Curriculum Vitae of DUGGIRALA PALLAMRAJU


Professor, Space and Atmospheric Sciences Division | Scientific Secretary
Physical Research Laboratory Phone: +91-79-26314658 | Climate and Weather of the Sun-Earth System (CAWSES) Program
Navrangpura, Ahmedabad, 380 009 Fax: +91-79-26314659 |
Gujarat, INDIA Email: raju AT prl.res.in |


Education :
M.Sc (Physics) 1990 Osmania University, Hyderabad, India.
Ph. D. (Physics) 1996 Physical Research Laboratory, Ahmedabad, India.
Thesis title: Studies of Daytime Upper Atmospheric Phenomena Using Ground-Based Optical Techniques.

Research Interests :


Employment :

July 2013 - present:
Professor at the Physical Research Laboratory, Ahmedabad, India.
April 2012 - March 2015:
Chairman, Space and Atmospheric Sciences Division at the Physical Research Laboratory, Ahmedabad, India.
November 2007 - June 2013:
Associate Professor at the Physical Research Laboratory, Ahmedabad, India.
January 2004 - 2008:
Scientific Coordinator for CAWSES, an International program of SCOSTEP (Scientific Committee on Solar-Terrestrial Physics). CAWSES office has been established at the Center for Space Physics in Boston University, USA.
January 2002 - 2007:
Senior Research Associate at the Center for Space Physics, Boston University, USA.
June 1997 - December 2001:
Research Associate at the Center for Space Physics, Boston University, USA.
March 1996 - May 1997:
Post-Doctoral Fellow at the Physical Research Laboratory, Ahmedabad, India.
August 1990 - February 1996:
Research Scholar at the Physical Research Laboratory, Ahmedabad, India.

Association: American Geophysical Union


Professional Activities/Services/Recognition:

  • Vice-Chair of the Sub-Commission C1 on "The Earth's Upper Atmosphere and Ionosphere" of COSPAR (Committee on Space Research) for the period 2012 - 2020.
  • Science Discipline Representative (SDR) to the Scientific Committee on Solar-Terrestrial Physics (SCOSTEP) in 2011. SDRs are also members of the SCOSTEP General Council.
  • Secretary of the Solar-Terrestrial (ST) section of the Asia Oceania Geosciences Society (AOGS) (2011 - 2015).
  • Member Secretary, Board of Studies, Centre for Space Science and Technology Education in Asia and the Pacific (CSSTEAP) (Affiliated to the United Nations).
  • Managing Guest Editor Journal of Atmospheric and Solar Terrestrial Physics (JASTP) Special Issue: Atmospheric Coupling Processes in the Sun-Earth System
  • Member, Board of Studies, University of Pune, Pune (2010 - 2012).
  • Member of the Executive Committee of PRL Alumni Association for the year 2001-2003.
  • Peer Reviewer in National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and National Science Foundation (NSF), USA Review Panels.
  • Reviewer for Journal of Geophysical Research-Space Physics (JGR), Journal of Atmospheric and Solar-Terrestrial Physics, (JASTP), International Journal of Geomagnetism and Aeronomy (IJGA), Advances in Space Research (ASR), Indian Journal for Radio and Space Physics (IJRSP), Annales Geophysicae (AG), Earth, Planets and Space (EPS).
  • Reviewer for U. S. Civilian Research Development Foundation (CRDF).


  • Tutorial Delievered :

    Errors in airglow and auroral measurements in CEDAR . Tutorial given on June 17, 2003 during CEDAR meeting at Longmont, CO, USA. It can be accessed by clicking here.


    CAWSES Activities:

  • Member, CAWSES National Science Steering Committee (CNSC) 2009 - 2014.
  • Coordinator, Theme 2 Science on (Space Weather and Climate: Science and Applications) CAWSES-India programme sponsored by ISRO.
  • Editor of the CAWSES Newsletters that are published twice in a year and can be accessed from the CAWSES website.
  • Coordinated International Observational Campaigns during 2004 and 2005.
  • Organized the annual day-long science planning meetings held during major international conferences (such as COSPAR and IAGA/IUGG). Meetings were organized in Paris, France (2004), Toulouse, France (2005), Beijing, China (2006) and Perugia, Italy (2007).


