Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology

Scientist Profile

Dr. Sooraj K. P.

Designation

: Scientist F

Phone

: +91-(0)20-25904504

Fax

: +91-(0)20-25865142

Email ID

: sooraj[at]tropmet[dot]res[dot]in

Area of Expertise

Climate Change and its impacts on South Asian Monsoon; Tropical Teleconnections under a changing climate; Climate sensitivity studies using coupled models and observations; High-resolution Regional Climate Model simulations and dynamical downscaling; Aerosol-monsoon interaction

Academic Records

Degree	University	Year	Stream
Ph.D.	Cochin University of Science and Technology, Cochin	2005	Monsoon Meteorology
M.Sc.	Cochin University of Science and Technology, Cochin	1999	Meteorology
B.Sc.	Calicut University, Calicut	1995	Mathematics, Statistics and Physics

Research

South Asian Monsoon response in a changing climate

Rectification of biases in tropical climate simulations: climate sensitivity studies

Boreal summer monsoon teleconnection aspects under a changing climate

High-resolution Regional Climate Model simulations

Aerosol-monsoon interaction: remote vs local

Boreal summer ISOs and its variability

Interaction of high frequency atmospheric variability (MJO) with ENSO

Awards & Honors

Award Name	Awarded By	Awarded For	Year
Post Doctoral Research fellowship	Pusan National University, Korea South	Carrying out Post Doctoral research	2011
Post Doctoral Research fellowship	International Pacific Research Centre (IPRC) /SOEST, UH, USA	Carrying out Post Doctoral research	2009
Brain Korea (BK) Fellowship	Seoul National University, South Korea	Carrying out Post Doctoral research	2006

Scientific Careers

Year	Designation	Institute
2026-Present	Scientist F	Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, Pune
2021-2025	Scientist E	Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, Pune
2017-2020	Scientist D	Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, Pune
2012 (Nov)-2016 (Dec)	Scientist C	Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, Pune
2011 (Apr)-2012 (Oct)	Post Doctoral Fellow	Pusan National University, Korea South
2009 (Jan)-2011 (Mar)	Post Doctoral Fellow	International Pacific Research Centre (IPRC) /SOEST, UH, USA
2006 (Apr)-2008 (Dec)	Post Doctoral Fellow	Seoul National University, South Korea
2005 (Jan)-2006 (Mar)	Research Associate	Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore
2000-2004	Junior Research Fellow	Cochin University of Science and Technology, Cochin

Honours/Achievements

During 2014-2015, worked as a senior scientist (additional responsibility following the office order from the Director, IITM) in a newly evolved CLIVAR project initiative, International CLIVAR Monsoon Project Office (ICMPO) at IITM, Pune.

