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Dr. AL. Ramanathan, Professor,

Environmental Geology, HYDROGEOCHEMISTRY, BIOGEOCHEMISTRY  &
GLACIOLOGY LABORATORY

started his research career by focusing on various aspects of river basin geochemistry (water quality & quantity, river discharge, sediment load, sediment characteristics (physico-chemical) estimation of erosion rates and accumulation of sediments, pollution). Later, he started his research program on coastal ecosystem namely estuaries, mangroves and coral reefs Viz., Pichavaram, Bhitarkanika, Sundarban and Gulf of Mannar and Kutch focusing on   biogeochemical aspects. He has also worked on several projects of sheer importance such as :
 Hydro-geochemistry of ground waters (inland and coastal) addressing salinity, fluoride, SGD, Pollution etc. (Including De- fluoridation techniques (phyto, nano etc., )
Land use changes and over exploitation of ground water due to Neyveli lignite mining (EIA studies); Natural Hazards, Like Tsunami impacts on coastal ecosystem & ground water)

 

Surface and ground

water interaction (quality ) in coastal areas and flood plains  (Ganges and Yamuna)

 

The Effect of Climate Change on Indian Glaciers (case study from large glacier like Gangotri (Uttaranchal) and Small glaciers like Chhota Shigri, Patchio  (Himachal Pradesh)

 

The effect of landfills on the groundwater quality and GHGs emission  in Delhi
 

 

Arsenic problem and Fluoride remediation (Tamilnadu) and in various parts of India (UP, Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal and Manipur)
 

Apart from Hydrogeochemistry and Biogeochemistry, Prof. Ramanathan has been working intensively on Dynamics of Himalayan Glaciers (such as mass balance, energy balance, hydrology and hydrogeochemistry ). His work is well recognized throughout the world.

 

Prof. Ramanathan has published more than seventy five papers in various peer reviewed  journals such as (Journal of Glaciology, J. Hydrology, Hydrological processes, Water resources, Estuarine coastal and shelf Sciences, Chemosphere, Bioresource Technology, Geoderma etc). He has published seven books (Springer, Balkema, etc., ) and a number of papers have been published as book chapters. Prof. Ramanathan has conducted eleven International /National workshop /training programme /conferences on various theme of sheer importance. His work has been well supported by various national (UGC, DST, MoEF, MoWR etc) and international funding organization (SIDA, IFS, FORMAS, JAMSTEC, Indo-Australia fund-AIMS). He has running/completed  collaborative projects with institutions from  France, Sweden, Australia and Russia. Fifteen PhDs and more than fifteen M.Phil. (have been completed under his supervision and are well placed in India and abroad.

 

Environmental Geology, HYDROGEOCHEMISTRY, BIOGEOCHEMISTRY
& GLACIOLOGY LABORATORY

School of Environmental Sciences,

Jawaharlal Nehru University,

New Delhi-110 067

INDIA

 

BIODATA

Name

Dr. AL. Ramanathan

Present Position and address for communication

School of Environmental Sciences                           

Jawaharlal Nehru University                                             

New Delhi 110067, India                                     

( +91 11 26704314

* alr0400@mail.jnu.ac.in

Educational Qualification

Ø   Graduation: B.Sc Geology

Ø   Master: M.Sc Geology

Ø   PhD: Environmental Geology

Awards, Patents and Achievements

1985–87

Junior Research Fellow, Dept. of Science & Technology

1987–90

Senior Research Fellow, CSIR, Govt. of India

1995-1996

Indo-Russian Fellow (UGC and Russian Acad. Sci.)

1997-1998

STA Fellow (DST and Japan Govt.)

1994-1998

Young scientist award (project) DST Govt. of India

2001-2003

Young scientist award (project) IFS, Sweden

2003-2006

Lineaus-Palme Fellow, teaching Hydrology,

Uppsala University, Sweden

2003-2004

Indo-Australian Fellow (JNU and AIMS, Australia)

2006

FORMAS Fellow (Stockholm Univ., Sweden)

2007-2008

SIDA Fellow, Sweden

2008

CIFIPRA Fellow, France

2006-08

Young scientist award (project) IFS, Sweden

Employment details with date

2000 – till date

Professor, School of Environmental Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi.

