Sarbeswar Kalita

Contact Details

Educational Profile

• M. Sc. (Physics with Electronics special)
• Ph. D. ( Env . Sc., Topic: A study on some climatological parameters influencing the Brahmaputra Valley )

Refresher and Short Term Courses Attended

• North Eastern Regional Workshop on Severe Thunderstorms – Observations and Regional Modeling (STORM): Organised by Earth System Sc. Div., DST, GOI & Assam Sc. Tech. and Env . Council (ASTEC), Guwahati at The Institution of Engineers ( India ), Guwahati, 17 th Nov, 2006
• National Workshop on Lightning Protection: Organised by TERI at Assam Administrative Staff College , Jawaharnagar , Guwahati , 26 – 27 April, 2006
• Refresher Course on Physics of the Atmosphere: Organised by Centre for Atmospheric and Oceanic Sc., IISc , Bangalore , 14 – 25 Nov, 2005
• APN Training Workshop on Interactions of Population Dynamics and Environmental Changes – Research on the Health Consequences: Organised by the Asian Meta Centre for Population and Sustainable Development Analysis at College of Population Studies, Chulalongkorn University , Bangkok , 5 – 9 Sept, 2005
• TOT Programme on Disaster Management with Emphasis on Disaster Resistant Technique for Assam : Organised by Assam Administrative Staff College , Jawaharnagar , Guwahati – 22, 6 – 10 Dec. 2004
• Use of GPS Technology, GPS Data Analysis and Processing: Organised by CSIR Centre for Mathematical Modeling and Computer Simulation (C-MMACS), Bangalore , 24 March – 4 April 2003
• Workshop on “Broad Band Seismology”: Organised by National Geophysical Res. Institute, Hyderabad , 3 – 22 Sept., 2001
• Spring School on Sort Computing Image Processing and Data Mining: Organised by Dept. of Physics, Gauhati University , 12 – 16 March, 2001
• 2 nd Winter School on Analysis of Directional Data: Organised by Indian Statistical Institute, Kolkata , 11 – 16 December, 1995
• Winter School on Analysis of Directional Data: Organised by Indian Statistical Institute, Kolkata , 12 – 17 December, 1994
• Workshop on “Development Ecology”: Organised by Assam Science Society at Guwahati, 25 – 29 October, 1994
• Training Programme on Geographic Information System and Natural Resource Management : Organised by Centre of Studies in Resource Engineering, IIT, Bombay , 18 October – 12 November, 1993
• Refresher Course in Computer Application: Organised by Dept. of Maths & Computer Science, Rani Durgabati University , Jabalpur , 23 Mar – 11 April, 1992
• Refresher Course in “Remote Sensing Application in Environmental Studies”: Organised by School of Earth Sciences , Bharathidasan University , Tiruchirapalli – 24, 1 – 28 March, 1991
• Workshop on Fundamentals in Atmospheric Sciences: Organised by Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore , 1 – 17 March, 1990
• Entrepreneurship Development Training Programme for Science & Technical Teachers of Northeast Region: Organised by Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India at Guwahati, 17 – 30 August, 1987

Details of participation in National and International Conferences, Seminar

Professional Experience

Teaching Experience Position held

1. Lecturer, Department of Environmental Science, Gauhati University from 26 March, 1985 to 30 April 1995
2. Reader, Department of Environmental Science, Gauhati University from 1 June, 1995 to 31May 2003
3. Reader and Head, Department of Environmental Science, Gauhati University from 1 June, 2003 to 31May 2006
4. Reader, Department of Environmental Science, Gauhati University from 1 June, 2006 to 15 August 2006
5. Professor, Department of Environmental Science, Gauhati University from 16 August 2006 to 1 June 2008
6. Professor and Head, Department of Environmental Science, Gauhati University from 2 June 2008 onwards

Research Experience : 25 years (Pre-doctoral: 4 years; Post-doctoral: 21 years)

Areas of Interest

• Environmental Science
• Hydrometeorology
• Seismology

Courses Taught

1 to 3 units of papers ES-101, ES-104, ES-201, ES-204, ES-302, ES-304 and ES-401

Ph. D.  Awarded

M. Phil. Dissertation Guided

Academic Organizational Positions Held

Head of the Department of Environmental Science.

