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Mukesh Rai

Photo of Mukesh Rai

Address:

4800 Oak Grove Drive

Pasadena, CA 91109

Curriculum Vitae:

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Website:

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Member of:

Tropospheric Composition

Postdoctoral Researcher

Biography

Mukesh Rai holds a Ph.D. in Atmospheric Physics and Atmospheric Science from the University of Chinese Academy of Science. His research interest revolves around the atmospheric aerosols and traces gases compositions, and study their potential climatic and human health impacts by using numerical models, remote sensing data sets, and in-situ observation. His previous research includes aerosol optical properties, radiative forcing, aerosol transport mechanisms, columnar distribution of aerosols, synergy on aerosol-PBL feedback, the role of wind regime in aerosol transport, analysis on aerosol optical depth distribution using multi-sensors satellite and model, and meteorological influence in aerosols. Prior to joining JPL, he worked for the International Center for Integrated Mountain and Development (ICIMOD) where he engaged in installation of Black Carbon monitoring station, supported in incorporating NASA/SERVIR air quality model validation using satellite products and observation data.
Mukesh Rai is a postdoctoral fellow in Earth Science Division’s Tropospheric Composition Group and he will use transport diagnostic tools that leverage the atmospheric river concept, tropospheric chemistry reanalysis products and new satellite observations of peroxyacetyl nitrate (PAN) to analyze large-scale transport of trace gases, improve the use of satellite PAN observations in transport analysis, evaluate current chemistry reanalysis and satellite products and characterize long-range transport phenomena and quantify impacts on local air quality extremes.

Education

  1. Ph.D., Atmospheric Physics and Atmospheric Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Science (2022)
  2. M.S by Research in Glaciology, Kathmandu University (2017)
  3. M.Sc., Environmental Science, Tribhuvan University (2013)

Professional Experience

  1. Jet Propulsion Laboratory - Postdoctoral Researcher (January 2023 - present)
  2. The International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD):
    1. Air Quality Dashboard and Modeling Consultant (Sep, 2022 – Dec, 2022)
    2. Research Assistant (Oct, 2017 – Mar, 2018)
    3. Intern (Jan 2017 – June 2017

Research Interests

  • Atmospheric modeling
  • Synergy on aerosol-climate-health
  • Dynamics of long-range transport
  • Teleconnection of extreme events

Selected Awards

  • CAS-TWAS Presidential fellowship, PhD
  • Cryospheric Monitoring Project fellowship, M.S

Selected Publications

  1. Rai, M., Kang, S., Yang, J., Chen, X., Hu, Y., & Rupakheti, D. (2022). Tracing atmospheric anthropogenic black carbon and its potential radiative response over pan-third pole region: A synoptic-scale analysis using wrf-chem. Journal of Geophysical Research-Atmosphere, 127, e2021JD035772.doi:https://doi.org/10.1029/2021JD035772
  2. Rai, M., Mahapatra, P. S., Gul, C., Kayastha, R. B., Panday, A. K., & Puppala, S. P. (2022). Aerosol radiative forcing estimation over a remote high-altitude location ( 4900 masl) near yala glacier, nepal. Aerosol and Air Quality Research, 19(8), 1872–1891. _doi:10.4209/aaqr.2018.09.0342
  3. Rai, M., S., Kang, Yang, J., Rupakheti. M., Rupakheti, D., Tripathee, L., Hu. Y.,Chen (2023) Insight into seasonal aerosol concentrations, meteorological influence, and transport over the Pan-Third Pole region using multi-sensors satellite and model simulation (To be submitted).
  4. Yang, J., Kang, S., Chen, D., Zhao, L., Ji, Z., Duan, K., Deng, H., Tripathee, L., Du, W., Rai, M., Yan, F., Li, Y., Gillies, R.R, (2022). South asian black carbon is threatening the water sustainability of the asian water tower. Nature Communication, 13, 7360.doi:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-022-35128-1
  5. Rupakheti, D., Rupakheti, M., Rai, M., Yu, X., Yin, X., Kang, S., Orozaliev, D.O., Sinyakov, Sinyakov, V.P., Abdullaev, S.F., Sulaymon, I.D., & Hu, J., (2022). " Spatio-temporal characteristics of air pollutants over Xinjiang, northwestern China ." Environmental Pollution 316: 115907. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2022.120501
  6. Yang, J., Kang, S., Hu, Y., Chen, X., Rai, M.. (2022). "Influence of South Asian Biomass Burning on Ozone and Aerosol Concentrations Over the Tibetan Plateau." Advances in Atmospheric Sciences 10(1007): https://doi.org/10.1007/s00376-022-1197-0
  7. Hu, Y., Kang, S., Yang, J., Chen, X., Ji, Z., & Rai, M..(2022). "Transport of black carbon from Central and West Asia to the Tibetan Plateau: Seasonality and climate effect." Atmospheric Research 809: 151095.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosres.2021.105987
  8. Gul, C., Mahapatra, P.S., Kang, S., Singh, P.K., Wu, X., He, C., Kumar, R., Rai, M., Xu, Y. and Puppala, S.P. (2021). "Black carbon concentration in the central Himalayas: Impact on glacier melt and potential source contribution." Environmental Pollution 275: 116544. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2021.116544
  9. Neupane, B., Wang, J., Kang, S., Zhang, Y., Chen, P., Rai, M., & Thapa, P. (2021). "Black carbon and mercury in the surface sediments of Selin Co, central Tibetan Plateau: Covariation with total carbon." Science of the Total Environment 19: 1872-1891. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.137752