 

Ø     15 Ph.D.s , 15 M. Phil. and 18 M. Sc. dissertations completed so far

Ø     5  Ph.D.s and 2 M. Phil are in progress

Ø     3 Ph.D. have been submitted and viva is expected to be soon

Ø     Presently 8 JRF, SRF, Young scientists and RA are working with me in

        individual projects

1995 –

2000

Senior Lecturer, Deptt. of Geology,

Annamalai University, Tamilnadu, India.

 

Ø      1 Ph. D, 3 M. Phil. and 10 M.Sc. dissertations were completed

1990 – 95

Lecturer, Deptt. of Geology,

Annamalai University, Tamilnadu, India.

 

Ø      3 M. Phil. and 5 M.Sc. dissertations were completed

Ø      Teaching M.Sc. students 70% and research 30%.

Research Area

 

Hydrogeochemistry, Biogeochemistry, Glaciology, Environmental Geology

8.1 Research  Interest

 Hydrology, Hydrogeology, Hydrochemistry, Sedimentary geochemistry and Biogeochemistry of inland and coastal ecosystems (lakes and mangroves), Sediment biogeochemistry, Environmental Hydro-biogeochemical aspects, Coastal ground waters, Surface water and Ground water interaction, Ground water hydrogeochemistry, Melt water hydrology, Glacier hydro geochemistry, Sub glacial hydrology, Glacier mass balance.

 Research Projects

1.    DST, Govt. of India, Long Term Monitoring of the Chotta Shigri Glacier (2009-2011)

2.   ifs, Sweden, Detecting Environmental Changes in Pichavaram Mangroves: Evidences from Stable Isotopes and organic proxies (2009-2011)

3.    DST Govt. of India, Deglaciation and associated consequences in the Gangotri Glacier: Dye tracer and hydro geochemical approach ( 2007-2009)

4.    Indo-French (CIFIPRA-DST) (2008 July -2010): Climate change impact on the hydrological cycle and on the water resources  of the Chotta shigri  Glaciers with IRD, France

5.    SAC, Ahmadabad  (Govt. of India): Mass balance and hydro geochemical studies in   Chotta Shigri Glaciers,    Himalayas (2006 Dec -2009 March )

6.    Dept. of Science & Tech. Govt. of India. Impact of subsurface groundwater discharge on the coastal waters of India and Russia –A comparative study. A joint project of CES, JNU, India and Pacific institute of Oceanology, Vladivostok, Russia (2005-2009 March).

7.    SIDA-Sweden, Targeting safe aquifers for drinking water in Arsenic affected region in Ballia, Ghazipur and Assam- (2007-2009 )

8.    MoEF, Govt. of India (2007-2009 ): Biogeochemistry of Sundarban mangroves ,India

9.    MoEF, Govt. of India (2008 June to 2010). Defluridation studies using natural materials for safe drinking water supply.

Books Published

·         Management and Sustainable Development of Coastal Zone Environments, 2010. Edited by Ramanathan AL., Bhattacharya P., Dittmar T., Bala Krishna Prasad M., Neupane B.R., Springer,  Germany, ISBN: 978-90-481-3067-2 (HB)

·         Groundwater for Sustainable Development: Problems, Perspectives and Challenges, 2008. Edited by Bhattacharya P., Ramanathan AL, Mukherjee A. B., Bundschuh J., Chandrasekharam D., Keshari A.K., Taylor and Francis/A. A. Balkema, The Netherlands: 484pp ISBN: 978-0-415-40776-2.

·         Integrated Coastal zone management –The global challenge, 2008. edited by Krishnamurthy R., Glavovic B.C., Kannen A, Green DR, Ramanathan AL., Han Z., Tufi S. and Agardy T. Research Publishing House, Singapore, 800pp, ISBN: 978-981-05-8948-6. 

·         Ground water Monitoring and Management through Hydrogeochemical Modeling Approach, 2010. Edited by Chidambaram S., Srinivasamoorthy K., Ramanathan AL., Anandhan P., Manivannan R., Bala Krishna Prasad M., Manish Kumar., I.K.  International publishing House, New Delhi. ISBN: 978-93-80578-16-3.

·         Recent Trends in Water Research: Remote Sensing and General Perspectives, 2010. Edited by Chidambaram S., Srinivasamoorthy K., Manivannan R., Anandhan P., Ramanathan AL.,   I.K. International publishing House, New Delhi. ISBN: 978-93-80578-17-0.

