M.Sc. : 2010, Chemistry (Physics), IIT - Madras.

B.Sc. : 2007, B.Sc.,( M.P.C), Sri Venkateswra University, Tirupati - 517502, AndhraPradesh.

• Jan,2023 - Present Scientist D, National Centre for Earth Science Studies.
• Jan,2019 - Dec, 2022 Scientist C, National Centre for Earth Science Studies.
• Feb,2016 - Dec,2018 Scientist B, National Centre for Earth Science Studies.
• Aug,2013 - June, 2015 CAT- Trainee Scientist, Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Pune - 411008, Maharashtra.
• Aug,2010 - July,2012 Institute Project Fellow, Department of Chemistry, IIT - Madras, Chennai - 411008.

1. Air Quality Studies, Bio-Geo Chemical Changes, Climate Change, Landuse & Landcover Change, Groundwater Chemistry & Quality, Submarine Groundwater Discharge, Health Risk, Microplastic & Trace Metal Pollution.

1. Qualified for CSIR - JRF Chemical Sciences in 2011, All India Rank 69.
2. Qualified for CSIR - NET Chemical Sciences in 2012, All Indian Rank 48.
3. Qualified for GATE - 2013, Chemistry, All Indian Rank 39.

1. Reddy, K. K., Upendra, B., Gupta, H., Rai, S. P., Krishnan, K. A., Maya, T. V., & Kumar, D. (2026). Chemical weathering induced carbon sink potential of a highly populated tropical biodiversity hotspot: Evidences from Riverine pCO2 and δ13CDIC. Physics and Chemistry of the Earth, Parts A/B/C, 104364. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pce.2026.104364
2. Kumar, N. S., Teja, T. C., Upendra, B., & Madipally, R. (2026). Assessing the hydrological response of the Vamanapuram river basin to climate change and land use alterations using SWAT model: A case of tropical mountainous Western Ghats River, Southern India. Theoretical and Applied Climatology, 157(3), 133. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00704-026-06097-y
3. Kamaraj, J., Badimela, U., Kalarikal, D., Kunnavil, N., Nair, N. S., Keezhpalli, A., & Krishnan, S. (2026). Hydrogeophysical insights into subsurface freshwater pathways along the Adimalathura Coast, Southwest Kerala, India: An integrated hydrogeochemical and electrical resistivity tomography framework. Physics and Chemistry of the Earth, Parts A/B/C, 104468. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pce.2026.104468
4. Mallesh, D. B., Upendra, B., Maya, T. V., & Krishnan, K. A. (2026). Persistent organic pollutants in India: Multi-compartment trends, source fingerprinting, and emerging environmental challenges (2000–2025). Science of The Total Environment, 1026, 181646. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2026.181646
5. Reddy, K. K., Kotluri, S. K., Badimela, U., Krishnan, K. A., Gupta, H., & TM, V. M. (2026). Carbon dioxide consumption and efflux rates in a large tropical river basin: Implication for estimation of regional CO2 emissions. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms, 51(6), e70316. https://doi.org/10.1002/esp.70316
6. Kamaraj, J., Sekar, S., Roy, P. D., Arumugam, B., Kumar, P., Badimela, U., & Perumal, M. (2026). Machine learning approach for heavy metal source identification and spatial distribution in coastal sediments of Tiruchendur, Southern India. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 228, 119616. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2026.119616
7. Kaliraj, S., Srinivas, R., Anoop Krishnan, K., Krishnakumar, A., Upendra, B., Keerthan, L., & Sivakumar, K. (2026). Hydrochemical characterization and water quality assessment of a major freshwater lake in Thiruvananthapuram urban habitat, Kerala, India using GIS and multivariate analysis. Urban Water Journal, 1-22. https://doi.org/10.1080/1573062X.2026.2695191
8. Ganugapenta, S., Badimela, U., Ariffin, E. H., Krishnan, A. K., & Nadimikeri, J. (2026). Anthropogenic footprints on marine ecosystems: insights into biogeochemical shifts. Frontiers in Marine Science. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2026.1988736
9. Kamaraj, J., Badimela, U., Kunnavil, N., Mathai, J., Krishnan, S., Srinivas, R., & Sekar, S. (2025). Submarine groundwater discharge along India’s shorelines: a systematic review of recent studies and sustainability management approach. Regional Studies in Marine Science, 89, 104292. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rsma.2025.104292
10. 10. Sekar, S., Surendran, S., Roy, P. D., Perumal, M., Kumar, P., Elzain, H. E., ... & Jothimani, M. (2025). Machine learning-based prediction of seasonal groundwater quality for urbanized parts of Melur (Tamil Nadu), India. Results in Engineering, 108222. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rineng.2025.108222
11. Kamaraj, J., Badimela, U., Kunnavil, N., Krishnan, S., Srinivas, R., & Sekar, S. (2025). Radon (222Rn) as a geochemical tracer for submarine groundwater discharge (SGD): measuring techniques, source to sink mass balance model and practical constraints. Marine Environmental Research, 107639. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marenvres.2025.107639
12. Jees, R. V., Badimela, U., Kamaraj, J., Madipally, R., & Ghosh, S. (2025). GIS-based RUSLE modeling of soil erosion and sediment yield under future rainfall and land use changes in the Neyyar River Basin, Western Ghats, India. Journal of Sedimentary Environments, 10(3), 567-588. https://doi.org/10.1007/s43217-025-00240-x
13. Ganugapenta, S., Nadimikeri, J., Ariffin, E. H., Ballari, L., Badimela, U., Madipally, R., & Krishnan, K. A. (2025). Impact of lagoon outlet dynamics and heavy metal pollution on benthic foraminifera in Nellore coast, east coast of India: Implications for coastal development. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 218, 118159. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2025.118159