Conference Proceedings/Presentation/Posters

Poster presentation entitled “Anomalous conditions in the subtropical Pacific during 2015 and associated teleconnections with the South Asian summer monsoon”, at IITM RAC meeting, IITM Pune, 19 January 2017.
Poster presentation entitled “Behaviour of Asian Summer monsoon under a changing climate" at a Workshop on Climate Change and Regional Impacts over South Asia, IITM, Pune, 28–29 July 2016.
Oral presentation entitled “Anomalous conditions in the sub-tropical Pacific during 2015 and associated teleconnections with the South Asian summer monsoon”, at TROPMET-2016, National Symposium on Tropical Meteorology: Climate Change and Vulnerability held at Bhubaneswar, Odisha, 18-21 December 2016.
Sooraj K P, H Annamalai, Arun Kumar, and H Wang (2010), “An Assessment of CFS hindcast and forecast skills over the Tropics”, Proceedings of 6th APEC Climate Symposium Climate Prediction and its Applications and US-Korea Workshop on Dynamical Seasonal Prediction, Busan, South Korea, 20-24 June, 2010.
Sooraj K P, H Annamalai, Arun Kumar, and H Wang (2010), “A comprehensive Assessment of hindcast skills in CFS”, IPRC Annual Symposium, Hawaii, USA, 27th May, 2010.
Sooraj K P , J S Kug, Fei Fei Jin and In-Sik Kang (2008), “Impact of Indian Ocean Dipole on fast atmospheric variability over the Indian Ocean”, Proceedings of Asia Oceania Geosciences Society (AOGS) Conference, Busan, South Korea , 16–20 June, 2008.
Sooraj K P, J S Kug, Tim Li and In-Sik Kang (2007), “Impact of El-Nino onset timing on the Indian Ocean-Pacific coupling and subsequent El-Nino evolution”, Proceedings of Workshop on Western Tropical Pacific: Hatchery for ENSO and Global Teleconnections, Guangzhou, China, 26–28 November, 2007.
Sooraj K P and P V Joseph (2004), “Summer Monsoon Onset over South Asia and the Intra-Seasonal Oscillation”, Proceedings of First International CLIVAR-2004 conference on Understanding and Predicting of Climate System, Baltimore, USA, 21–25 June 2004.
Joseph P V and Sooraj K P (2004), “The Summer Monsoon Onset Process over South Asia”, Proceedings of International Workshop on role of Indian Ocean in Climate Variability over India (lNDOCLIM) Pune, Maharashtra, 23-27 February, 2004.
Joseph P V and Sooraj K P (2004), “A 'Cold Pool' in the Indian Ocean during the summer monsoon”, Proceedings of International Workshop on role of Indian Ocean in Climate Variability over India (lNDOCLIM), Pune, Maharashtra, 23-27 February, 2004.
Sooraj K P, Rajan C K and P V Joseph (2003), “Monsoon Onset over Kerala during 2000 to 2003 in relation to the Intra Seasonal Oscillation of Deep Convection”, Proceedings of International Conference on Scale Interaction and Variability of Monsoon (SIVOM), Munnar, Kerala, 6-10 October, 2003.

Member of renowned society

Life Member, Indian Meteorological Society (IMS), Pune Chapter
Member, Asia Oceania Geosciences Society (AOGS)
Life Member, Ocean Society of India (OSI)

Reviewer of journals (list)

Climate Dynamics
Journal of Climate
Meteorology and Atmospheric Science
Journal of Earth System Science
Asia Pacific Journal of Atmospheric Sciences
Acta Meteorologica Sinica

Peer Reviewed Journals (Published)

