Jagdish Shukla
Encyclopedia
Jagdish Shukla is an India
n meteorologist and Distinguished University Professor at George Mason University
in the United States
.
of Uttar Pradesh
, India
. He passed from the S.R.S. High School, Sheopur, in the first class with distinction in Mathematics and Sanskrit
. He studied science, firstly outside school, then at S.C. College, Ballia. At Banaras Hindu University
, at the age of 18, he passed BS (honors) with Physics, Mathematics, and Geology (first class) followed by an MS in Geophysics in 1964 and PhD in Geophysics in 1971. He subsequently gained an ScD in Meteorology from MIT in 1976.
dynamics, deforestation
and desertification
. He is the author or co-author of over 150 scientific papers.
He helped found weather and climate research centers in India and was the founding scientific leader at the National Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasting
(NCMRWF) in New Delhi
. He has also established research institutions in Brazil
, Italy
, and the USA.
He has been associated with the World Climate Research Programme
since its inception and was involved in their Tropical Ocean Global Atmosphere program (TOGA), the first coupled atmosphere-ocean initiative. Since 2001, he has been a member of its Joint Scientific Committee and chair of its Modelling Panel.
He founded and directed the Center for Ocean-Land-Atmosphere Studies, which aims to improve understanding of climate variability and predictability on intraseasonal to decadal time scales within a changing climate.
He is a Distinguished University Professor at George Mason University
, USA, and chair of the Climate Dynamics department.
He was a founder member of the weather and climate research group at the International Centre for Theoretical Physics
in Trieste, Italy and led the group's activities until 1997.
He has established Gandhi College in his village for education of rural students especially women.
, a Fellow of the Indian Meteorological Society
and an Associate Fellow of the Third World Academy of Sciences
. He is currently a member of the Joint Scientific Committee of the World Climate Research Program of the World Meteorological Organization
and a Commissioner in the Virginia Governor's Commission on Climate Change.
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n meteorologist and Distinguished University Professor at George Mason University
George Mason University
George Mason University is a public university based in unincorporated Fairfax County, Virginia, United States, south of and adjacent to the city of Fairfax. Additional campuses are located nearby in Arlington County, Prince William County, and Loudoun County...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
Early years
Shukla was born in 1944 in the village of Mirdha in the Ballia districtBallia District
Ballia district is one of the districts of Uttar Pradesh state, India. Ballia district is a part of Azamgarh Division situated in eastern Part of Uttar Pradesh. Main occupation is agriculture. Ballia City is district headquarters and commercial Market of this district. There are four Tehsil in...
of Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh abbreviation U.P. , is a state located in the northern part of India. With a population of over 200 million people, it is India's most populous state, as well as the world's most populous sub-national entity...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. He passed from the S.R.S. High School, Sheopur, in the first class with distinction in Mathematics and Sanskrit
Sanskrit
Sanskrit , is a historical Indo-Aryan language and the primary liturgical language of Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism.Buddhism: besides Pali, see Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Today, it is listed as one of the 22 scheduled languages of India and is an official language of the state of Uttarakhand...
. He studied science, firstly outside school, then at S.C. College, Ballia. At Banaras Hindu University
Banaras Hindu University
Banaras Hindu University is a public university located in Varanasi, India and is one of the Central Universities of India. It is the largest residential university in Asia, with over 24,000 students in its campus. BHU was founded in 1916 by Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya under the Parliamentary...
, at the age of 18, he passed BS (honors) with Physics, Mathematics, and Geology (first class) followed by an MS in Geophysics in 1964 and PhD in Geophysics in 1971. He subsequently gained an ScD in Meteorology from MIT in 1976.
Professional activities
Shukla's contributions to the understanding of the predictability of weather and climate include the Asian monsoonMonsoon
Monsoon is traditionally defined as a seasonal reversing wind accompanied by corresponding changes in precipitation, but is now used to describe seasonal changes in atmospheric circulation and precipitation associated with the asymmetric heating of land and sea...
dynamics, deforestation
Deforestation
Deforestation is the removal of a forest or stand of trees where the land is thereafter converted to a nonforest use. Examples of deforestation include conversion of forestland to farms, ranches, or urban use....
and desertification
Desertification
Desertification is the degradation of land in drylands. Caused by a variety of factors, such as climate change and human activities, desertification is one of the most significant global environmental problems.-Definitions:...