Associations

• Life Member of Assam Science Society
• Life Member of SEPER, Guwahati
• Life Member of National Assoc. of Geographers, New Delhi
• Life Member of Indian Assoc. for Env. Management, Nagpur
• Life Member of Indian Meteorological Society, New Delhi

Publications

• Kalita, S. and Sarmah, S. K. (1979): A note on the computation of daily mean temperature at Guwahati and Brook’s formula. J. of Assam Sc. Soc., Vol.22, No. B, pp. 73-75.
• Kalita, S. and Sarmah, S. K. (1982): Diurnal variation of monsoon rainfall at an inland station in the Brahmaputra valley. Curr. Sc., Vol.51, No.18, pp.881-883.
• Kalita, S. and Sarmah, S. K. (1982): The annual volume of precipitation in the Brahmaputra valley. Gauhati Univ. J. of Sc., Vol.28, pp.44-51.
• Kalita, S. and Sarmah, S. K. (1983): Seasonal variation of rainfall in the Brahmaputra valley. Vayu Mandal, Vol.13, No.3 & 4, pp. 20-23.
• Kalita, S. and Sarmah, S. K. (1983): Variability of seasonal and annual rainfall in Brahmaputra valley. Gauhati Univ. J. of Sc., Vol.29, pp.26-31.
• Kalita, S. and Sarmah, S. K. (1984): On the occurrences of dry and wet sequences Brahmaputra valley. Proc. of Indian Acad. Sc. (Earth & Planet. Sc.), Vol.93, No.1, pp.27-36.
• Kalita, S. and Sarmah, S. K. (1984): A probable effect of deforestation on the rainfall climatology of the erstwhile Lakhimpur district of Assam. Proc. All India Sem. on Status of Env. Studies in India, Centre for Earth Sc. Studies, Trivandrum, 26-28 March, 1981, pp.280-283.
• Kalita, S. and Sarmah, S. K. (1985): Probable effects of orography on the rainfall distribution in the Brahmaputra valley. J. of Assam Sc. Soc., Vol.27, No. 2, pp. 24-30.
• Kalita, S. and Sarmah, S. K. (1985): Some features of hourly rainfall at Guwahati during monsoon. Vayu Mandal, Vol.15, No.3 & 4, pp. 159-163.
• Kalita, S. and Sarmah, S. K. (1986): Seasonality of the Brahmaputra valley rainfall. J. of Assam Sc. Soc., Vol.29, No. 1, pp. 86-92.
• Kalita, S. (1990): Wind power potential in Northeast India. Proc. of the Sem. on ‘Adv. In Geophys. Res. In India", NGRI, Hyderabad, 8-10 Feb., 1989, pp.89-93.
• Kalita, S. and Sarmah, S. K. (1990): Normalcy of seasonal and annual rainfall data in the Brahmaputra valley. Gauhati Univ. J. of Sc., Vol.30 (A/B), pp.32-35.
• Kalita, S. and Sarmah, S. K. (1990): Water balance and climatic classification of the Brahmaputra valley. Annals of NAGI, Vol.10, No.1, pp.61-74.
• Sarma, P. and Kalita, S. (1995): Suspended particulate matter over Jalukbari area: A case study. Gauhati Univ. J. of Sc., Vol.34. pp. 19-28
• Kalita, S. and Kalita, J. J. (1995): Some features of pre-monsoon thunderstorms over Guwahati. J. of Assam Sc. Soc., Vol.37, No. 1, pp. 56-65.
• Kalita, S. (1995): Coherent rainfall zones for the estimation of volume of precipitation: A case study for the Brahmaputra valley. Landscape Systems and Ecological Studies, Vol.18, pp.32-43.
• Kalita, S. and Goswami, R. (1996): Rainfall variations in upper Assam. Annals of NAGI, Vol.16, No.1, pp.28-39.
• Kalita, S. and Goswami, R. (1998): Rainfall variability in major tea growing districts of Assam. Gauhati Univ. J. of Sc., Golden Jubilee Volume, pp.147-154.
• Talukdar, N. and Kalita, S. (1998): Some features of flood on Pahumara River, Northeast India. Proc. Intl. Con. on Disaster Management, Guwahati, 23-26 April., 1998, pp. 19-27.
• Kalita, S. (1999): Temporal variations of pre-monsoon and monsoon rainfall in Northeast India. Vayu Mandal, Vol. 29(124), pp. 119-122.
• Kalita, S. and Sarma, R. (2000): Thunderstorm activity in Northeast India during pre-monsoon period. Proc. Symp. "TROPMET-2000", Cochin Univ. of Sc., & Tech., 16-19 Feb., 2000.
• Goswami, D. C.; Kalita, S.; Saikia, M. M. and Kalita, Sanjiv (2004): Seismicity of the Northeastern Region of India and its Neighbourhood - An Appraisal. Proc. of Indian Acad. Sc. (Earth & Planet. Sc.), Sp. Vol. on Natural Hazard, 2004.