14. Upendra, B., Ciba, M., Rahul, S., Sreenivasulu, G., Reddy, S. K. K., Arun, V., & Krishnan, K. A. (2025). Dissolved load, chemical weathering, and CO2 uptake dynamics of small tropical mountainous rivers of Southern Granulite Terrain, Karamana and Vamanpuram, Western Ghats, India. Scientific Reports, 15(1), 11684. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-90913-4
15. Kunnavil, N., Badimela, U., Srinivas, R., Balan, S., Krishnan, S., Behera, A. K., & Sarojam, S. B. D. (2025). Multiple proxies to investigate the submarine groundwater discharge into the Arabian Sea, Southwest coast, India: Integration of biogeochemical, geophysical, and remote sensing techniques. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 32(13), 8117-8144. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-025-36132-w
16. Ganugapenta, S., Badimela, U., Subbyamoola, P. B., Madipally, R., Nadimikeri, J., & Krishnan, K. A. (2025). Ecological responses of benthic foraminifera to trace element pollution in the Beypore estuary, Southwest coast of India: Implications for coastal anthropogenic contamination. Marine Environmental Research, 205, 107022. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marenvres.2025.107022
17. Badimela, U., Manohar, C., Kamaraj, J., James, A., Upasana, A., Ganugapenta, S., & Krishnan, A. (2024). Dynamic analysis of soil erosion and sediment yield engrossment involving rainfall, land use and land cover impacts using GIS-based RUSLE & SDR modeling: southern western Ghats River Basin of Kerala, India. Geosciences Journal, 28(6), 959-980. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12303-024-0042-0
18. Upendra, B., Nanda, K., Jesuraja, K., Ciba, M., Sreenivasulu, G., & Anoop Krishnan, K. (2024). Analysis of human activities, built-up and rainfall impacts on groundwater potential zones using GIS and AHP techniques: A case of Karaman River, southern western ghats, India. Water Conservation Science and Engineering, 9(2), 61. https://doi.org/10.1007/s41101-024-00294-4
19. Liji, T. M., Sreelesh, R., Upendra, B., Sreelash, K., Maya, K., & Padmalal, D. (2024). Assessment of the hydro-geochemical characteristics of a Tropical River catchment in the southern Western Ghats, India: TM Liji et al. Journal of Earth System Science, 133(4), 221. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12040-024-02419-8
20. Chiluka, M., Gandla, V., Reddy, K. K., Gupta, H., Reddy, D. V., & Upendra, B. (2024). Irrigation suitability assessment of urban wastewater for sustainable agriculture: a case study of Musi river, India. Discover Water, 4(1), 91. https://doi.org/10.1007/s43832-024-00151-4
21. Nizar, A., Badimela, U., Manohar, C., Kamaraj, J., Ganugapenta, S., Nadimikeri, J., & Krishnan, A. (2024). Assessment of soil erosion by integrating RUSLE-SDR-TLA model in Cauvery river basin, India. Environmental Earth Sciences, 83(19), 549. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-024-11851-4
22. Rajasekhar, M., Upendra, B., Raju, G.S., & Anand, K. (2022). Identification of groundwater potential zones in southern India using geospatial and decision-making approaches. Applied Water Science, 12, 1-16. https://doi.org/10.1007/S13201-022-01603-9
23. Upendra, B., Ciba, M., Aiswarya, A., Dev, V.V., Sreenivasulu, G., & Krishnan, K.A. (2022). Mechanisms controlling the dissolved load, chemical weathering and CO2 consumption rates of Cauvery River, South India: role of secondary soil minerals. Environmental Earth Sciences, 81. https://doi.org/10.1007/S12665-022-10222-1
24. Jayaraju, N., Sreenivasulu, G., Reddy, B.C.S.R., Lakshmanna, B., Upendra, B., & Nallapa Reddy, A. (2021). Use of benthic foraminifera as a proxy for monitoring heavy metal pollution in the Swarnamukhi estuary, southeast coast of India. Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, 3, 249-260. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.ENCECO.2021.07.003
25. Reddy, S.K.K., Gupta, H., Badimela, U., Reddy, D.V., Kurakalva, R.M., & Kumar, D. (2021). Export of particulate organic carbon by the mountainous tropical rivers of Western Ghats, India: Variations and controls. Science of The Total Environment, 751, 142115. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.SCITOTENV.2020.142115
26. Singh, M., Singh, B.B., Singh, R., Upendra, B., Kaur, R., Gill, S.S., & Biswas, M.S. (2021). Quantifying COVID-19 enforced global changes in atmospheric pollutants using cloud computing based remote sensing. Remote Sensing Applications: Society and Environment, 22, 100489. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.RSASE.2021.100489
27. Ghude, S.D., Karumuri, R.K., Jena, C., Kulkarni, R., Pfister, G.G., Sajjan, V.S., Pithani, P., Debnath, S., Kumar, R., Upendra, B., et al., (2020). What is driving the diurnal variation in tropospheric NO2 columns over a cluster of high emission thermal power plants in India? Atmospheric Environment: X, 5, 100058. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.AEAOA.2019.100058
28. Sreelash, K., Sharma, R.K., Gayathri, J.A., Upendra, B., Maya, K., & Padmalal, D. (2018). Impact of Rainfall Variability on River Hydrology: A Case Study of Southern Western Ghats, India. Journal of the Geological Society of India, 92, 548-554. https://doi.org/10.1007/S12594-018-1065-9/METRICS
29. Ali, M. A., Upendra, B., & Rajakumar, B. (2011). Kinetic parameters of abstraction reactions of OH radical with ethylene, fluoroethylene, cis- and trans-1,2-difluoroethylene and 1,1-difluoroethylene, in the temperature range of 200-400 K: Gaussian-3/B3LYP theory. Chemical Physics Letters, 511, 440-446. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.CPLETT.2011.06.042

