Dr. Shraddha Gupta
Postdoctoral Researcher
Physical Geography and Earth System Interactions
Earth System Modeller
Office address:
Luisenstraße 37
Room C 216
I am passionate about understanding the intricacies of Earth’s climate system through tools of Complexity Science and Nonlinear Dynamics, driven by my background in statistical physics and a deep interest in the behaviour of real-world systems. My expertise lies in employing advanced statistical methods, including linear and nonlinear time series analysis, as well as approaches based on synchronization and complex network theory, to study patterns of climate variability at various scales. My research in these areas has contributed to the development of innovative schemes for detecting tropical cyclone tracks, enhanced our understanding of the variability of the Asian Summer Monsoon on intraseasonal to interannual timescales, and provided valuable insights into the spatial properties of forecast errors.
At LMU, my current research focuses on modelling Earth system responses to pathways achieving climate neutrality by Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR) deployment with and without temperature overshoot. I am developing an improved detection framework using advanced signal filtering techniques, specifically designed to detect and distinguish CDR signals from general emission reductions, enabling more precise monitoring and reporting of CDR impacts to support sustainable climate strategies.
RESEARCH PROJECT
The project is a comprehensive model intercomparison initiative to quantify the Earth system response in realistic pathways achieving climate neutrality that include deployment of diverse Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR) portfolio. The project places particular emphasis on the process representation of various CDR methods in Earth System Models, including bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS), afforestation/reforestation, Ocean Alkalinity Enhancement, and Direct Air Carbon Capture and Storage. A key focus is on understanding the role of Earth system feedbacks in overall CDR effectiveness, aspects of reversibility and environmental risks associated with temperature overshoot scenarios.
Within RESCUE, my research activities include:
- Contribution to the design of realistic CDR scenarios through collaboration between Earth system and socioeconomic modellers aimed at improving the overall modelling ecosystem.
- Involvement in the development of process representation of BECCS in fully-interactive mode of MPI Earth System Model (MPI-ESM)/JSBACH.
- Preparation of model forcing inputs, running fully coupled model simulations with MPI-ESM, and analysing the simulation results.
- Advancing “detection and attribution” methods to improve the reliability of CDR signal identification, even in low-emission or overshoot scenarios where low signal-to-noise ratios pose challenges. This work aims to strengthen recommendations for designing observational systems capable of early CDR signal detection and monitoring potential side effects.
COMPLETED RESEARCH PROJECTS
Participated as an Early Stage Researcher in the EU H2020 MSCA ITN : Climate Advanced Forecasting of sub-seasonal Extremes (CAFE) project, which funded my doctoral research at the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, Potsdam, Germany.
Selected Publications
Wu, T., Gao, X., An, F., Sun, X., An, H., Su, Z., Gupta, S., Gao, J., and Kurths, J.: Predicting multiple observations in complex systems through low-dimensional embeddings, Nat Commun, 15, 2242, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-46598-w, 2024.
Gupta, S., Banerjee, A., Marwan, N., Richardson, D., Magnusson, L., Kurths, J., and Pappenberger, F.: Analysis of spatially coherent forecast error structures, Quart J Royal Meteoro Soc, 149, 2881–2894, https://doi.org/10.1002/qj.4536, 2023.
Gupta, S.: Study of Climate Variability Patterns at Different Scales – A Complex Network Approach, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, https://doi.org/10.18452/26439, 2023.
De, S., Gupta, S., Unni, V. R., Ravindran, R., Kasthuri, P., Marwan, N., Kurths, J., and Sujith, R. I.: Study of interaction and complete merging of binary cyclones using complex networks, Chaos: An Interdisciplinary Journal of Nonlinear Science, 33, 013129, https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0101714, 2023 (Selected in Featured and Scilight collections).
Gupta, S., Su, Z., Boers, N., Kurths, J., Marwan, N., and Pappenberger, F.: Interconnection between the Indian and the East Asian summer monsoon: Spatial synchronization patterns of extreme rainfall events, Intl Journal of Climatology, 43, 1034–1049, https://doi.org/10.1002/joc.7861, 2023.