·         Evaluation of groundwater quality for irrigation and drinking purpose in selected taluks of Dakshina Kannada district in Karnataka, India. In: (Eds.) AL. Ramanathan, Prosun Bhattacharya, A.K. Keshari, Jochen Bundschuh, D. Chandrasekharam, S.K.Singh, Assessment of Groundwater Resources and Management. I.K. International Publishing House Pvt. Ltd. Pp 298-315, ISBN: 9788190675727

·          Assessment of Ground water resource and management, 2008. Edited by Ramanathan AL., Bhattacharya P., Bundschuh J., Chandrasekharam D., Keshari A.K. and Singh S.K. IK International publishers, New Delhi. ISBN: 978-81-906757-2-7.

·         Recent Trends in Hydrogeochemistry: Case Studies from Surface and Subsurface Waters of Selected Countries, 2003 (DST, ENVIS Govt. of India) Edited by Ramanathan AL. and Ramesh R.  Capital Publishing Company, New Delhi, 294pp. ISBN: 8185589127.

·         Ecohydrology. 2001 Edited by Subramanian V. and Ramanathan AL., UNESCO, Capital Publishing Company, New Delhi-2, 345pp. ISBN 81-85589-06-2.

·         Manual for Mathematical models in hydro-geochemistry: assessment of ground water quality and management, 2005. Edited By. Ramanathan AL., Keshari A.K. and Chidambaram S.  Published by Ganga Publishing house, New Delhi, 353pp.  ISBN 81-86867-94-5, New Delhi. (Sponsored by DST, Govt of India).

·         Mathematical Models of Groundwater Flow and Mass Transport. 2004-2005 Edited by Ramanathan AL., and Thangarajan M.  Prasant Publishers, New Delhi 345pp. (Sponsored by DST, Govt. of India).

·         Applied Hydrogeochemistry. Proceedings of the International seminar on Applied ground water hydrogeochemistry 2000. Edited by Ramanathan AL., Subramanian V. and Ramesh R., Annamalai University Publication, Tamilnadu, 275pp.

  

Chapters in Book:

1.    Ramanathan AL., Ranjan RK, Prasad M.BK., Chauhan R., Singh G., 2010. Sediment-nutrient dynamics in selected Indian mangrove ecosystems – land use and climate change implications. Sediment Dynamics for a Changing Future. Red book -IAHS Publ. 337, 84-92.

2.    Singh G, Ranjan RK, Chauhan R, Ramanathan AL. 2010. Dissolved metal distribution in Indian mangrove ecosystem: Case studies from East Coast of India In: (Eds.) Ramanathan AL., Bhattacharya, P., Dittmar, T., Prasad, MBK. Nepunae, B., Management and Sustainable Development of Coastal Zone Environments, Springer (Jointly with Capital Publisher) New Delhi.

3.      M. Rawat and AL. Ramanathan, “Waste to Wealth- Prospects for Utilisation of Municipal Solid Waste in India” in “Solid Waste Management-Present and Future Challenges” eds. Singh J & Ramanathan AL. (2010), IK. International Publishing House Pvt. Ltd. New Delhi. ISBN 978-93-80026-42-8, pp. 134-140

4.    Manish Kumar, Ramanathan AL., Neupane B.R., Dinh Van Tu and Seok-hwi Kim, (2010). Critical Evaluation of the Recent Development and Trends in Submarine Ground water Discharge Research in Asia. Co published by Springer, Capital Publishing Company, New Delhi. ISBN: 978-90-481-3067-2 (HB).109pp.

5.    Chidambaram S., Trumalesh K., Ramanathan AL., Johnsonbabu G., Paramaguru P., Karmegam U., Manivannan R., Srinivasamoorthy K., and Manikandan S., (2010). Influence of Climate Factors on the Groundwater Resources of Coastal Tamilnadu, Co published by Springer, Capital Publishing Company, New Delhi. ISBN: 978-90-481-3067-2 (HB).132pp.

6.    Bhattacharya P., Gunnar Jacks., Bibhas Nath., Debashis Chatterjee., Ashis Biswas., Dipti Halder., Santanu Majumdar., Subhamoy Bhowmick and Ramanthan AL., (2010). Natural Arsenic in Coastal Groundwaters in the Bengal Delta Region in West Bengal, India. Co published by Springer, Capital Publishing Company, New Delhi. ISBN: 978-90-481-3067-2 (HB).146pp.

