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About the Department

In recent years, the emphasis on understanding the exogenic and endogenic processes operating on Earth have moved towards adopting a more holistic view of the Earth as a 'system' comprising of lithosphere, biosphere, hydrosphere and atmosphere. The most important example of this 'integrated' system is the Earth's climate system, which requires the understanding of atmosphere, ocean and land systems and their interactions within and with societies and technologies. In NE India, our research priorities have not responded to these changes. As a result, the climate research in NE India is highly unidirectional and we have failed to respond to the multi-dimensionality of the problem. Climate change is no longer a 'myth' and it needs an interdisciplinary approach to understand the impacts and to develop mitigation strategy in particular reference to the NE Indian scenarios.

Centre for Cloud and Climate Change (C4R)

Our Logo

The globe in the logo depicts the borderless and expansive nature of the weather affecting everyone on Earth. The wavy arrows on the globe represent the increasing Carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and corresponding temperature rise. Clouds ……Together they represent a driving force for the weather and climate which affects us.  The colours white, blue and green of the globe represent the earth’s Clouds, oceans, atmosphere and natural environment symbolizing Multidisciplinary Climate Research’s key focus on weather, climate, and environmental hazards. The tag line is used to demonstrate CCCC’s professional, forward-looking nature as a regional Centre on weather and climate.

Our Vision

The Centre will strive to harness the strengths in Science [with participation of national and international research groups] to better understand climate change over the tropics, in general and the NE Indian region, in particular to enable better assessments of impacts and vulnerability of different sectors for evolving effective policies for adaptation and mitigation anchored on value of sustainability

Mission Statement

To be the institution of choice for innovative climate change and adaptation research and training in the region.

 

Background

In recent years, the emphasis on understanding the exogenic and endogenic processes operating on Earth have moved towards adopting a more holistic view of the Earth as a 'system' comprising of lithosphere, biosphere, hydrosphere and atmosphere. The most important example of this 'integrated' system is the Earth's climate system, which requires the understanding of atmosphere, ocean and land systems and their interactions within and with societies and technologies. In NE India, our research priorities have not responded to these changes. As a result, the climate research in NE India is highly unidirectional and we have failed to respond to the multi-dimensionality of the problem. Climate change is no longer a 'myth' and it needs an interdisciplinary approach to understand the impacts and to develop mitigation strategy in particular reference to the NE Indian scenarios.

Climate research has been a top priority in developed countries like USA and European countries for several decades in order to develop strategies to minimize the impact of climate change. This is also an integral part of the strategic planning of top universities and research institutions in the world. India, being a fast developing nation, is emerging as a major player in climate research in recent times. CU, an institution of excellence and prominence made of diverse group of researchers, should offer its expertise and make a collective effort to actively pursue climate change scenarios in NE India for the survival of a region whose economic growth and population is inducing irreversible climate changes day-by-day.

Keeping this in view, it is proposed to set up a center for Multi-disciplinary Earth Systems and Climate Change research at CU Guwahati, which will involve a number of scientists, academics and engineers from a variety of disciplines such as namely geosciences, physics, engineering, chemistry, and economics. Some of us have already been engaged in climate change research ranging from understanding atmospheric phenomena, climate simulation models, paleoclimate reconstruction, linkage between climate and river-basin dynamics, flood hazards, impact on climate on the hydrologic cycle and water resources, and economic impacts of climate change. Apart from colleagues at CU Guwahati, several persons from different institutes across the country, also engaged in focused on climate-related research, have expressed their interest to actively participate in this activity. The major objective of setting up this Centre is to initiate a multi-disciplinary approach to understand the forcing functions of climate change and the response of natural systems and then to develop India-centric strategies for mitigation and adaptation. The CU Guwahati will serve as the nodal centre for coordinating this research.