33.	Joseph, L., Terray, P., Sooraj, K.P., Sebastien Masson (2026) Tropical precipitation response to anthropogenic climate change in recent decades. Nature Communications. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-026-71187-4
32.	Sandhyavijayan, K., Sooraj, K.P., Suhas, E., Terray P (2026) Dynamics of the inland penetrating Indian monsoon depressions. Clim Dyn 64, 57 (2026). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00382-025-08014-x
31.	Sooraj KP, Terray P, Aswale AM (2025) Uncertainty in projected changes of Indian Summer Monsoon Rainfall by CMIP6 models, Atmospheric Research.
30.	Sooraj K.P., Dhara C., Ayantika D.C., Vishisth K., Sumit K.M., Turner A.G., Krishnan R., Future intensification of Northern Hemisphere monsoons due to declining remote aerosol pollution, Environmental Research Letters, 20, October 2025, DOI: 10.1088/1748-9326/ae0f41, 1-12
29.	Pathaikara A, Lee M, Min S K, An S I, Roxy M K, Sooraj K P (2025) Human contribution to atmosphere-ocean thermodynamic factors affecting the intense tropical cyclones over the Arabian Sea during the post-monsoon season, Weather and Climate Extremes, 48: 100755, DOI:10.1016/j.wace.2025.100755, 1-11
28.	Aswale A M, Sooraj K P, Terray P, Swapna P (2024) Greenhouse warming-induced changes in Indian summer monsoon-ENSO teleconnections as modulated by the North Tropical Atlantic. Climate Dynamics, 62, 10325–10346. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00382-024-0745
27.	Sooraj K P, Ajinkya M Aswale, Swapna P, Pascal Terray, Sandeep N S (2023) Modulations in the Indian Summer Monsoon-ENSO teleconnections by the North Tropical Atlantic. Climate Dynamics 61, 4603–4622. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00382-023-06817-4.
26.	Pascal Terray, Ligin Joseph, Sooraj K P (2023) Anatomy of the Indian Summer Monsoon and ENSO relationship in a state-of-the-art CGCM: Role of the tropical Atlantic Ocean. Climate Dynamics 60, 1559–1582. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00382-022-06397-9.
25.	Annalisa Cherchi, Pascal Terray, Satyaban B. Ratna, Syam Sankar, Sooraj K P, Swadhin Behera (2021) Indian Ocean Dipole influence on Indian summer monsoon and ENSO: A review, Chapter 15, In Indian Summer Monsoon, Editors: Jasti S. Chowdary, Anant Parekh and Gnanaseelan C, Elsevier. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780128224021000119
24.	Sooraj K P, Pascal Terray, Annalisa Cherchi (2021) South Asian Summer Monsoon and subtropical deserts, Chapter 15, In Indian Summer Monsoon, Editors: Jasti S. Chowdary, Anant Parekh and Gnanaseelan, Elsevier. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780128224021000156.
23.	Terray P., Sooraj K.P., Masson. S., Prodhomme C.,, Anatomy of the Indian Summer Monsoon and ENSO relationships in state-of-the-art CGCMs: role of the tropical Indian Ocean, Climate Dynamics, 56, January 2021,DOI:10.1007/s00382-020-05484-z, 329-356
22.	Sooraj K.P., Terray P., Shilin A., Mujumdar M.,, Dynamics of rainfall extremes over India: A new perspective, International Journal of Climatology, 40, October 2020,DOI: 10.1002/joc.6516, 5223-5245
21.	Sooraj K.P., Terray P., Masson S., Crétat J.,, Modulations of the Indian summer monsoon by the hot subtropical deserts: insights from coupled sensitivity experiments, Climate Dynamics, 52, April 2019,DOI:10.1007/s00382-018-4396-8, 4527-4555
20.	Varikoden H., Mujumdar M., Revadekar J.V., Sooraj K.P., Ramarao M.V.S., Sanjay J., Krishnan R.,, Assessment of regional downscaling simulations for long term mean, excess and deficit Indian Summer Monsoons, Global and Planetary Change, 162, March 2018,DOI:10.1016/j.gloplacha.2017.12.002, 28-38
19.	Terry P., Sooraj K.P., Masson S., Krishna R.P. M., Samson G., Prajeesh A.G.,, Towards a realistic simulation of boreal summer tropical rainfall climatology in state-of-the-art coupled models: role of the background snow-free land albedo, Climate Dynamics, 50, May 2018,DOI:10.1007/s00382-017-3812-9, 3413–3439
