About

I’m a climate and atmospheric scientist with a background in environmental science and engineering, currently working as a postdoctoral researcher at Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden. My research explores the complex interactions between aerosols, atmospheric transport, and climate dynamics, with a particular focus on black carbon and its role in Arctic climate change.

At Chalmers, I study wildfire-driven black carbon transport from mid-latitudes to the Arctic. I use atmospheric transport models like FLEXPART, combined with satellite observations and reanalysis data, to trace aerosol pathways and assess their radiative impacts in the polar region. My goal is to better understand aerosol–climate feedbacks and their implications for Arctic amplification.

My scientific journey began as an engineer, but my deep interest in environmental challenges led me to shift into climate science. I earned my PhD in Environmental Science from Stockholm University, where I focused on aerosol–climate interactions, long-range transport, and atmospheric radiative forcing. Before that, I was a researcher at the Indian Institute of Science, studying aerosol chemistry and monsoon variability. My interdisciplinary training enables me to approach scientific questions with both technical rigor and environmental insight.

Broadly, I’m interested in atmospheric composition, air pollution, climate change, and policy-relevant research. I enjoy developing integrated approaches that combine satellite remote sensing, field observations, and numerical modeling to advance our understanding of Earth’s atmosphere.

Outside of research, I’m passionate about science communication, innovation, and contributing to sustainable solutions for global environmental challenges.

Publications

1) Budhavant, K., Manoj, M. R., Nair, H. R. C. R., Gaita, S. M., Holmstrand, H., Salam, A., Muslim, A., Satheesh, S. K., and Gustafsson, Ö.: Changing optical properties of black carbon and brown carbon aerosols during long-range transport from the Indo-Gangetic Plain to the equatorial Indian Ocean, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 24, 11911–11925, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-11911-2024, 2024.

2)H.R.C.R. Nair, Krishnakant Budhavant et al., Roles of water-soluble aerosol coatings for the enhanced radiative absorption of black carbon over south Asia and the northern Indian ocean, Science of The Total Environment, Volume 926, 2024, 171721, ISSN 0048-9697.

3)Nair, H.R.C.R., Budhavant, K., Manoj, M.R. et al. Aerosol demasking enhances climate warming over South Asia. npj Clim Atmos Sci 6, 39 (2023).

4)Budhavant, K. B., Gawhane, R. D., Rao, P. S. P., Nair, H. R. C. R. et al. Long-term increasing trends in the wet deposition of secondary inorganic constituents in SW Indian precipitation. Air Qual Atmos Health14, 667–677 (2021).

5)Budhavant, K. B., Gawhane, R. D., Rao, P. S. P., Nair, H. R. C. R. et al. Physico-chemical characterization and sink mechanism of atmospheric aerosols over South-west India. J Atmos Chem77, 17–33 (2020).

6)Hariram, C. R. et al. Morphology, Chemical Composition and Mixing State of Atmospheric Aerosols from Two Contrasting Environments in Southern India. Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics Discussions 1–24 (2018).