 

Activities

Education / Training

  1. Introduced “Climate Change – an Interdisciplinary Perspective”, as a Value-Added Course (VAC), for 1 Semester Undergraduate Students under NEP, from 2023.
  2. Introduced Meteorology paper at both undergraduate and postgraduate level in Physics
  3. North East India’s Largest Global Climate Clock Assembly and Display Event

 

Focal research areas:

Focus I: Earth's climate system and processes

Focus II: Hydrological cycle and water resources

Focus III: Proxies for paleoclimate reconstruction

Focus IV: Climate Simulation Modeling

Focus V: Impact, economics and policy of climate change

 

Knowledge partners

The Centre is based in the Department of Physics and also collaborates in joint research with researchers from

International:

  • Kochi University, Japan/
  • CEAS, Kyoto University, Japan;
  • ICEDS, Kagawa University, Japan;
  • Faculty of Education, Tokoha University, Japan
  • Meteorology Department, University of Tokyo, Japan.
  • Foundation of River and Basin Integrated Communications, Tokyo, Japan

 

National:

  • CSIR National Institute science Technology and Development Studies  New Delhi
  • Gauhati University, Guwahati,
  • Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore,
  • National Institute of Hydrology, Roorkee,
  • Indian Institute of Technology, Guwahati;

 

Observational Facilities

The primary purpose of building human capacity necessary to address the unique climate change adaptation needs of vulnerable communities through teaching, action-oriented research, development of innovative technologies and community participation. Providing expert advice for national and regional policy formulation and implementation

  1. In collaboration with a consortium of Japan Universities ICRC is managing 16 ground observation nodes for high resolution rainfall measurement in Assam and 8 stations in Meghalaya and 10 stations in Bangladesh adjoining Cherapunjee Plateau
  2. Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Station (CAAQMS):  At a cost of 1.8 crores, Funded by Ministry of Environment Forests and Climate Change (MoEF&CC), Govt. of India
  3. RPG standard single polarization Radiometer: A Scientific collaboration in STUDIES ON “Lightning, Thunderstorm and Related Phenomena,” with IITM Pune, costing 1.5 crores funded by Ministry of earth Sciences, govt. of India
  4. ICRC Weather Station : Wireless Vantage Pro2™ & Vantage Pro2™ Plus Stations: To provide reliable meteorological information for the Cotton College and local communities, and to involve undergraduates in high quality scientific research.
  5. Blitzortung Lightning Detection system: In collaboration with Tokyo University. This system is a node for a global lightning detecting system

 

Database created:

  1. Daily Rainfall Database: 1920-2019: First of its kind, we created a database of 32 stations scattered uniformly over Northeast India for a period of 100 years. Started in 2006 till 2019. In collaboration with a number institutes including Kagawa University, Japan finished work. (Attached Reconstruction Paper)
  2. Severe Convective storms (Thunderstorm, Lightning, Hail, Extreme rainfall events) 1930-2016.(Attached published paper): In collaboration with Tokoha University Japan, we developed a severe thunderstorm database for Assam, for the period 1930-2016
  3. Japanese Reanalysis data downscaled for Northeast India in 0.5ox0.5o to study atmospheric systems 1960-2016
  4. 1901-2007, developed the database at district level for all eight states of NEI. Monthly, annual District level database for all NEIN States (8) - rainfall, temperature, RH, Soil Moisture.

Book Publication:

In 2016, ICRC published a 312 page book on Climate variability and Climate Change in Northeast India, titled ‘Present Tense and Future Expensive’

 

Conferences/Seminars/Workshops organized by ICRC, Cotton University

The organizations of workshops/conferences are aimed to bring together scientists to explore the scientific challenges involved in the production, translation, distribution and use of weather and climate information in the Northeastern Part of South Asia. Working diligently, ICRC Cotton University managed to bringing the highly knowledgeable researchers from India, Japan, Bangladesh and Nepal as well as researchers from North East India to explore these important topics. The workshop and conference were led by the co-coordinators: Dr. Rahul Mahanta, ICRC, Cotton University, India; and Prof. Toru Terao, ICEDS, Kagawa University, Japan

  1. 1st International Conference on Climate Science

Conference Theme: Frontiers of Climate Research to Enhance Cooperation of Climate Information and Services for Sustainable Development Planning in North East India.

Date: 7-8 March 2016; Venue: Sudmerson Hall, Cotton University

Collaborated by: Centre for South East Asian studies (CSEAS), Kyoto University, Japan and International Consortium for Environment and Development (ICEDS), Kagawa University, Japan

Participating Institutions/Universities: Trivuban University, Nepal, Jahangir University, Bangladesh,  IIT Guwahati, IIT Bhubaneswar, NalandaViswavidlaya, CSIR Fourth Paradigm Institute, Banglore, CMMACS, Banglore, India Meteorology Department, Guwahati ;  Gauhati University, Cotton University, Allahabad University, Banaras Hindu University, Assam Engineering College, Assam Agriculture University Kagawa University, Japan;  Kyoto University, Kochi University Japan, Tokyo University,  Japan;  IIT Rorkee; North East Hill University,  Shillong, University of Science and Technology, Meghalaya, University of Technology, Shillong,  and Non-governmental organizations  ACTION-AID India, Gorakhpur Environmental Group, Centre for Science and Environment among others contributed papers from different institutes.