18.	Crétat J., Terry P., Masson S., Sooraj K.P., Intrinsic precursors and timescale of the tropical Indian Ocean Dipole: insights from partially decoupled numerical experiment, Climate Dynamics, 51, August 2018, DOI:10.1007/s00382-017-3956-7, 1311-1332
17.	Mujumdar M, Sooraj K P, Krishnan R, Preethi B, Joshi M K, Hamza V, Bhupendra B S and Rajeevan M (2016), “Anomalous convective activity over sub-tropical east Pacific during 2015 and associated boreal summer monsoon teleconnections”. Climate Dynamics. doi:10.1007/s00382-016-3321-2.
16.	Julien Cretat, Terray P, Masson S, Sooraj K P and Roxy MK (2016), “Indian Ocean and Indian summer monsoon: relationships without ENSO in ocean–atmosphere coupled simulations”, Climate Dynamics. doi:10.1007/s00382-016-3387-x.
15.	Terray P, Masson S, Prodhomme C, Roxy MK and Sooraj KP (2015), “Impacts of Indian and Atlantic oceans on ENSO in a comprehensive modeling framework”. Climate Dynamics. doi:10.1007/s00382-015-2715-x.
14.	Sooraj K P, Terray P and Xavier P K (2015), “Sub-seasonal behaviour of Asian summer monsoon under a changing climate: assessments using CMIP5 models”. Climate Dynamics. doi:10.1007/s00382-015-2817-5.
13.	Sooraj K P, Terray P and Mujumdar M (2015), “Global warming and the weakening of the Asian summer monsoon circulation: Assessments from the CMIP5 models”. Climate Dynamics. 45: 233-252. doi:10.1007/s00382-014-2257-7.
12.	Sooraj K P and Kyong-Hwan Seo (2013), “Boreal Summer Intraseasonal Variability Simulated in the NCEP CFS: Insights from Moist Static Energy Budget and Sensitivity to Convective Moistening”, Climate Dynamics, 41, 5-6, 1569-1594 DOI 10.1007/s00382-012-1631-6.
11.	H Annamalai, J Hafner, Sooraj K P and P Pillai (2012), “Global warming shifts the monsoon circulation, drying south Asia”, Journal of Climate, 26, 2701-2718.
10.	Sooraj K P, H Annamalai, Arun Kumar, and H Wang (2011), “A comprehensive Assessment of CFS Seasonal Forecast over the Tropics”, Weather and Forecasting, doi:10.1175/WAF-D-11-00014.1.
9.	Kug J S, Sooraj K P, Fei-Fei Jin, Y G Ham and D Kim (2011) “A possible mechanism for El Nino-like warming in response to the future greenhouse warming”, International Journal of Climatology, 31, doi:10.1002/joc.2163.
8.	Kug J.-S, Sooraj K P, Li T and Fei-Fei Jin, (2010) “Precursors of El Nino/La Nina onset and their interrelationship”. Journal of Geophysical Research, 115, D05106, doi:10.1029/2009JD012861.
7.	Sooraj K P, D Kim, J S Kug, S W Yeh, Fei Fei Jin and I S Kang (2009), “Effects of the low-frequency zonal wind variation on the high frequency atmospheric variability over the tropics”, Climate Dynamics, 33, DOI 10.1007/s00382-008-0483-6.
6.	Sooraj K P, J S Kug, Tim Li, and I S Kang (2009), “Impact of El-Nino onset timing on the Indian Ocean: Pacific coupling and subsequent El-Nino evolution”, Theoretical and Applied Climatology, 97, DOI 10.1007/s00704-008-0067-8.
5.	Kug J S, Sooraj K P, Fei-Fei Jin, Jing-Jia Luo and Minho Kwon (2009), “Impact of Indian Ocean Dipole on high-frequency atmospheric variability over the Indian Ocean”, Atmospheric Research, 94, DOI 10.1016/j.atmosres.2008.10.022.
4.	Kug J S, Sooraj K P, D Kim, I S Kang, Fei-Fei Jin, Yukari N Takayabu and Masahide Kimoto, (2009),“Simulation of state-dependent high frequency atmospheric variability associated with ENSO”, Climate Dynamics, 32, DOI 10.1007/s00382-008-0434-2.
3.	Joseph P V, Sooraj K P and Rajan C K (2006), “The Summer Monsoon onset Process over South Asia and an Objective method for the Date of Monsoon Onset over Kerala”, International Journal of Climatology, 26, 1871-1893.
2.	Joseph P V, Sooraj K P, Babu CA and Sabin T P (2005), “A ‘Cold Pool’ in the Bay of Bengal and its interaction with the Active-Break cycle of the monsoon”, CLIVAR Exchange Newsletter No. 34, 10, CLIVAR, WCRP.
1.	Joseph P V, Sooraj K P and Rajan C K (2003), “Conditions Leading To Monsoon Onset Over Kerala And The Associated Hadley Cell”, Mausam, 54, 155-164.

