Fluxes & coupling
Turbulent heat and momentum flux parameterization in ocean and coupled models, and what it means for realistic simulations.
Explore ↗Climate science · IITM Pune
Air-Sea Interaction,
and the monsoon.
I’m Maheswar Pradhan, a climate scientist exploring how air–sea interaction shapes monsoon variability and seasonal prediction.
Scientist E · Monsoon Mission Group
Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology
Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology
Air-Sea Interaction
01About me
A scientist working across scales
Better forecasts begin with a better picture of the coupled system.
I work in the Monsoon Mission Group at IITM, Pune, studying the processes that shape the Indian summer monsoon and its predictability. My research combines coupled modelling, torbulent flux parameterization, coupled data assimilation, and monsoon forecasting.
My work has included observing system experiments, seasonal prediction of monsoon onset, model intercomparison, and improving air–sea fluxes. I have also contributed to the development of India’s Monsoon Mission Coupled Forecast System version 2 (MMCFSv2) and to operational seasonal forecasting efforts.
Institutional profile ↗02Research
Questions that connect ocean and sky.
From hourly surface fluxes to seasonal rainfall, I study how the pieces of the climate system influence one another.
Ocean diurnal cycle
Daily sea-surface temperature changes and their interaction with atmospheric processes and longer climate timescales.
Explore ↗Monsoon predictability
Seasonal prediction, onset variability, ocean drivers and the factors that affect monsoon forecast skill.
Explore ↗Observing & assimilation
Observing system experiments and coupled data assimilation to understand how observations support better forecasts.
Explore ↗INDIAN OCEAN
DAILY CYCLE / COUPLED MODELS
DAILY CYCLE / COUPLED MODELS
24hsurface
warming
warming
03Featured research
From the ocean’s daily rhythm to seasonal climate
Putting the diurnal cycle into the forecast.
In coupled models, the timing and size of daily sea-surface temperature changes can shape atmospheric variability. Research with CFSv2 explored how representing the ocean’s diurnal cycle and improving air–sea fluxes affect simulations from the daily scale to the seasonal mean.
This work is part of a broader effort to understand model biases and improve the representation of physical processes relevant to monsoon prediction.
Read about MMCFSv2 development ↗04Career & education
A path through climate science.
From instrumentation engineering to coupled climate modelling and monsoon prediction.
Download CV ↗Scientific career
Scientist E
Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, Pune
Scientist D
Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, Pune
Scientist C
Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, Pune
Scientist B
Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, Pune
Trainee Scientist
Centre for Advanced Training, IITM Pune
Education
PhD, Climate Studies
Indian Institute of Technology Bombay
B.Tech, Instrumentation & Electronics
Biju Patnaik University of Technology, Rourkela
05Publications
Selected work, in print.
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06Community & service
Research grows through collaboration.
Contributing to the wider climate and monsoon research community through scientific networks, editorial work, and student guidance.
◎
Memberships & roles
- Member, WCRP Global Extremes Platform Contact Group
- Member, WCRP–GEWEX Asian–Australian Monsoons Working Group
- Life Member, Indian Meteorological Society
- Life Member, Ocean Society of India
- Review Editor, Frontiers in Climate
- Guest Editor, Journal of Meteorological Research special issue on the 2025 Asian summer monsoon
↗
Research guidance
- Sakshi Shimbre · MSc, Savitribai Phule Pune University
- Sree Siva A. C. · MSc, CUSAT
- Tina Khatun · MSc/MTech, Savitribai Phule Pune University
07Talks & presentations
Sharing ideas across disciplines.
Selected conference contributions, workshops and scientific discussions.
Modeling Ocean Diurnal Cycle and its Scale Interaction to Longer Scale Climate Variabilities World Ocean Science Congress · Chennai
Ocean diurnal cycle and its rectification into longer timescales OceanPredict Symposium · Paris
Improving thermodynamic air–sea interaction in coupled models WCRP Open Science Conference · Kigali
Improvements in the tropical diurnal cycle with the COARE flux algorithm in CFSv2 WMO International Workshop on Monsoons · New Delhi
Importance of moored buoy observations towards monsoon prediction US CLIVAR workshop
08Contact
Let’s make room for a good question.
For research enquiries, academic collaboration, student guidance, or just to talk climate science.
Email me ↗Find me at
Monsoon Mission Group
Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology
Dr. Homi Bhabha Road, Pashan
Pune, Maharashtra 411008, India