. He is the author or co-author of over 150 scientific papers.
He helped found weather and climate research centers in India and was the founding scientific leader at the National Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasting
National Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasting
National Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasting is a national agency for weather forecasting under the Ministry of Earth Sciences, , Government of India....
(NCMRWF) in New Delhi
New Delhi
New Delhi is the capital city of India. It serves as the centre of the Government of India and the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi. New Delhi is situated within the metropolis of Delhi. It is one of the nine districts of Delhi Union Territory. The total area of the city is...
. He has also established research institutions in Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, and the USA.
He has been associated with the World Climate Research Programme
World Climate Research Programme
The World Climate Research Programme was established in 1980, under the joint sponsorship of International Council for Science and the World Meteorological Organization, and has also been sponsored by the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO since 1993. It is a component of the...
since its inception and was involved in their Tropical Ocean Global Atmosphere program (TOGA), the first coupled atmosphere-ocean initiative. Since 2001, he has been a member of its Joint Scientific Committee and chair of its Modelling Panel.
He founded and directed the Center for Ocean-Land-Atmosphere Studies, which aims to improve understanding of climate variability and predictability on intraseasonal to decadal time scales within a changing climate.
He is a Distinguished University Professor at George Mason University
George Mason University
George Mason University is a public university based in unincorporated Fairfax County, Virginia, United States, south of and adjacent to the city of Fairfax. Additional campuses are located nearby in Arlington County, Prince William County, and Loudoun County...
, USA, and chair of the Climate Dynamics department.
He was a founder member of the weather and climate research group at the International Centre for Theoretical Physics
International Centre for Theoretical Physics
The Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics was founded in 1964 by Pakistani scientist and Nobel Laureate Abdus Salam after consulting with Munir Ahmad Khan. It operates under a tripartite agreement among the Italian Government, UNESCO, and International Atomic Energy Agency...
in Trieste, Italy and led the group's activities until 1997.
He has established Gandhi College in his village for education of rural students especially women.
Positions
He is a Fellow of the American Meteorological SocietyAmerican Meteorological Society
The American Meteorological Society promotes the development and dissemination of information and education on the atmospheric and related oceanic and hydrologic sciences and the advancement of their professional applications. Founded in 1919, the American Meteorological Society has a membership...
, a Fellow of the Indian Meteorological Society
Indian Meteorological Society
The Indian Meteorological Society is an Indian non-profit organization that promotes the advancement, dissemination of knowledge, and the application of meteorology and related sciences.The society was established in 1956....
and an Associate Fellow of the Third World Academy of Sciences
Third World Academy of Sciences
TWAS, until 2004 named Third World Academy of Sciences and now TWAS, the academy of sciences for the developing world, is a merit-based science academy uniting 1,000 scientists in some 70 countries. Its principal aim is to promote scientific capacity and excellence for sustainable development in...
. He is currently a member of the Joint Scientific Committee of the World Climate Research Program of the World Meteorological Organization
World Meteorological Organization
The World Meteorological Organization is an intergovernmental organization with a membership of 189 Member States and Territories. It originated from the International Meteorological Organization , which was founded in 1873...
and a Commissioner in the Virginia Governor's Commission on Climate Change.
Awards
- 52nd International Meteorological OrganizationInternational Meteorological OrganizationThe International Meteorological Organization was the first organization formed with the purpose of exchanging weather information among the countries of the world. It was born from the realization that weather systems move across country boundaries and knowledge of pressure, temperature,...
Prize by the World Meteorological OrganizationWorld Meteorological OrganizationThe World Meteorological Organization is an intergovernmental organization with a membership of 189 Member States and Territories. It originated from the International Meteorological Organization , which was founded in 1873...
in 2008. - Walker Gold Medal of the Indian Meteorological SocietyIndian Meteorological SocietyThe Indian Meteorological Society is an Indian non-profit organization that promotes the advancement, dissemination of knowledge, and the application of meteorology and related sciences.The society was established in 1956....
- Carl Gustav Rossby Research Medal from the American Meteorological SocietyAmerican Meteorological SocietyThe American Meteorological Society promotes the development and dissemination of information and education on the atmospheric and related oceanic and hydrologic sciences and the advancement of their professional applications. Founded in 1919, the American Meteorological Society has a membership...
- Exceptional Scientific Achievement Medal of the NASANASAThe National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...