• Talukdar, N. and Kalita, S. (2004): Flood Disaster and Mitigation in Barpeta District, Assam, India. Pre-Symp. Proceedings of Intl. Symp. on Natural Hazards (INTROMET-2004), 24-27 Feb., Hyderabad, pp. 89-93.
• Goswami, D.C., Kalita, S., Saikia, M.M. and Kalita, Sanjiv (2004): Seismicity and Seismotectonics of Lower Assam and Adjoining Areas. Pre-Symp. Proceedings of Intl. Symp. on Natural Hazards (INTROMET-2004), 24-27 Feb., Hyderabad, pp. 121-125.
• Barman, N. C.; Kalita, S.; Saikia, M. M. and Kalita, Sanjiv (2005): Strain energy release pattern in the Indo-Burma orogenic belt. Current Trends of Res. in Sc. and Tech.: Proc. of 50th Annual Technical Session of Assam Sc. Soc., Vol.6, 2005 pp 115-125
• Pathak, R. C. and Kalita, S. (2005): An investigation on the rainfall distribution in the Brahmaputra Valley. Current Trends of Res. in Sc. and Tech.: Proc. of 50th Annual Technical Session of Assam Sc. Soc., Vol.6, 2005, pp 105-114
• Talukdar, N. K. and Kalita, S. (2005): Flood management in Barpeta district, Assam. A case study. Disaster Management, Vol. 1, No. 1, pp. 19-27
• Barman, N. C.; Kalita, S. and Saikia, M. M. (2006): Plate convergence and seismic activity along Indo-Burma Plate Margin. Envirospectra, Vol. 1, No. 1, pp. 48-55
• Kalita, Sanjiv; Kalita, S. and Goswami, D. C. (2006): Recent seismic activity in Lower Assam Region: A report from Gauhati University Broadband Seismic Observatory. Envirospectra, Vol. 1, No. 1, pp. 129-137
• Kayal, J.R.; Arefiev, S.S.; Barua, S.; Hazarika, D.; Gogoi, N.; Kumar, A.; Chowdhury, S.N. and Kalita, S. (2006): Shillong plateau earthquakes in northeast India region: Complex tectonic model. Current Science, Vol.91, No.1, 109-114
• Kalita, S. and Talukdar, N. K. (2006): Environmental aspects of floods: A case study for Barpeta district of Assam, India. Proceedings of the 3rd APHW Conference, 16-18 Oct. 2006, Grand Hotel, Bangkok, Thailand (accepted)
• Kalita, S. and Talukdar, N. K. (2006): "Effects of Floods on Socioeconomic Life in Barpeta district, Assam. Paper presented in the International Conference on "Natural Hazards and Disasters: Local to Global Perspectives", November 25-27, 2006, Sri Krishnadevaraya University, Anantapur, INDIA
• Barman, N. C. and Kalita, S. (2007): Completeness Analysis of Earthquake Data File for Indo-Burma Orogenic Belt. Envirospectra, Vol. 1, No. 2 (Accepted)
• Barman, N. C. and Kalita, S. (2007): Temporal variation of seismicity in the Indo-Myanmar (Burma) Orogenic Belt. J. of Assam Sc. Soc., Vol.47, No. 2, pp. 4-12
• Goswami, D. C., Kalita, S., and Kalita, Sanjiv (2007): Seismological research in Lower Assam Region – A report from Gauhati University Broadband Seismic Observatory. Natural Hazards, Spl. Vol. of IGC. pp. 65-71
• Talukdar, N. K. and Kalita, S. (2007): Effects of floods on public health in Barpeta district of Assam. Envirospectra, (Accepted)
• S. Kalita and D. C. Nath (2007): An overview of rainfall variability (temporal) in the Brahmaputra Valley. Proc. of the Intl. Conf. on "Environmental & Ecological Statistics with Application", March 21-23, 2007, ISI, Kolkata. (in Press)
• Kalita, S. and Talukdar, N. K. (2007): On the occurrences of waterborne diseases in flood prone areas of Barpeta district, Assam. Proc. of the Intl. Conf. on "Environmental & Ecological Statistics with Application", March 21-23, 2007, ISI, Kolkata. (in Press)
• Kalita, S. and Talukdar, N. K. (2008): An Investigation on the River Water Quality during 2004 Flood in Barpeta district of Assam. J. of Assam. Sc. Soc. (Submitted)
• Talukdar, N. K. and Kalita, S. (2008): Flood and Its Impact on Socioeconomic Life in Barpeta district, Assam. Proc. of the Nat. Sem. on "Earthquake Hazard and Disaster Management of North Eastern States of India", Oct. 18-19, NIT Silchar (Submitted)
• Kalita, S.; Barman, N. C. and Saikia, M. M. (2008): Seismic activity in Indo-Burma Border and Earthquake hazard implication in Northeast India. Proc. of the Nat. Sem. on "Earthquake Hazard and Disaster Management of North Eastern States of India", Oct. 18-19, NIT Silchar (Submitted)