Books

1.	Sooraj K P, Joseph P V and Rajan C K (2012) “A Diagnostic and Modeling study on South Asian Summer Monsoon Onset”, LAP LAMBERT Academic Publishing GmbH & Co. KG, Germany, ISBN 978-3-8443-9878-6.

Reports

4.	Rokkam R. Rao, Ramesh H. Kripalani, Sooraj K P and Suryachandra Rao A (2015), “Introduction of the International CLIVAR Monsoon Project Office (ICMPO)”. CLIVAR Exchanges (No 66 Vol 19 No. 1) Special Issue on Monsoons: Advancing understanding of monsoon variability and improving prediction. Online Published.
3.	Hamza, V., Singh B S, Sooraj K P, Joshi M K, Preethi B, Mujumdar M and Rajeevan M (2015), Chapter 1-Large scale features of Southwest Monsoon during 2015, in IITM Research Report: The 2015 Southwest monsoon RR-185, edited by M. Mujumdar, C. Gnanaseelan and M. Rajeevan, pp. 2-13.
2.	Joseph P.V., Sooraj.K.P. and Rajan.C.K (2005), “The Summer Monsoon onset Process over South Asia and an Objective method for the Date of Monsoon Onset over Kerala”, Technical Report, CMS SR 2005/03, Centre of Monsoon Studies, Department of Atmospheric Sciences, Cochin University of Science and Technology, Kerala.
1.	Joseph P V, Rajan C K and Sooraj K P (2000), “Atmospheric Conditions during and prior to the Onset of Monsoon Onset over Kerala”, Technical Report, CMS SR 2000/01, Centre of Monsoon Studies, Department of Atmospheric Sciences, Cochin University of Science and Technology, Kerala.

Research Associate:

Dr. Ajinkya Aswale

Former Ph. D. Students:

Mr. Ajinkya Aswale, Savitribai Phule Pune University (Awarded, January 2026).

M. Sc./M.Tech. Students:

Mr. Ijas Ameen, BS-MS dual degree programme, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Pune (ongoing)
Miss. Gopika V Gopal, M.Sc. Degree in Meteorology, Cochin University of Science and Technology (CUSAT), Cochin (2025)
Miss. Anitta Jibby, M.Sc. Degree Student in Atmospheric Science, Department of Atmospheric and Space Sciences, Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU), Pune (2024).
Ms. Suhailathul Aadila, M.Sc. Climate Science, Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies (2024)
Ms. Sandhya K Vijayan, BS-MS dual degree programme, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Pune (2023)
Mr. Vishnu B Bal, M.Sc. Meteorology, Cochin University of Science and Technology, 2022
Mr. Narayan Vaze, M.Sc. Industrial Mathematics with Computer Applications, Fergusson College, Pune, 2021
Ms. Mrunal D. Kawadkar, M.Sc. in Statistics, Department of Statistics, Institute of Science, Nagpur, 2021
Ms. Nandini R. Jain, M.Sc. in Statistics, Department of Statistics, Institute of Science, Nagpur, 2021
Mrs. Vismaya Babu, M.Tech. Atmospheric Science, Cochin University of Science and Technology, 2020
Mr. Akash P, M.Sc. Meteorology, Cochin University of Science and Technology, 2020
Mr. Nikhil Hale, M.Sc. Atmospheric Science, Savitribai Phule Pune University, 2020
Mr. Sagar Pokale, M.Tech. Atmospheric Science, Savitribai Phule Pune University, 2019
Mrs. Anokha Shilin, M.Tech. Atmospheric Science, Cochin University of Science and Technology, 2018

आईआईटीएम
IITM

भारतीय उष्णदेशीय मौसम विज्ञान संस्थान
Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology

Scientist Profile

Dr. Sooraj K. P.

Designation

: Scientist F

Phone

: +91-(0)20-25904504

Fax

: +91-(0)20-25865142

Email ID

: sooraj[at]tropmet[dot]res[dot]in

Area of Expertise

Academic Records

Research

Awards & Honors

Scientific Careers

Scientist Profile

Dr. Sooraj K. P.

Designation : Scientist F

Phone : +91-(0)20-25904504

Fax : +91-(0)20-25865142

Email ID : sooraj[at]tropmet[dot]res[dot]in

Area of Expertise

Academic Records

Research

Awards & Honors

Scientific Careers

Designation

: Scientist F

Phone

: +91-(0)20-25904504

Fax

: +91-(0)20-25865142

Email ID

: sooraj[at]tropmet[dot]res[dot]in