    Technical Reports/Publications:

    1. Pallamraju, D., Optical Investigations of Mesosphere and Lower The rmosphere (MLT) Region, Proceedings of the DST workshop on Growth of Geomag netism: Challenges and Opportunities in the next two decades, Indian Instit ute of Geomagnetism, New Panvel, Mumbai, 12 - 13 December 2011.
    2. P. Shah and D. Pallamraju, Real-time automated software for operation of multiple CCD cameras and interfacing with the balloon telemetry, PRL Technical Note 2011.
    3. Pallamraju, D., A combined optical and modeling approach to estimate the incident particle fluxes into the Earth's atmosphere, Proceedings of the Energetic Coupling of Atmospheric Regions, Mumbai, India, 2008.
    4. S. Basu and D. Pallamraju, Science rationale for CAWSES (Climate and Weather of the Sun-Earth System): SCOSTEP's interdisciplinary program for 2004-2008, Proceedings of the Radio Beacon Symposium 2004.
    5. D. Pallamraju, Applications of optical spectrographs for passive remote sensing of upper atmosphere, Proceedings of the CEDAR Passive Aeronomy Workshop, 2004.
    6. D. Pallamraju, Highlight 1: First ground-based observations of daytime cusp and F-region auroral precipitation, Proceedings of the CEDAR Passive Aeronomy Workshop, 2004.
    7. D. Pallamraju, Highlight 2: Daytime Redline Aurora over Boston, Proceedings of the CEDAR Passive Aeronomy Workshop, 2004.
    8. R. Sridharan, D. Pallamraju, N. K. Modi and R. Narayanan, Report on the scientific activities under the 'Optical Aeronomy' programme carried out during the XIV scientific expedition (summer component), Fourteenth Indian Expedition to Antarctica, Scientific Report, Technical Publication No. 12, pp 71-91, 1998.
    9. R. Sridharan, D. Pallamraju, , R. Narayanan, and N. K. Modi, Optical Aeronomy from Antarctica - Measurement of daytime auroral emissions, Thirteenth Indian Expedition to Antarctica, Scientific Report, Technical Publication No. 11, pp 47 - 68, 1997.

    Papers presented in National/International Conferences:

