Research Associate Professor
Divecha Centre for Climate Change,
Indian Institute of Science
Email: kbbudhavant@gmail.com
Phone: +91 8799826802
Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) in Physics (1998–2001), University of Pune, India
Master of Science (M.Sc.) in Physics (2001–2003), University of Pune, India
Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.) in Science and Mathematics (2003–2004), University of Pune, India
Master of Technology (M.Tech.) in Atmospheric Sciences (2004–2006), University of Pune, India
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) (2006–2011), Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology in collaboration with the University of Pune, India
Postdoctoral Research, Department of Environmental Science, Stockholm University, Sweden
Atmospheric Aerosols & Black Carbon – Investigating their roles in climate change and air quality, including atmospheric lifetime and impacts on monsoon variability.
Aerosol–Climate Interactions – Examining radiative forcing, aerosol–cloud interactions, and the phenomenon of aerosol demasking.
Aerosol Chemistry & Source Apportionment – Characterizing chemical composition and identifying emission sources using advanced analytical techniques.
Wet and Dry Deposition Processes – Studying precipitation chemistry, acid rain formation, and long-term deposition trends across South Asia and Antarctica.
Regional Climate Hotspots & Advanced Methodologies – Integrating field campaigns, isotopic analyses, and climate modeling to investigate critical regions, including South Asia and the Indian Ocean
Research Associate Professor (January 2026–Present)
Atmospheric Scientist, Maldives Meteorological Services, Maldives (July 2019–December 2025)
Postdoctoral Researcher, Stockholm University, Sweden (July 2017–June 2019)
Visiting Scientist, Indian Institute of Science, India (October 2016–September 2017)
Resident Scientist, Asian Institute of Technology, Thailand (July 2012–June 2017)
Assistant Professor, Vishwakarma Institute of Technology, India (August 2011–May 2012)
Research Associate, Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, India (December 2010–September 2011)
Research Fellow, Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, India (October 2006–December 2010)
Invited Talk, Department of Meteorology, Stockholm University, Sweden, 11–17 November 2012
Invited Speaker, Department of Applied Environmental Science, Stockholm University, Sweden, 1–7 December 2013
Invited Speaker, Development Research Conference: Global Visions and Local Practices—Development Research in a Post-2015 World, Stockholm University, Sweden, 22–24 August 2016
Keynote Speaker, Theveli International Conference 2024, Maldives National University, Maldives, 18–21 August 2024
Young Scientist Travel Grant, 13th IGAC Science Conference on Atmospheric Chemistry, Natal, Brazil (22–26 September 2014)
Best Poster Award & Young Scientist Travel Grant, Frontiers in Earth, Climate & Ocean Sciences, Bangalore, India (5–7 December 2016)
Marie Curie Fellowship, awarded by Swedish agencies Vinnova and Formas Research Council (2017–2018)
Keynote Speaker Recognition, Theveli International Conference 2024, Maldives National University, Maldives (18–21 August 2024)
Outstanding Contribution as Presenter, 18th International Global Atmospheric Chemistry (IGAC) Science Conference (iCACGP–IGAC 2024), Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (2024))
Paul Crutzen International Climate Research Fellowship, July 2012–July 2017; renewed July 2019–December 2025)
Gustafsson, Ö., Budhavant, K., Chimurkar, N., Clarke, S., Dreyfus, G., Klimont, Z., Klingmüller, K., Kim, S. W., Lelieveld, J., Myhre, G., Nair, H., Peng, J., Ramanathan, V., Rana, A., Remani, M., Satheesh, S. K., Venkataraman, C., & Zhang, Q. (2026). Atmospheric black carbon in the climate system. Nature Reviews Earth & Environment. Commissioned article, (accepted).