  1. Workshop on Hydro-Meteorological Modelling for Flood Prediction in Northeast India; 

Theme: Development of a local flood risk research roadmap

Date: 7th March 2018;  Venue: Conference Hall, Cotton University

Participating Institutes/Universities: Cotton University, Kyoto University, Japan, Kagawa University, Japan, Tokoha University, Japan, IIT, Guwahati, NESAC (ISRO), Shillong; Assam Engineering College;  Gauhati University, IIT Bhubaneswar, IIT Rorkee; India Meteorology Department, Guwahati.

  1. ICRC –CSIR National institute for Science Technology  and Development Studies (NISTADS) Northeast India Energy Conclave 2018;

Date: 6th and 7th June 2018; Venue: Sudmersan Hall

A NISTADS-ICRC initiative to Empower the people and businesses of Northeast India to make smart energy decisions with enduring economic benefits through Focus on Energy

Participating Institutions: Cotton University, IIT, Guwahati, NESAC (ISRO), Shillong; India Meteorology Department, Guwahati ; Assam Engineering College; Gauhati University, IIT Bhubaneswar, IIT Rorkee, USTM, Meghalaya, ASEB, Tezpur University, Dibrugarh University, NEHU, Shillong; Assam Engineering Institute, Guwahati; a number of NGOs, and general participants mostly stakeholders.

  1. International Symposium on Meteorological Research for Improved Water Resources Management

Date: 3rd march 2019; Venue: Conference Hall, Physics, Cotton University

Participating Institutes/Universities: Cotton University, India Meteorology Department, Guwahati, Kyoto University, Japan, Kagawa University, Japan, Tokoha University, Japan, IIT, Guwahati, NESAC (ISRO), Shillong; Assam Engineering College;  Gauhati University, IIT Bhubaneswar, IIT Rorkee, Trivuban University, Nepal; Tezpur University, Assam; Assam University, Silchar.

Paper published:

Publications: as on September 16, 2022

2022

 

  1. Saha, P., Mahanta, R., Rajesh, P. V., &Goswami, B. N. (2022). Persistent Wet and Dry Spells of Indian Summer Monsoon Rainfall: A Reexamination of Definitions of 'Active' and 'Break' Events.,Journal of Climate.
  2. B. N. Goswami, D. Chackraborty, P. V. Rajesh and A. Mitra, 2022: Predictability of South Asian Monsoon Rainfall Beyond the Legacy of  Tropical Ocean and Global Atmosphere (TOGA), npj Climate and Atmospheric Science, (2022) 5:58 ; https://doi.org/10.1038/s41612-022-00281-3
  3. Dhruba J. Goswami, K. Ashok and B. N. Goswami, 2022: Local Ocean-Atmosphere Interaction in Indian Summer Monsoon Multi-Decadal Variability, Climate  Dynamics, https://doi.org/10.1007/s00382-022-06377-z
  4. Rajesh, P. V., &Goswami, B. N. (2022). A new emergent constraint corrected projections of Indian summer monsoon rainfall. Geophysical Research Letters, 49, e2021GL096671. https://doi. org/10.1029/2021GL096671
  5. SuneetDwivedi · Pushpa Pandey · B. N. Goswami, 2022: Nonstationarity and potential multi‑decadal variability in Indian Summer Monsoon Rainfall and Southern Annular Mode teleconnection, Climate Dynamics, https://doi.org/10.1007/s00382-022-06146-y
  6. Pandey, P., Dwivedi, S., &Goswami, B. N. (2022). Trend and variability in he long-term relationship between Eurasian snow cover and Indian summer monsoon rainfall.International Journal of Climatology , 1– 15. https://doi.org/10.1002/joc.7675
  7. ProlaySaha, B. Abida. Choudhury, Rahul Mahanta; An Inclusive Study of Lightning at Various Temporal Resolutions over North East India using Hi-Res Satellite Data; International Journal of Climate Research (accepted under final Review)
  8. Mahanta, R., Saha, P., Yamane, Y. Long term changes in the Frequency of Local Severe Convective Storm; International Journal of Climatology (Under Review)

 