    1. (INVITED) D. Pallamraju, Optical Investigations of Mesosphere and Lower The rmosphere (MLT) Region, DST workshop on Growth of Geomagnetism: Challenges and Opportunities in the next two decades, Indian Institute of Geomagnetism, New Panvel, Mumbai, 12 - 13 December 2011.
    2. (INVITED) D. Pallamraju, Overview of science results from the CAWSES-India Program, Indo-US workshop on Advancing VLF Science through the Global AWESOME Network, Goa, 28 Nov - 1 Dec 2011
    3. (INVITED) D. Pallamraju, Signatures of Space weather disturbances in the upper atmosphere, Solar Dynamical Processes as drivers of Space Weather, Indian Institute of Astrophysics, Bangalore, 25 March 2011.
    4. (INVITED) D. Pallamraju, A brief overview of the CAWSES-India Program, International Space Weather Initiative - India meeting, Indian Institute of Astrophysics, Bangalore, 25 March 2011.
    5. D. Pallamraju, D. Chakrabarty, R. Sekar, and Y. B. Acharya, Investigations of Martian atmospheric dynamics using imaging spectrophotometry on-board an orbiter, Brainstorming on Mars Science and Exploration, Physical Research Laboratory, Ahmedabad, 24 - 25 March 2011.
    6. (INVITED) D. Pallamraju, Space Weather effects in the Sun-Earth environment, An introductory seminar on Astronomy, Astrophysics, and Planetary Space Sciences, Sardar Patel University, Vallabh Vidyanagar, 02 March 2011.
    7. Douglas, E., D. Pallamraju, S. Chakrabarti, Coordinated investigations of daytime redline optical emissions and incoherent scatter radar measurements from Sondrestrom, AGU Fall Meeting, 2010.
    8. (INVITED) Pallamraju, D., Space Weather effects in the Geospace, Seminar on Current Trends in Physics, Organized by INSA Guj-Raj. Chapter, 05 December 2010.
    9. (INVITED) Pallamraju, D., Optical Signatures of Space Weather Disturbances, National Workshop on Atmospheric and Space Sciences held at the S K Mitra Centre for Research in Space Environment, University of Calcutta, 23 - 24 november 2010.
    10. (INVITED) Pallamraju, D., U. Das, and S. Chakrabarti, Wave dynamics of dayglow emissions over low-latitudes, Session C11:, 38th COSPAR Assembly, Bremen, Germany, 18 25 July, 2010.
    11. Pallamraju, D., S. Chakrabarti, and S. Solomon, A combined optical and modeling approach to estimate incident particle fluxes into earth's atmosphere, Session C13: 38th COSPAR Assembly, Bremen, Germany, 18 25 July, 2010.
    12. (INVITED) Pallamraju, D. and S. Chakrabarti, Ionosphere Thermosphere Interactions at High-Latitudes During Varying Geomagnetic Conditions, 7th AOGS Annual Meeting, Hyderabad, India, July 5 9, 2010.
    13. Pallamraju, D., and S. Chakrabarti, The Response of Neutral and Electrodynamical Variations on the Oxygen Dayglow Emissions over Low- and Mid-Latitudes, 7th AOGS Annual Meeting, Hyderabad, India, July 5 9, 2010.
    14. Pallamraju, D., U. Das, S. Chakrabarti, Wave Dynamics of Low-Latitude Upper Atmosphere as Derived From Daytime Airglow Observations, National Space Science Symposium, 2010 at Rajkot, 24 27 February 2010.
    15. (INVITED) S. Chakrabarti, D. Pallamraju, and R. Sridharan, Coordinated ground- and space-based imaging spectroscopic observations of Space Weather effects on the ionosphere, National Space Science Symposium, 2010 at Rajkot, 24 27 February 2010.
    16. (INVITED) Pallamraju, D., U. Das, S. Chakrabarti, Short and long term wave dynamics as derived from daytime airglow observations from low-latitudes, 6th AOGS Annual Meeting, Singapore, August 11 15, 2009.
    17. Pallamraju, D., S. Chakrabarti, and S. C. Solomon, On deriving particle energies using combined optical and radar measurements, 6th AOGS Annual Meeting, Singapore, August 11 15, 2009.
    18. U. Das, D. Pallamraju, and S. Chakrabarti, Effect of an X-class flare seen in the neutral oxygen dayglow emissions, 6th AOGS Annual Meeting, Singapore, August 11 15, 2009.