Dasari, S., Andersson, A., Kim, S. W., Holmstrand, H., Budhavant, B., & Gustafsson, Ö. (2025). Observationally-constrained wintertime emission fluxes and atmospheric lifetime of black carbon in South Asia. Environmental Science & Technology Letters. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.estlett.5c00079
Uddin, K. R., Zaman, S., Budhavant, K., & Salam, A. (2025). Aerosol–climate interaction in the South Asian region: A focused exploration of the impacts of ozone, black carbon, optical properties, and radiative forcing. International Journal of Climatology, e8800. https://doi.org/10.1002/joc.8800
Zaman, S. U., Budhavant, K., & Salam, A. (2025). The influence of meteorological factors on wintertime black carbon pollution in Dhaka, Bangladesh. International Journal of Environmental Science and Technology. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13762-024-06302-3
Gawhane, R. D., Budhavant, K. B., Waghmare, V. V., Mukherjee, A., & Padmakumari, S. B. (2024). Chemical composition of cloud and rainwater at a high-altitude mountain site in western India: Source apportionment and potential factors. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 31(40), 53304–53314. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-024-34793-7
Nair, H., Budhavant, K., Manoj, M. R., Kirillova, E. N., Satheesh, S. K., Ramanathan, V., & Gustafsson, Ö. (2024). 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, 926, 171721. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.171721
Nair, H., Budhavant, K., Manoj, M. R., Andersson, A., Satheesh, S. K., Ramanathan, V., & Gustafsson, Ö. (2023). Aerosol demasking enhances climate warming over South Asia. NPJ Climate and Atmospheric Science, 6, 39. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41612-023-00367-6
Budhavant, K., Andersson, A., Holmstrand, H., Kirillova, E., Satheesh, S. K., & Gustafsson, Ö. (2023). Black carbon aerosols over the Indian Ocean have unique source fingerprint and optical characteristics during monsoon season. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 120(8), e2210005120. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2210005120
Stefano, P., D’Agostino, L. A., Sadiktsis, I., Froment, J., Bonnefille, B., Sdougkou, K., Xie, H., Athanassiadis, I., Budhavant, K., Dasari, S., Andersson, A., Gustafsson, Ö., & Martin, J. W. (2022). Nontarget analysis and high-throughput molecular characterization of air pollution. Communications Earth & Environment, 3, 180. https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-022-00365-1
Varpe, S. R., Mahajan, C. M., Kolhe, A. R., Kutal, G. C., Budhavant, K. B., Singh, P. R., & Aher, G. R. (2022). Aerosol–cloud interaction over south-central India and adjoining coastal areas. Aerosol Science and Engineering, 6, 95–106. https://doi.org/10.1007/s41810-021-00123-4
Dasari, S., Andersson, A., Popa, E., Holmstrand, H., Röckmann, T., Budhavant, K., & Gustafsson, Ö. (2021). Observational evidence of large contribution from primary sources for carbon monoxide in the South Asian outflow. Environmental Science & Technology, 55(5), 3160–3169. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.1c05486
Budhavant, K. B., Gawhane, R. D., Rao, P. S. P., Nair, H., & Safai, P. D. (2021). Long-term increasing trends in the wet deposition of secondary inorganic constituents in southwest Indian precipitation. Air Quality, Atmosphere & Health, 14, 1187–1198. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11869-020-00970-z
Dasari, S., Andersson, A., Bikkina, S., Stohl, A., Evangeliou, N., Holmstrand, H., Budhavant, K. B., Salam, A., & Gustafsson, Ö. (2020). Source fingerprinting of South Asian atmospheric black carbon with isotopes and modeling. Environmental Science & Technology, 54, 11771–11779. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.0c02193
Kesti, J., Asmi, E., O’Connor, E., John, B., Budhavant, K., Andersson, A., Dasari, S., Bikkina, S., & Gustafsson, Ö. (2020). Changes in aerosol size distributions over the Indian Ocean during different meteorological conditions. Tellus B: Chemical and Physical Meteorology, 72(1), 1792756. https://doi.org/10.1080/16000889.2020.1792756
Budhavant, K. B., Gawhane, R. D., Rao, P. S. P., Nair, H., & Safai, P. D. (2020). Physico-chemical characterization and sink mechanism of atmospheric aerosols over southwest India. Journal of Atmospheric Chemistry, 77, 135–153. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10874-020-09400-x
