Rajagopalan Balaji News

Rajagopalan Balaji joins elite group of honorary fellows in meteorology

Susan Glairon — Mon, 03 Feb 2025 18:51:05 +0000

Rajagopalan Balaji joins elite group of honorary fellows in meteorology Susan Glairon Mon, 02/03/2025 - 11:51

Susan Glairon

Professor Rajagopalan Balaji, a 91�� professor of civil engineering and an expert in hydrology, climatology and water resources, was elected as an honorary fellow of the Indian Meteorological Society in December. The honor was received on his behalf at the inaugural ceremony of TROPMET 2024, India’s annual tropical meteorology conference.

Rajagopalan has dedicated more than 25 years researching Indian monsoon variability as a way to give back to his home country. His research aims to improve flood preparedness and explore the complex relationship between monsoonal climate and public health.

“Making significant advances in understanding Indian monsoon variability is a labor of love,” Rajagopalan says. “This honor is particularly meaningful and gratifying, especially being recognized as part of such a select group.”

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.

In 2023 Rajagopalan received a Fulbright-Kalam Climate Fellowship. His Fulbright work in India 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.

India, in particular, remains highly vulnerable to the monsoon’s 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’s 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.

Professor Rajagopalan Balaji was named an honorary fellow of the Indian Meteorological Society for his pioneering research on Indian monsoon variability and its impacts on public health and flood preparedness.

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Could wet winters start to refill Colorado River reservoirs? What researchers are saying

Susan Glairon — Fri, 06 Dec 2024 10:37:03 +0000

Could wet winters start to refill Colorado River reservoirs? What researchers are saying Susan Glairon Fri, 12/06/2024 - 03:37

Professor Balaji Rajagopalan research suggests that increased precipitation in the Colorado River basin over the next 25 years could boost river flows despite rising temperatures. However, he warns of more frequent extreme droughts, highlighting the need for improved reservoir management.

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91�� secures $750K to improve drought preparedness in Western U.S.

Anonymous — Tue, 25 Jun 2024 18:52:18 +0000

91�� secures $750K to improve drought preparedness in Western U.S. Anonymous (not verified) Tue, 06/25/2024 - 12:52

Susan Glairon

The 91�� has earned a major grant to boost drought monitoring and prediction on the Colorado River.

The $750,000 award from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to the Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences (CIRES) on campus and the Department of Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering (CEAE) is part of $4.9 million in funding being distributed nationally by the Biden-Harris Administration to help western communities better prepare for droughts.

The project, “Improving Hydroclimate Forecasts by Multi-Model Combination Approaches for Enhanced Reservoir Operations on the Colorado River,” aims to develop models that will help water managers and stakeholders enhance the reliability of water supply in the Colorado River Basin. CEAE Professor Rajagopalan Balaji, who is also a CIRES fellow, serves as the principal investigator of the project.

Professor Rajagopalan Balaji

Balaji said the Colorado River’s water supply, the "lifeblood of the southwestern U.S. socio-economy," has been under severe stress since 2000 due to streamflow reduction from the Millennium Drought and increasing demand.

“The lack of skillful streamflow forecasts beyond a season has likely contributed to suboptimal water management during this prolonged dry period, exacerbating the water supply stress,” he said. “Developing a skillful streamflow forecasting system is crucial for enabling efficient water resource management and ensuring a sustainable and reliable water supply in the river basin.”

The CEAE-led project will develop new Colorado River Basin streamflow forecast models at 0-24 months lead time. The project will use NOAA’s advanced seasonal prediction systems and new machine learning techniques to improve lead predictions key to water management in the Basin. In addition, the forecasts will be used in the Colorado River Basin Operational Prediction Testbed and with stakeholder engagement to enable efficient water resources decisions.

Additional collaborators on the project include the 91�� Center for Advanced Decision Support for Water and Environmental Systems, NOAA Climate Prediction Center, NOAA Colorado Basin River Forecast Center, the US Bureau of Reclamation and the Southern Nevada Water Authority.

91�� has received $750,000 from a NOAA grant to enhance drought monitoring and prediction on the Colorado River. The award, part of a $4.9 million initiative by the Biden-Harris Administration, supports efforts led by CIRES and the Department of Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering.

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Rajagopalan Balaji elected fellow of ASCE

Anonymous — Wed, 13 Dec 2023 18:02:48 +0000

Rajagopalan Balaji elected fellow of ASCE Anonymous (not verified) Wed, 12/13/2023 - 11:02

Susan Glairon

Rajagopalan Balaji, a professor of civil engineering and fellow of the Cooperative Institute of Research in Environmental Sciences at the 91��, has been named a fellow by the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) Board of Direction. This prestigious recognition, awarded to only three percent of ASCE members, is "for celebrated contributions and developing creative solutions that change lives around the world."

Balaji’s specialization is hydroclimate variability and impacts on socio-economic infrastructure using statistical learning methods. His research is interdisciplinary, which focuses on understanding the drivers of year-to-year and multidecadal variability of regional hydrology (i.e., precipitation, streamflow, etc.), developing ensemble forecasting and coupling them to decision support systems for water resources management, drinking water quality, wastewater treatment resiliency, building systems energy, construction delay management due to weather and climate and agriculture management.

A faculty member at the 91�� since 2000, Balaji also served as the chair of the Department of Civil, Environmental, and Architectural Engineering from 2014 to 2022. Prior to joining the university, he was on the research faculty at the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University in New York from 1995 to 2000.

Civil Engineering Source article 11.16.23

Rajagopalan Balaji, a professor of civil engineering, has been named a fellow by the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) Board of Direction. This prestigious recognition, awarded to only three percent of ASCE members, is "for celebrated contributions and developing creative solutions that change lives around the world."

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Rajagopalan Balaji News

Rajagopalan Balaji joins elite group of honorary fellows in meteorology

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Could wet winters start to refill Colorado River reservoirs? What researchers are saying

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91������ secures $750K to improve drought preparedness in Western U.S.

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Rajagopalan Balaji elected fellow of ASCE

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91�� secures $750K to improve drought preparedness in Western U.S.