User:Tajender Ahuja at Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology/sandbox

Kalachand Sain obtained his M.Sc. (Tech) in Applied Geophysics from IIT-ISM (Dhanbad) and Ph.D. in Seismology from Osmania University (Hyderabad). He visited Cambridge University (UK) and Rice University (USA) as a post-doctoral fellow, and USGS (USA) as a visiting Scientist. Now, he is the Director at Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology, Dehradun. Earlier, he was the Chief Scientist & Head of Seismic Group at CSIR-NGRI, Hyderabad.

His expertise includes seismic tomography, full-waveform inversion, attribute characteristics, AVO modeling, prestack depth migration, rock physics modeling, machine learning etc. His research interests cover wide-range of scientific challenges: delineation & assessment of gas-hydrates, imaging sub-volcanic sediments, evolution of sedimentary basins, delimitation of collisional/subduction zones, understanding geo-tectonics & earthquake processes, glaciological studies, and advanced interpretation. This has resulted into ~150 audited publications, 75 non-SCI documents, 3 authored volumes, supervision of 10 Ph.D. students and 67 master dissertations.

He is a Fellow of all Indian Science Academies (INSA, IAS, NASI), Andhra Pradesh and Telangana Science Academy; recipient of Distinguished Alumnus Award of IIT-ISM, AP Scientist Award, National Mineral Award, Gondwana Research Best Paper Award, CSIR’s Raman Fellowship, DST’s BOYSCAST Fellowship, CSIR YS Award, Krishnan Gold Medal & Decennial Award of Indian Geophys. Union (IGU).

He is a Vice-President of IGU (2020 onward) and Congress Director of Federation of Indian Geosciences Association (2020 onward); Member of National Gas Hydrates Program, Research Advisory Councils and National Committees; Guest Editor in 3 Special Issues on Gas-hydrates in 'Marine & Petroleum Geology’ by Elsevier; Board Member in 2nd & 3rdEditions of 'Encyclopedia for Solid Earth Geophysics' by Springer.

He delivered CSIR Foundation Day Lecture at CSIR-IIP, National Science Day Lecture at CSIR-NBRI, Prof. Jagdeo Singh Memorial Lecture (2019) at IIT(ISM), Dr. M.N. Bose Memorial Lecture (2019) at BSIP and Prem Bahadur Memorial Lecture (2009) of Indian Geol. Congress at KDMIPE.

Major Scientific Achievements:

·   Established Gas Hydrates Research Center with world-class facilities at CSIR-NGRI for inversion, modeling, processing, interpretation of Seismic data, laboratory experiments

·   Developed neural-based novel approach, first of its kind, for semi-automatic interpretation of 3D seismic data, which have been applied extensively for delimiting subsurface geologic features from available seismic data off India, New Zealand and Norway, and Established AI Centre of Excellence at WIHG to provide solution to industry-challenges

·   Developed state-of-the-art 2D full waveform tomography of wide-angle seismic data, and delineated fine-scale velocity-structures, for the first time, of sub-volcanic sediments in Kerala-Konkan and gas-hydrates bearing sediments in Krishna-Godavari offshore basins

·   Characterized and evaluated gas-hydrates reservoirs in Krishna-Godavari, Mahanadi and Andaman basins, which were validated by drilling & coring, and Estimated critical parameters (porosity, permeability, pore pressure) from seismic data that are pre-requisite for the development of geologic-specific production technology

·   Delineated high-resolution deep structures in Southern Granulite Terrain, Dharwar Craton, Eastern Ghat mobile belt, Narmada-Son Lineament, Kutch Peninsula, NW Himalaya, and Andaman subduction zone from seismic data, and shed light on geo-tectonics and Earthquake (2001 Bhuj & 1997 Jabalpur) processes including seismotectonics of Andaman subduction zone

·   Leading a Mission-mode Project on “Characterization and Assessment of surface and subsurface Processes in the Himalaya (CAP-Himalaya) for Seismogenesis, Geodynamics, Geo-hazards and Natural resources

·   Initiated a project for the conversion of Geothermal Green Energy into Electrical Energy (initially for 5 MW and envisaged for 20 MW, first of its kind) at Tapovan in Uttarakhand Himalaya, and Signed a MoU with a Private Energy Limited