7.    Bala Krishna Prasad M., Dittmar T., and Ramanathan AL., (2010). Organic Matter and Mangrove Productivity, Co published by Springer, Capital Publishing Company, New Delhi. ISBN: 978-90-481-3067-2 (HB). 175pp.

8.   Ramanathan AL., and Manish Kumar, (2010).  (edited) Understanding the ground water and surface water Interactions through Hydrogeochemical and Multivariate Statistical Modeling Approach, I.K.  International publishing House, New Delhi. ISBN: 978-93-80578-16-3, 63pp.

9.   Oinam Jayalakshmi Devi, S.L.Belagali, A. Balasubramanian, Sutapa Bose, Senthilkumar G., S. N. Ramaswmy, AL. Ramanathan. Evaluation of groundwater quality for irrigation and drinking purpose in selected taluks of Dakshina Kannada district in Karnataka, India. In: (Eds.) AL. Ramanathan, Prosun Bhattacharya, A.K. Keshari, Jochen Bundschuh, D. Chandrasekharam, S.K.Singh, Assessment of Groundwater Resources and Management. I.K. International Publishing House Pvt. Ltd. Pp 298-315, ISBN: 9788190675727

10. Ramezani F., Sing SK., and Ramanathan AL., (2010).  Study on Water Quality of Shafaroud River, Iran (edited) Recent Trends in Water Research: Remote Sensing and General Perspectives, I.K. International publishing House, New Delhi. ISBN: 978-93-80578-17-0, 174pp.

11.  Kushagra, Shashi Prabha, Sujeet Kumar, Thakur, I.S., Ramanathan, AL. (2009). Procurement of Pentachlorophenol Degrading Bacteria from Tannery Effluent for their Waste Water Treatment in Recent Trends In Water Research- Hydrogeochemical And Hydrological Perspective,  IK international publication, New Delhi. ISBN No 978- 93-80026-716

12. Srivastava S.K. and Ramanathan AL. (2008). Hydrogeochemical studies around the Bhalswa Landfill in Delhi, India. In: Bhattacharya P., Ramanathan AL., Mukherjee AB., Bundschuh J., Chandrasekharan D. and Keshari AK. (edited) Groundwater for Sustainable Development: Problems, Perspectives and Challenges. ISBN: 978-0-415-40776-2. Taylor and Francis/A. A. Balkema, The Netherlands: 484pp.

13. Ramanathan AL., Tripathi P., Kumar M., Bhattacharya P., Thunvik R. and Bundschuh J. (2008). Arsenic distribution in the groundwater in Central Gangetic Plains of Uttar Pradesh, India. In: Bundschuh J., Armienta MA., Bhattacharya P., Matschullat J. and Mukherjee AB. (edited) Natural Arsenic in Groundwater of Latin America- Occurrence, health impact and remediation. Taylor & Francis/Balkema. Leiden, The Netherlands

14. Ramanathan AL., Singh UK. and Kumar M. (2008). “Groundwater quality monitoring in the vicinity of Pirana landfill site, Ahmadabad, India: Adequacy of conventional hydrochemical approach” In: Ramanathan AL., Bhattacharya P., Thangarajan, M, (eds) ‘Assessment of Groundwater Resources and Management’ Balkemma Publications, pp 438-447.

15. Ramanathan AL., Shruti, Jose PG., Sharma P. and Linda A. (2007). Glacier retreat of Himalayas in the recent past-an over view  (Pleistocene to Recent Decade) International Workshop (IGCP-514) on Fluvial and Marine Processes of Cenozoic Formation of Placers, 1-10 November, 2007, Thiruvananthapuram and Goa, Centre for Earth Sciences Studies, Thiruvananthapuram, India.

16. Ramanathan AL., Ranjan RK., and Prasad MBK. (2007). Preliminary Assessment of Impact of Tsunami of Tsunami on the Nutrient and Sediment Dynamics in the Pichavaram Mangrove ecosystem, India. In: Singh J. (edited) Disaster Management Future challenges and opportunities, I.K. International publishing house Pvt. Ltd., New Delhi. pp 119-130.

17. Ramanathan AL., Sharma P., and Jose PG. (2007). Factors controlling suspended sediments transport in the Chhota Shigri glacier melt waters, Himalaya. International Workshop on Complex System in fluid flows and Sedimentation Processes (IWCSFFSP-07), 27-31 August, 2007, ISI, Kolkata.