Budhavant, K. B., Andersson, A., Holmstrand, H., Bikkina, P., Bikkina, S., Satheesh, S. K., & Gustafsson, Ö. (2020). Enhanced light absorption of black carbon in rain over the northern Indian Ocean. Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres, 125, e2019JD031246. https://doi.org/10.1029/2019JD031246
Dasari, S., Andersson, A., Bikkina, S., Holmstrand, H., Budhavant, K., Satheesh, S. K., Bäckman, J., Kesti, J., Asmi, E., Salam, A., Bisht, D. S., Tiwari, S., Zahid, A., & Gustafsson, Ö. (2019). Bleaching of brown carbon aerosols in the South Asian outflow. Science Advances, 5(1), eaau8066. https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.aau8066
Gawhane, R. D., Rao, P. S. P., Budhavant, K. B., Meshram, D. C., & Safai, P. D. (2018). Anthropogenic fine aerosols dominate over the Pune region, southwest India. Meteorology and Atmospheric Physics, 130, 481–493. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00703-018-0653-y
Budhavant, K. B., Bikkina, S., Andersson, A., Asmi, E., John, B., Zahid, A., & Gustafsson, Ö. (2018). Anthropogenic fine aerosols dominate the wintertime regime over the northern Indian Ocean. Tellus B: Chemical and Physical Meteorology, 70(1), 1464871. https://doi.org/10.1080/16000889.2018.1464871
Varpe, S. R., Kolhe, A. R., Kutal, G. C., Pawar, G. V., Payra, S., Budhavant, K. B., Aher, G. R., & Devara, P. C. S. (2018). Heterogeneity in aerosol characteristics at semi-arid and island AERONET observing sites in India and Maldives. International Journal of Remote Sensing, 39(15–16), 5007–5025. https://doi.org/10.1080/01431161.2018.1454622
Gawhane, R. D., Rao, P. S. P., Budhavant, K. B., Waghmare, V., Meshram, D. C., & Safai, P. D. (2017). Seasonal variation of chemical composition and source apportionment of PM2.5 in Pune. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 24, 21065–21072. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-017-9761-3
Budhavant, K. B., Rao, P. S. P., & Safai, P. D. (2017). Size distribution and chemical composition of summer aerosols over Southern Ocean and the Antarctic region. Journal of Atmospheric Chemistry, 74, 491–503. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10874-016-9356-2
Budhavant, K. B., Rao, P. S. P., Safai, P. D., Granat, L., & Rodhe, H. (2016). Black carbon in cloud water and rainwater during monsoon season at a high-altitude station in India. Atmospheric Environment, 129, 256–264. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosenv.2016.01.028
Satsangi, P. G., Pipal, A. S., Budhavant, K. B., Rao, P. S. P., & Taneja, A. (2016). Study of chemical species associated with fine particles and their secondary particle formation at a semi-arid region of India. Atmospheric Pollution Research, 7, 42–51. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apr.2016.06.010
Budhavant, K. B., Andersson, A., Bosch, C., Kruså, M., Murthaza, A., Zahid, A., & Gustafsson, Ö. (2015). Local vs. long-range transport contributions of PM2.5 particles over the Maldives, northern Indian Ocean. Science of the Total Environment, 536, 72–78. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2015.07.059
Budhavant, K., Andersson, A., Bosch, C., Kruså, M., Kirillova, E. N., Sheesley, R. J., Safai, P. D., Rao, P. S. P., & Gustafsson, Ö. (2015). Radiocarbon-based source apportionment of elemental carbon aerosols at two South Asian receptor observatories over a full annual cycle. Environmental Research Letters, 10, 064004. https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/10/6/064004
Budhavant, K. B., Rao, P. S. P., & Safai, P. D. (2015). Sources and chemical composition of summer aerosols over coastal Antarctica, Larsemann Hills. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 22, 2041–2050. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-014-3452-0
Budhavant, K. B., Rao, P. S. P., & Safai, P. D. (2014). Chemical composition of snow water and scavenging ratios over coastal Antarctica. Aerosol and Air Quality Research, 14, 666–676. https://doi.org/10.4209/aaqr.2013.03.0104
Budhavant, K. B., Rao, P. S. P., Safai, P. D., Granat, L., & Rodhe, H. (2014). Chemical composition of the inorganic fraction of cloud water at a high-altitude station in west India. Atmospheric Environment, 88, 59–65. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosenv.2014.01.039
Bosch, C., Andersson, A., Kirillova, E., Budhavant, K., Tiwari, S., Praveen, P. S., Russell, L. M., Beres, N. D., Ramanathan, V., & Gustafsson, Ö. (2014). Soluble organic carbon and elemental carbon in the South Asian outflow intercepted over the Indian Ocean. Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres, 119, 11743–11759. https://doi.org/10.1002/2014JD022127