    19. Pallamraju, D., S. Chakrabarti, and S. Solomon, On the estimation of particle energies and fluxes incident over Boston during a daytime auroral event, AGU Fall meeting, San Francisco, USA, 2008.
    20. D. Pallamraju, A combined optical and modeling approach to estimate incident particle fluxes into the earth's atmosphere, Electrodynamical Coupling of Atmospheric Regions, (ECAR) workshop, Indian Institute of Geomagnetism, 25 - 26 November, 2008.
    21. D. Pallamraju, S. Chakrabarti, S. Solomon, and G. Crowley, Comparison of compositional variability in the upper atmosphere as obtained from the ground based daytime OI 630.0nm emissions in low latitudes and TIMEGCM simulations during a geomagnetic storm, National Space Science Symposium, Ooty, February 2008.
    22. (INVITED) S. Avery and D. Pallamraju, CAWSES: The next steps, International CAWSES Symposium, Kyoto, Japan, October 2007.
    23. D. Pallamraju and R. Doe, On estimating low-energy spectral information due to daylit auroral arcs using combined optical and radar measurements from Sondrestrom, IUGG, Peruguia, Italy, July 2 - 13, 2007.
    24. D. Pallamraju, S. Chakrabarti, T. Pedersen and H. Frey, Daytime ground-based HIRISE observations of aurora and cross polar cap arcs, IUGG, Peruguia, Italy, July 2 - 13, 2007.
    25. (INVITED) S. Avery and D. Pallamraju, CAWSES and Space Weather and Atmospheric Coupling processes, CPEA Symposium, Kyoto, Japan, March 20 - 23, 2007.
    26. (INVITED) S. Avery and D. Pallamraju, CAWSES and MST science, MST-11 Workshop, Tirupati, India, December 11 - 15, 2006.
    27. D. Pallamraju, S. Chakrabarti, S. Solomon, and G. Crowley, Compositional changes in thermosphere during a geomagnetic storm inferred using ground-based daytime OI 630.0nm optical airglow emissions, Fall AGU, 2006.
    28. (INVITED) J. U. Kozyra, K. Shibata, N. J. Fox, S. Basu, A. J. Coster, J. Davila, N. Gopalswamy, K. Liou, Gang Lu, I. Mann, D. Pallamraju, L. J. Paxton, W. Peterson, E. Talaat, A. Weatherwax, C. A. Young, L. J. Zanetti, Investigating the state of the Sun-Earth system during extreme events: First science results of a worldwide online conference series, Fall AGU, 2006.
    29. (INVITED) D. Pallamraju, R. Doe, S. Chakrabarti, J. Kozyra, and L. Goncharenko, (2006). Ionosphere Thermosphere interactions during varying geomagnetic conditions, Western Pacific Geophysics. Meet., Beijing, China
    30. (INVITED) D. Pallamraju, J. Kozyra, and S. Basu, (2006). CAWSES (Climate and Weather of the Sun-Earth System) Science: Progress thus far and the next steps, COSPAR, Beijing, China,
    31. (INVITED) D. Pallamraju and S. Chakrabarti, Dynamical variability of OI 630.0nm dayglow emissions over low geomagnetic latitudes
    32. D. Pallamraju and R. Doe, Investigations of daylit auroral arcs from Sondrestrom. (2006), CEDAR, ITIT-07, 2006.
    33. D. Pallamraju, R. Doe, and S. Solomon, (2006). Daylit Investigation of Low-Energy Auroral Arcs From Sondrestromfjord, EOS Trans., AGU.
    34. (INVITED) Janet U Kozyra, Kazunari Shibata, Robin J Barnes, Sunanda Basu, Joseph M Davila, Nicola J Fox, Nat Gopalswamy, Maria M Kuznetsova, Duggirala Pallamraju, Larry J Paxton, Aaron Ridley, Michele Weiss, C Alex Young, Lawrence and J Zanetti, (2006). A Sun-to-Earth Campaign Joining Observations from the Great Observatory with Worldwide Satellite and Ground-Based Resources to Investigate System Science Frontiers, EOS Trans., AGU.
    35. Pallamraju, D., and S. Chakrabarti, (2006). Observations of Daytime Aurora Using Ground-based HIRISE Technique >From Sondrestromfjord in Greenland, presented in STP-11 meeting in Rio, Brazil, March, 2006.