18. Kumar M., Sharma B., Ramanathan AL. and Rao MS. (2006). Nutrient chemistry of Groundwater of National Capital Territory (NCT)-Delhi, India. In: Ramanathan AL., Bhattacharya P. and Thangrajan M. (edited.) Groundwater for Sustainable Development Problems, Perspectives and Challenges (IGC-2006), Ballkama Pub.

19. Kumar M. and Ramanathan AL. (2005) “Water quality and their interpretation” In: Ramanathan AL., Chidambaram S. and Keshari AK. (edited) Training Manual on Mathematical Models in Hydrogeochemistry: Assessment of Groundwater Quality and Management (ISBN 81-86867-94-5). Ganga Publ. House., New Delhi, pp 37-48.

20.    Ranjan RK., Srivastava SK., Ramanathan AL. and Kumar M. (2005). “An overview of the hydrogeochemical water quality models” In: Ramanathan AL., Chidambaram S. and Keshari AK. (edited) Training Manual on Mathematical Models in Hydrogeochemistry: Assessment of Groundwater Quality and Management (ISBN 81-86867-94-5). Ganga Publ. House., New Delhi, pp 49-59.

21.    Kumar M. and Ramanathan AL. (2004). “Aquachem: an effective tool for water quality interpretation” In: Ramanathan AL. and Chidambaram S. (edited) Mathematical Modeling of Ground Water Flow and Mass transport through theory and hands on training, Ganga Publ. House., New Delhi, pp 37-48.

22.    Sharma B., Kumar M. and Ramanathan AL. (2003). “Surface-groundwater interaction around Najafgarh Drain in NCR-Delhi, India” In: Ramesh R. and Ramachandran S. (edited) Fresh Water management (ISBN 81-85589-32-1). Capital Publ. Co., New Delhi, pp.

23.     Prasad MBK., Ramanathan AL. and Kumar M. (2002). “Water quality of Achainkovil River, Kerala, India” In: Ramanathan AL. and Ramesh R. (edited) Recent Trends of Hydrogeochemisty (ISBN 81-85589-12-7). Capital Publ. Co., New Delhi, pp.

24.     Ranjan RK., Srivastava S.K., Ramanathan AL., and Kumar M. (2005). An overview of Hydrogeochemistry water quality models. In: Training Manual on Mathematical Models in Hydrogeochemistry: Assessment of Groundwater quality and management Ramanathan AL., Chidambaram S. and Keshari AK. (edited) Ganga Publishing House, New Delhi. pp 49-59.

25.     Chidambaram S., Ramanathan AL., Srinivasamoorthy K. and Anandhan P. (2002).  WATCLAST– A Computer Program for Hydrogeochemical Studies. Recent trends in Hydrogeochemistry (case studies from surface and subsurface waters of selected countries). Published by Capital Publishing Company, New Delhi, 203-207pp.

26.     Subramanian V., Ramanathan AL. and Ramesh R. (1993): Nature of Phosphorus distribution in the Cauvery estuary. In: Swaminathan MS. and Ramesh R. (edited) Sustainable Management of Coastal Ecosystem. Published by M.S. Swaminarhan Research Foundation, Madras. 135-145 pp.

 Publication In Journals (Please Click Here)

Other Publication

Guest Editor of Journals

1.      Special issue on “Tsunami, other natural processes and anthropogenic impact on Hydrobiogeochemistry of Coastal Ecosystem” Indian Journal of Marine Sciences. Volume no.37(2) (Published by National Institute of Science Communication And Information Resources, CSIR, Govt. of India )  Edited by: AL. Ramanathan, JNU, India, Thorsten Dittmar, Florida State University, USA and Dr. Bhanu Neupane, UNESCO, India. July 2008.

2.      Special issue on the “Biogeochemistry of mangroves and other coastal Environment”, International Journal of Ecology and Environmental Sciences 31(3), 2005 (Eds. AL. Ramanathan, JNU and Dan Alongi, AIMS, Australia).

Teaching Aids/course curriculum development involvement

Marine environment, Hydrology, Hydrogeology, Hydrogeochemistry, Biogeochemistry, Natural Hazards, Glaciology, Coastal ecosystems.