Safai, P. D., Raju, M. P., Budhavant, K. B., Rao, P. S. P., & Devara, P. C. S. (2013). Long-term studies on characteristics of black carbon aerosols over a tropical urban station, Pune, India. Atmospheric Research, 132–133, 173–184. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosres.2013.05.002
Kirillova, E. N., Andersson, A., Sheesley, R. J., Kruså, M., Praveen, P. S., Budhavant, K., Safai, P. D., Rao, P. S. P., & Gustafsson, Ö. (2013). 13C- and 14C-based study of sources and atmospheric processing of water-soluble organic carbon in South Asian aerosols. Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres, 118, 614–626. https://doi.org/10.1002/jgrd.50130
Sheesley, R. J., Kirillova, E., Andersson, A., Kruså, M., Praveen, P. S., Budhavant, K., Safai, P. D., Rao, P. S. P., & Gustafsson, Ö. (2012). Year-round radiocarbon-based source apportionment of carbonaceous aerosols at two background sites in South Asia. Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres, 117, D10202. https://doi.org/10.1029/2011JD017161
Budhavant, K. B., Rao, P. S. P., Safai, P. D., Gawhane, R. D., Raju, M. P., Mahajan, C. M., & Satsangi, P. G. (2012). Atmospheric wet and dry depositions of ions over an urban location in southwest India. Aerosol and Air Quality Research, 12, 561–570. https://doi.org/10.4209/aaqr.2011.12.0233
Ali, K., Budhavant, K. B., Safai, P. D., & Rao, P. S. P. (2012). Seasonal factors influencing chemical composition of total suspended particles at Pune, India. Science of the Total Environment, 414, 257–267. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2011.09.011
Budhavant, K. B., Rao, P. S. P., Safai, P. D., & Ali, K. (2011). Influence of local sources on rainwater chemistry over Pune region, India. Atmospheric Research, 100, 121–131. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosres.2011.01.004
Raju, M. P., Safai, P. D., Budhavant, K. B., Rao, P. S. P., & Devara, P. C. S. (2011). Seasonal characteristics of black carbon aerosols at a high-altitude station in southwest India. Atmospheric Research, 100, 103–110. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosres.2011.01.006
Ali, K., Sonbawane, S., Chate, D. M., Singh, D., Rao, P. S. P., Safai, P. D., & Budhavant, K. B. (2010). Chemistry of snow and lake water in Antarctic region. Journal of Earth System Science, 119, 753–762. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12040-010-0063-0
Budhavant, K. B., Rao, P. S. P., Safai, P. D., Gawhane, R. D., & Raju, M. P. (2010). Chemistry of rainwater and aerosols over Bay of Bengal during CTCZ program. Journal of Atmospheric Chemistry, 65, 171–183. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10874-011-9187-0
Safai, P. D., Budhavant, K. B., Rao, P. S. P., Ali, K., & Sinha, A. (2010). Source characterization for aerosol constituents and changing roles of calcium and ammonium aerosols in the neutralization of aerosol acidity at a semi-urban site in southwest India. Atmospheric Research, 98, 78–88. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosres.2010.05.011
Budhavant, K. B., Rao, P. S. P., Safai, P. D., & Ali, K. (2009). Chemistry of monsoon and post-monsoon rains at a high-altitude location, Sinhagad, India. Aerosol and Air Quality Research, 9, 65–79. https://doi.org/10.4209/aaqr.2008.07.0033
Safai, P. D., Kewat, S., Pandithurai, G., Praveen, P. S., Ali, K., Tiwari, S., Rao, P. S. P., Budhwant, K. B., Saha, S. K., & Devara, P. C. S. (2008). Aerosol characteristics during winter fog at Agra, North India. Journal of Atmospheric Chemistry, 61, 101–118. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10874-009-9127-4
Budhavant, K. B., Rao, P. S. P., & Safai, P. D. (2022). Study of physico-chemical characteristics of aerosols and snow chemistry over Antarctica. Technical Publication 27. ISBN: 9789353914363. http://hdl.handle.net/123456789/1205
Rao, P. S. P., Safai, P. D., & Budhavant, K. B. (2012). Acid rain and environmental impacts. In A. S. Panicker & D.-I. Lee (Eds.), Air pollution: Monitoring, impacts and mitigation strategies (pp. 127–147). Research Signpost. ISBN: 978-81-308-0488-0
Rao, P. S. P., Safai, P. D., Budhavant, K., & Soni, V. K. (2014). Nitrogen deposition, critical loads and biodiversity: Wet deposition of nitrogen at different locations in India. In M. A. Sutton et al. (Eds.), Nitrogen deposition, critical loads and biodiversity (pp. 183–197). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-7939-6_13