    36. Pallamraju, D., S. Chakrabarti, and S. Solomon, (2005) Inferring storm induced variations in thermospheric composition over low-latitudes using ground0based daytime optical airglow emissions, EOS Trans., AGU86(48), Fall Meet. Suppl., Abstract SA41A-1111.
    37. Pallamraju, D., and S. Chakrabarti, (2005). Solar Wind-Ionosphere-Thermosphere interactions as measured by daytime OI 630.0nm emissions obtained from Sondrestomfjord, Greenland by the High Resolution Imaging Spectrograph (HIRISE), presented in IAGA 2005 held in Toulouse, France, July 2005.
    38. Doe, R., and D. Pallamraju, (2005). Coordinated HIRISE and ISR Investigation of Daytime Aurora at Sondrestromfjord, CEDAR, IATA.05, 2005
    39. Chakrabarti, S. and D. Pallamraju, (2005). Round-the-Clock Ground-based Observations of Space Weather Effects on the Thermosphere and Ionosphere Using Imaging Spectroscopy, presented in the AOGS meeting, held in Singapore, June 2005.
    40. Pallamraju, D., and S. Chakrabarti, (2005). The response of low-latitude thermosphere during magnetic disturbances as measured by the OI 630.0nm dayglow emissions obtained by the High Resolution Imaging Spectrograph (HIRISE), Proceedings of ISEA-11, S3-O-14, 2005.
    41. Pallamraju, D., and S. Chakrabarti, (2004). First Ground-Based Measurements of OI 6300 A Daytime Aurora Over Boston in Response to the 30 October 2003 Geomagnetic Storm, EOS Trans. AGU 85(47), Fall Meet. Suppl., Abstract SA43A-1064.
    42. Chakrabarti, S., and D. Pallamraju, (2004). An Imaging Spectrograph for Ground Based, Round-the-Clock Optical Aeronomy Studies, EOS Trans. 85(47), Fall Meet. Suppl., Abstract SH31B-05.
    43. Basu, Su., S Basu, J Makela, R Sheehan, E MacKenzie, M Keskinen, D. Pallamraju, and L Paxton, (2004). Two Components of Ionospheric Plasma Structuring at Mid-latitudes during Large Magnetic Storms, EOS Trans. 85(47), Fall Meet. Suppl., Abstract SA11B-05.
    44. Pallamraju, D., and S. Chakrabarti, (2004). HIRISE Observations of daytime aurora over Boston from ground in response to the magnetic disturbance of October 30, 2003 as corroborated by the TIMED measurements from Space, COSPAR 2004.
    45. S. Chakrabarti, D. Pallamraju, and R. Doe, Ground-based OI 630.0nm observations of sunlit cusp from Sondrestromfjord, Greenland, EOS Trans., AGU, 84(46), Meet. Suppl., Abstract SM12A-1205, 2003.
    46. S. Chakrabarti and D. Pallamraju , Ground based imaging spectroscopic studies of the dayglow, Geophysical Research Abstracts, 5, EGS, 1334, 2003.
    47. Pallamraju, D., R. Massaro, S. Chakrabarti, J. Baumgardner, J. Araya, S. Solomon and J. Chau, Response of low-latitude OI 630.0nm dayglow emissions to geomagnetic disturbances, EOS. Trans. AGU, 83 (47), Fall Meet. Suppl., Abstract SA52A-0373, 2002.
    48. Chakrabarti, S., M. Galand, J. Baumgardner, D. Pallamraju, , and U. P. Lovhaug, A ground-based study of Proton aurora from Tromso, Norway, EOS. Trans. AGU, 83 (47), Fall Meet. Suppl., Abstract SA52A-0396, 2002.
    49. Pallamraju, D., S. Chakrabarti, J. Baumgardner, and T. R. Pedersen, First observations of sunlit cusp in OI 630.0nm emissions using ground-based HIRISE instrument from Sondrestromfjord, Presented in 34th Committee on Space Research (COSPAR) Scientific Assembly, Houston, TX, USA, 10-19 October, 2002.
    50. Pallamraju, D., S. Chakrabarti, J. Baumgardner and T. R. Pedersen, Ground-based spectroscopic observations of OI 630.0nm daytime aurora from Sondrestromfjord in Greenland, EOS Trans. AGU, 82 (20), Spring Meet. Suppl., Abstract SA41A-03, 2001.
    51. Chakrabarti, S., D. Pallamraju, J. Araya, J. Baumgardner and T. Pedersen, Could post-sunset ionospheric irregularities be predicted using OI 630.0nm daytime airglow? EOS Trans. AGU, 82(20), Spring Meet. Suppl., Abstract SA52C-08, 2001.
