62-Year-Old Climate Scientist Dies

Krishna AchutaRao, a renowned climate scientist and professor at the Centre for Atmospheric Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi, passed away on September 4, 2026, at the age of 62. He was a prominent figure in the field of climate and atmospheric sciences, having made significant contributions to understanding the degree to which observed climatic change could be attributed to human activity.

AchutaRao's work spanned several institutions, including the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory’s Program for Climate Model Diagnosis and Intercomparison in the U.S., where he worked before returning to India in 2007. He also served as a member of the World Climate Research Programme’s Joint Scientific Committee from 2025.

At IIT Delhi, AchutaRao held various positions, including Head of the Centre for Atmospheric Sciences and Dean (Faculty). He played a key role in establishing the institute’s Centre of Excellence for Climate Change Adaptation. His research focused on the attribution of climate events like heat waves and the application of AI tools in climate change and monsoon research.

## Why it matters AchutaRao's work had significant implications for understanding the impact of human activity on climate change, particularly in the Indian sub-region. His collaborative research demonstrated detectable human influence on temperature changes across the region, connecting global climate science with regional risks. His passing is seen as a major loss to Indian climate science, with colleagues remembering him as a clear and principled critic of compromised scientific temper.

AchutaRao's colleagues and friends have paid tribute to his contributions to the field, remembering him as a warm and thoughtful person with a wonderful sense of humor. Roxy Mathew Koll, a climate scientist at the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, Pune, described him as a long-time friend and colleague, while Madhavan Rajeevan, Vice Chancellor, ATR, remembered him as a wonderful person who worked on the attribution of climate events like heat waves and applied AI tools in climate change and monsoon research.

The loss of AchutaRao will be felt deeply in the scientific community, particularly in the field of climate and atmospheric sciences. His contributions to understanding the human impact on climate change will continue to be felt, and his legacy will live on through his work and the institutions he helped establish.