Gupta, S., Mastrantonas, N., Masoller, C., and Kurths, J.: Perspectives on the importance of complex systems in understanding our climate and climate change—The Nobel Prize in Physics 2021, Chaos: An Interdisciplinary Journal of Nonlinear Science, 32, 052102, https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0090222, 2022 (Selected in Featured and Scilight collections).
Gupta, S., Boers, N., Pappenberger, F., and Kurths, J.: Complex network approach for detecting tropical cyclones, Clim Dyn, 57, 3355–3364, https://doi.org/10.1007/s00382-021-05871-0, 2021.
Gupta, S., De, S., Janaki, M. S., and Iyengar, A. N. S.: Using wavelet analysis to investigate synchronization, Phys. Rev. E, 100, 022218, https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.100.022218, 2019.
De, S., Gupta, S., Janaki, M. S., and Sekar Iyengar, A. N.: Frequency and wavelet based analyses of partial and complete measure synchronization in a system of three nonlinearly coupled oscillators, Chaos: An Interdisciplinary Journal of Nonlinear Science, 28, 113108, https://doi.org/10.1063/1.5049800, 2018.
Gupta, S., De, S., Janaki, M. S., and Sekar Iyengar, A. N.: Exploring the route to measure synchronization in non-linearly coupled Hamiltonian systems, Chaos: An Interdisciplinary Journal of Nonlinear Science, 27, 113103, https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4996814, 2017, (Selected in Featured and Scilight collections).
For a complete publication list, check my Google Scholar page.
EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND
Oct 2019 – Apr 2023 Doctoral studies (Dr. rer. nat.) in Physics, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin (HU), Berlin, Germany.
Specialization: Theoretical Physics.
Dissertation topic: Study of Climate Variability Patterns at Different Scales – A Complex Network Approach (awarded summa cum laude).
Supervisors: Prof. Dr. Dr. hc mult. Jürgen Kurths and Prof. Dr. Florian Pappenberger.
Jul 2017 – Jul 2019 M.Sc. in Physics Dept. of Physics, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras, Chennai, India
Jul 2014 – May 2017 B.Sc. Physics Honours, Dept. of Physics, St. Xavier’s College (Autonomous), University of Calcutta, Kolkata, India
WORK EXPERIENCE
Aug 2023 – Present Postdoctoral Researcher, Department of Geography, Physical Geography and Earth System Interactions, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (LMU), Munich, Germany
Sep 2019 – Feb 2023 Doctoral Researcher, Research Department 4: Complexity Science, Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK), Potsdam, Germany
OTHER ACADEMIC AND INDUSTRY EXPERIENCE
Mar 2023 – Present Guest Researcher, Research Department 4: Complexity Science, Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK), Potsdam, Germany
Mar 2023 –Jun 2023 Student Intern, Energy and Market Modelling Team, Elia Grid International GmbH, Berlin, Germany
Feb 2022 – Apr 2022 and Oct 2020 - Dec 2020 Visiting Researcher, Forecast Department, European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecast, Reading, United Kingdom
Jun 2021 – Oct 2021 Visiting Researcher, IFISC (Institute for Cross-Disciplinary Physics and Complex Systems, UIB-CSIC), Palma de Mallorca, Spain
May 2015 – Aug 2019 Undergraduate Research Associate, Saha Institute for Nuclear Physics, Kolkata, India
SCHOLARLY ACHIEVEMENTS
Sep 2019 Recipient of Prof. Chilukury Ramasastry Memorial Prize Gold Medal, IIT Madras, India, awarded in recognition of best academic record in M.Sc. Physics 2017-2019.
Jan 2018 Recipient of Parpati Chandumal Shahani Memorial Gold Medal, St. Xavier’s College (Autonomous), Kolkata, India, awarded for "Best Lady Physicist" in recognition of outstanding academic achievement in B.Sc. Physics (Hons.), Class of 2014–2017.
Jun 2014 –Jun 2019 Recipient of INSPIRE Scholarship for Higher Education (SHE), offered by Dept. of Science and Technology, Govt. of India, to selected talented youth with an aptitude for research and innovation, for a career in Basic & Natural sciences.