1. Ganugapenta, S., Badimela, U., Mejjad, N., & Krishnan, K. A. (Eds.). (2026). Coastal Biogeochemistry and Ecosystem Shifts: Tracing the Impact of Human Activities (Vol. 43). Springer Nature. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-032-17510-6
2. Reddy, K. K., Badimela, U., Gupta, H., & Reddy, D. V. (2026). Western Ghats: The Water Towers of India and Lifeline to the Coastal Arabian Sea. In Coastal Biogeochemistry and Ecosystem Shifts: Tracing the Impact of Human Activities (pp. 167-186). Cham: Springer Nature Switzerland. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-032-17510-6_8
3. 3. Ciba, M., & Upendra, B. (2024). Integrated long-term spatio-temporal assessment of hydrochemical attributes of Cauvery River, Southern India. In Modern River Science for Watershed Management: GIS and Hydrogeological Application (pp. 431-461). Cham: Springer Nature Switzerland.
4. 4. Nizar, A., Upendra, B., Ciba, M., Sreenivasulu, G., & Krishnan, K. A. (2024). Assessment of soil erosion in a tropical mountainous river of the Western Ghats, Southern India, using GIS-based RUSLE, SDR and AHP techniques. In Remote Sensing of Soils (pp. 505-523). Elsevier.
5. 5. Upendra, B., Ciba, M., Arun, V., Sreelesh, R., & Anoop Krishnan, K. (2023). Appraisal of coastal water quality of two hot spots on southwest coast of India: A case study of multi-year biogeochemical observations. In Coasts, estuaries and lakes: Implications for sustainable development (pp. 41-62). Cham: Springer International Publishing.
6. 6. Sreenivasulu, G., Jayaraju, N., Upendra, B., & Lakshmanna, B. (2022). Assessing the Impact of Coastal Morphodynamics on Water Chemistry Using Integrated GIScience and Modeling Approaches. In GIScience for the Sustainable Management of Water Resources (pp. 233-252). Apple Academic Press.