Akash Kumar

My research aims to advance understanding of vertical coupling across atmospheric layers, a key source of uncertainty in predicting whole-atmosphere variability. I investigated extreme dynamical events, such as strong and weak polar vortex episodes, including sudden stratospheric warmings, to understand how disturbances propagate vertically through changes in atmospheric dynamics, energetics, and transport processes. My recent work examined the impact of these events on the structure and dynamics of the entire atmosphere, with particular emphasis on the middle atmosphere. I combine multi-mode measurements in combination observations with physics-based models to establish an integrated framework linking neutral and electrodynamical processes under internal variability and external forcing. Building on this foundation, my recent research addresses jet stream variability and its interaction with weather systems that modulate large-scale heat and moisture transport, with implications for improved subseasonal-to-seasonal predictability.