听Indian monsoon variability as a way to give back to his home country. His research aims to improve听flood preparedness and explore the complex relationship between monsoonal climate and public health.听
鈥淢aking significant advances in understanding Indian monsoon variability is a labor of love,鈥 Rajagopalan says. 鈥淭his honor is particularly meaningful and gratifying, especially being recognized as part of such a听.鈥
Rajagopalan Is one of 21 honorary fellows, joining a distinguished group that includes the late A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, PhD, a former president of India. The honor recognizes those who have made significant contributions to meteorological research, education or practice, both in India and globally.听
In 2023 Rajagopalan received a Fulbright-Kalam Climate Fellowship. His听Fulbright work in India听centered around developing monsoon forecasting models to aid residents in flood preparedness; exploring the intricate interplay between monsoonal climate and public health; and unraveling the monsoon variability over a timeframe of 5,000 to 10,000 years, along with its role in the peopling of the Indian subcontinent.听
India, in particular, remains highly vulnerable to the monsoon鈥檚 variability, and the impact extends beyond floods or droughts. The monsoons also affect water quality, public health, agricultural output and even the Indian stock market, he says.
Weaker rainfall directly impacts the country鈥檚 GDP, given that at least 50 percent of the population resides in villages heavily reliant on agriculture. Crop failures often drive rural residents to migrate to urban areas in search of employment, placing sudden strain on urban resources. This has an impact on nutrition, poverty and public health, he says.
Founded in 1956, the Indian Meteorological Society was established to promote the advancement of meteorology in India and to provide a platform for scientists, researchers and professionals in the field to collaborate and share knowledge.听