2021

  1. Mahanta, R., Saha, P., Rajesh, P. v, Nandy, S., Zahan, Y., & Mahanta, A. (2021). Reconstruction of a Long Reliable Daily Rainfall dataset for the Northeast India (NEI) for Extreme Rainfall Studies. J Earth SciClim Change, 12(9), 1–14. https://doi.org/10.4172/2157-7617.1000580.
  2. DipjyotiMudiar,AnupamHazra,S. D. Pawar,Rama Krishna Karumuri,MahenKonwar,SubrataMukherjee,M. K. Srivastava,EarleWilliams,B. N. Goswami, 2021: Role of Electrical Effects in Intensifying Rainfall Rates in the Tropics, Geophys. Res. Letters. First published: 28 December 2021, https://doi.org/10.1029/2021GL096276
  3. Mudiar, Dipjyoti, S.D. Pawar, A. Hazra, V. Gopalkrishnana, D. M. Lal, K. Chakravarty, M.A. Domkawale, M. K. Srivastava, B. N. Goswami, E.R. Williams, 2021: Lightning and precipitation: The possible electrical modification of observed raindrop size distributizons, Atmospheric Research, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosres.2021.105663
  4. Zahan Yasmin & Rahul Mahanta & P. V. Rajesh &B. N. Goswami, 2021: Impact of climate change on North-East India (NEI) summer monsoon rainfall, Climatic Change https://doi.org/10.1007/s10584-021-02994-5
  5. Choudhury, B.A., Rajesh, P.V., Zahan, Y. and B. N. Goswami. Evolution of the Indian summer monsoon rainfall simulations from CMIP3 to CMIP6 models. ClimDyn (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00382-021-06023-0
  6. Zahan Yasmin, P. V. Rajesh, B. AbidaChoudhuri and B. N. Goswami, 2021: Why Indian summer Monsoon Circulation Indices? Fidelity in Representing Rainfall Variability and Teleconnections, Q. J. Roy. Met. Soc., http://doi.org/10.1002/qj.3972
  7. Rajesh, P. V. B. N. Goswami, B. Abida Choudhury and Yasmin Zahan, 2021: Large Sensitivity of Simulated Indian Monsoon Rainfall (ISMR) to Global Warming: Implications of ISMR Projections, J. Geophys. Res. doi: 10.1029/2020JD033511 .
  8. Even and odd nonautonomous NLSE hierarchy and reversible transformations; Optik; Volume 247, December 2021, 167928

 

2020

  1. Borah, P. J., V. Venugopal, J. Sukhatme, P. Muddebihal and B. N. Goswami, 2020: Indian Monsoon Derailed by a North Atlantic Wavetrain, Science, doi:10.1126/science.aay6043
  2. Saha, S. K., Hazra, A., Pokhrel, S.,Chaudhari, H. S., Rai, A., Sujith, K.,H. Rahaman and B. N. Goswami (2020). Reply to comment by E. T. Swenson, D. Das, and J. Shukla on “Unraveling the mystery of indian summer monsoon prediction: Improved Estimate of predictability limit”. Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres,125, e2020JD033242. https://doi.org/10.1029/2020JD033242
  3. Pandey, Pushpa, SuneetDwivedi, B. N. Goswami, and Fred Kucharski, 2020: A new perspective on ENSO-Indian summer monsoon rainfall relationship in a warming environment. Climate Dynamics, DOI 10.1007/s00382-020-05452-7
  4. B.A. Choudhury, B.N. Goswami, Yasmin Zahan, P.V. Rajesh, 2020: Seasonality in power law scaling of convective and stratiform rainfall with lightning intensity over Indian Monsoon regions, Atmospheric Research 248 (2021) 105265, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosres.2020.105265
  5. Rajesh, P.V., Goswami, B.N., 2020: Four-dimensional structure and sub-seasonal regulation of the Indian summer monsoon multi-decadal mode. ClimDyn (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00382-020-05407-y
  6. B. N. Goswami and Neena Joseph Mani, 2020: Prediction, Predictability, and Multi-Decadal Variability of the South Asian Monsoon, Chap.7 in The Multiscale Global Monsoon System (4th ed.), Edited by C. P. Chang et al., by World Scientific Publishing Co. pp 79-88.