Personal/group and team research: 12 projects

• "A study on rainfall climatology with special reference to flood occurrences in the Brahmaputra Valley " (2 years duration) sponsored by UGC.
• "Study of climatology and Air Quality in and around Guwahati" (4 years duration) sponsored by DST, Govt. of Assam.
• "Study on Seismicity of Lower Assam Region" (5 years duration) Sponsored by DST, Govt. of India.
• "Quantification of Manpower and Financial Resources devoted to R & D in Science and Technology from Higher Education Sector" (2 years duration) Sponsored by DST, Govt. of India.
• "Seismic study of Lower Assam Region" (3 years duration) Sponsored by DST, Govt. of India.
• "Occupational Health Hazard Survey of Guwahati Refinery' (6 month duration) sponsored by Gauhati Refinery.
• "Impact Assessment Study of proposed National Highway "(2 month duration) sponsored by Boarder Roads Organization
• "Nature Conservation" 4 years duration) sponsored by WWF (Washington D.C)
• "Hydrological Modeling of Rivers using RS & GIS etc." (3 years duration) ISRO (Govt. of India ).
• "Study on Crustal Geodynamics in the Assam Foreland Basin using GPS" (3 years duration) sponsored by DST, Govt. of India.

Summary of Research Activities

Miscellaneous

Details of participation if any in processes of planning and policy formulation

Personal/group and team research: 11 projects

• Preparation and Presentation of Proposal for infrastructure development of the department under ‘FIST' Programme of DST, Govt. of India. Under this project DST sanctioned Rs . 45 lakhs to the department.
• Preparation of TDC Major Syllabus of Environmental Science
• Revision and restructuring of M. Sc. Syllabus of Environmental Science
• Preparation of M. Sc. Syllabus of Environmental Management.

Extension and field outreach activities

Founder Secretary of the NGO “Society for Environmental Protection Education and Research” and served the organization in that capacity for 10 years. During my tenure, I edit and published 6 Booklets , Newsletters of the society and organized 12 school level Workshops in both rural and urban centres. Now I am serving the organization as a Vice-President. I also served as an editor for the 16 th Vol of Prajna (Journal of GUTA) .