    52. Pallamraju, D., and S. Chakrabarti, OI 6300A dayglow observations from Boston using HIRISE, EOS Trans., AGU 81, F950, 2000.
    53. S. Chakrabarti and D. Pallamraju, OI 6300 A dayglow observations and ESF forecasting, EOS Trans., AGU, 81, S340, 2000.
    54. (INVITED) Pallamraju, D., and S. Chakrabarti, OI 630.0nm dayglow as a means of forecasting the nighttime equatorial spread-F, Proceedings of International Symposium on Equatorial Aeronomy, held at Antalya, Turkey, Section 8#11, 2000.
    55. S. Chakrabarti, J. Baumgardner and D. Pallamraju, A high resolution imaging spectrograph for daytime airglow studies, Proceedings of International Symposium on Equatorial Aeronomy, held at Antalya, Turkey, Section 9 #5, 2000.
    56. (INVITED) Pallamraju, D., J. Baumgardner, and S. Chakrabarti, OI 630.0nm dayglow and prediction of the post-sunset quatorial spread-F, EOS Trans., AGU 80, F775, 1999.
    57. Pallamraju, D., J. Baumgardner, S. Chakrabarti and T. R. Pedersen, First results of daytime auroral measurements from Sondrestromfjord, EOS Trans., AGU, 80, S245, 1999.
    58. Pallamraju, D., S. Chakrabarti and J. Baumgardner, Wavelength and Solar Zenith Angle dependence of the Ring effect contribution, EOS Trans., AGU, 79, F667, 1998.
    59. Chakrabarti, S., D. Pallamraju, and J. Baumgardner, A High resolution Echelle Spectrograph for ground-based airglow and auroral studies, EOS Trans., AGU, 79, S246, 1998.
    60. Pallamraju, D., J. Baumgardner and S. Chakrabarti, First results from the new HiTIES on the daytime/twilight airglow, EOS Trans., AGU, 79, S245, 1998.
    61. J. Baumgardner, S. Chakrabarti, and D. Pallamraju, A New High resoulution, High Throughput Spectrograph for airglow and auroral measurements, EOS Trans., AGU, 78, F504, 1997.
    62. Pallamraju, D., and R. Sridharan, Ground-based optical observations of daytime aurora from Maitri- A potential means of space weather investigations, Proceedings of the National Space Science Symposium, India, pp109, 1997.
    63. R. Sridharan, V. V. Somayajulu, D. Pallamraju, A. Taori, D. Chakrabarty, and R. Raghavarao, Imprint of the equatorial electrodynamical processes in OI 630.0nm dayglow, Proceedings of the National Space Science Symposium, India, pp107, 1997.
    64. Pallamraju, D., and R. Sridharan, High-resolution two dimensional maps of the OI 630.0nm dayglow emission from equatorial latitudes -- First results, Proceedings of the National Space Science Symposium, India, pp74, 1996.
    65. Pallamraju, D., R. Sridharan, S. Gurubaran, and R. Raghavarao, First results from ground-based daytime optical investigation of the development of Equatorial Ionization Anomaly, Proceedings of the National Space Science Symposium, India, pp346-347, 1994.
    66. R. Sridharan, D. Pallamraju, R. Narayanan, B. H. Subbaraya and R. Raghavarao, Optical investigations of daytime auroral emissions from Antarctica, Proceedings of the National Space Science Symposium, India, pp280-281, 1994.
    67. R. Sridharan, D. Pallamraju, R. Narayanan, and N. K. Modi, A new Multi-wavelength Daytime Photometer, Proceedings of the National Space Science Symposium, India, pp344-345, 1994.
    68. R. Sridharan, H. S. S. Sinha, D. Pallamraju, R. Sekar, R. Narayanan, S. R. Das, H. Chandra, N. K. Modi, R. N. Misra, S. Gurubaran, B. H. Subbaraya, R. Raghavarao, P. B. Rao, V. V. Somayajulu, and V. V. Babu, `Ionization hole' experiment- Coordinated rocket and ground-based measurements at the onset of equatorial spread F, Proceedings of the National Space Science Symposium, India, pp282-283, 1994.
    69. R. Sridharan, R. Narayanan, N. K. Modi, D. Pallamraju and S. Gurubaran, Determination of emission line profiles of dayglow -- an innovative approach, Proceedings of the National Space Science Symposium, India, pp74, 1992.


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