2019

  1. Mahanta, R., Yamane, Y. Climatology of Local Severe Convective Storms (LSCS) in Assam, India; International Journal of Climatology, 2019,  40(1) 326-362 DOI: 10.1002/joc.6250
  2. AnupamHazra, Hemantkumar S. Chaudhari, Subodh K. Saha, Samir Pokhrel, Ushnanshu Dutta, B. N. Goswami 2019:  Role of cloud microphysics in improved simulation of the Asian monsoon quasi‑biweekly mode (QBM) Climate Dynamics, https://doi.org/10.1007/s00382-019-05015-5
  3. RajibChattopadhaya, S. K. Dixit and B. N. Goswami, 2019: Modal Rendition of ENSO Diversity, Scientific Reports, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-50409-4
  4. Suryachandra Rao, B. N. Goswami et al., 2019: Monsoon Mission: A targeted activity to improve monsoon prediction across scales,  Bulletin of American Meteorological Society (BAMS), © 2019 American Meteorological Society, DOI:10.1175/BAMS-D-17-0330.1
  5. Nitesh Sinha, S. Chakraborty, Rajib Chattopadhyay, B.N. Goswami, P.M. Mohan, Dipak K. Parua, DipankarSarma, AmeyDatye, S. Sengupta, SubirBera, K.K. Baruah, 2019: Isotopic investigation of the moisture transport processes over the Bay of Bengal, Journal of Hydrology, (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hydroa.2019.100021)
  6. K. Sujith, Subodh Kumar Saha, Archana Rai, Samir Pokhrel, Hemantkumar S. Chaudhari,AnupamHazra, Raghu Murtugudde, B. N. Goswami, 2019: Effects of a Multilayer Snow Scheme on the Global Teleconnections of the Indian Summer Monsoon, Q. J. Roy. Meterol. Soc. DOI: 10.1002/qj.3480
  7. Subodh K. Saha, AnupamHazra, Samir Pokhrel, Hemantkumar S. Chaudhari and B. N. Goswami, 2019: Unraveling the Mystery of Indian Summer Monsoon Prediction: Improved Estimate of Predictability Limit, J. Geophys.Res. (Atmospheres),  doi: 10.1029/2018JD030082

2018

  1. KaustavChakravarty, Samir Pokhrel, Mahesh Kalshetti1, Anish Kumar Muralidharan Nair, Madhu Chandra R. Kalapureddy, Sachin M. Deshpande, Subrata Kumar Das, GovindanPandithurai, and B N Goswami, 2018 : Unraveling of cloud types during phases of monsoon intraseasonal oscillations by a Ka-band Doppler weather radar. AtmosSci Lett.  https://doi.org/10.1002/asl.847
  2. Mudiar,D.,  S. Pawar, A. Hazra, M. Konwar, V. Gopalakrishnan, M.K. Srivastava and B.N. Goswami, 2018: Quantification of observed electrical effect on the raindrop size distribution in tropical clouds , Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres , DOI: 10.1029/2017JD028205

 

2017

  1. Toru Terao, Mahanta R,….. Direct Validation of TRMM/PR Near Surface Rain over the Northeastern Indian Subcontinent Using a Tipping Bucket Raingauge Network; September 2017, SOLA, 2017, Vol. 13, 157−162, doi:10.2151/sola.2017-029
  2. Ankur Srivastava, Maheswar Pradhan, B. N. Goswami and Suryachandra A. Rao, 2017:Regime shift of Indian summer monsoon rainfall to a persistent arid state: external forcing versus internal variability, MeteorolAtmosPhys (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00703-017-0565-2
  3. Hazra , Anupam, Hemantkumar S. Chaudhari , Subodh Kumar Saha , Samir Pokhrel1 and B. N. Goswami, 2017: Progress towards achieving the Challenge of Indian Summer Monsoon Climate Simulation in a Coupled Ocean-Atmosphere Model, J. Adv. Modeling Earth Systems, doi: 10.1002/2017MS000966
  4. Goswami B. N. and SoumiChakravorty, 2017:  Dynamics of the Indian Summer Monsoon Climate , Oxford Research Encyclopedia (Climate Science) ,doi: 10.1093/acrefore/9780190228620.013.613
  5. A.K. Sahai, S. Sharmila, R. Chattopadhyay, S. Abhilash, S. Joseph, N. Borah, B. N. Goswami, D. S. Pai and A. K. Srivastava, 2017:Potential predictability of wet/dry spells transitions during extreme monsoon years: Optimism for dynamical extended range prediction, Nat Hazards (2017) 88: 853. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11069-017-2895-