Research Interests
Assessing the roles of oceanic processes, particularly ocean stratification and mixing, in ocean-atmosphere interactions that dictate the genesis and evolution of extreme weather.
Examining long-term anomalous changes of physical processes, specifically western boundary currents and meridional overturning circulations, that control inter-ocean exchanges of heat and freshwater and their implications on weather and climate variability.
Extracting dynamical constraints from multi-faceted observations in terms of large-scale oceanic waves theory.
Kandaga Pujiana, Ph. D.
Assistant Scientist (University of Miami/CIMAS), Physical Oceanography Division
4301 Rickenbacker Causeway
Miami, Florida 33149
“The ocean responds slowly to energetic, rapidly moving, and evolving atmospheric disturbances, with the oceanic response continuing after the disturbances have passed. The relatively slow response time of the ocean is reflective of its high heat capacity and density and may introduce a memory effect into subsequent atmospheric disturbances.”
Dr. Kandaga Pujiana is an Assistant Scientist at the Cooperative Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Studies (CIMAS) at the University of Miami. He completed his Ph.D. in Ocean and Climate Physics at Columbia University. Dr. Pujiana’s research interests extend from examining the importance of oceanic processes in ocean-atmosphere interactions to extracting dynamical constraints from multi-faceted observations in terms of theory for large-scale ocean circulations and waves. His current research attempts to assess anomalous changes in oceanic processes such as western boundary currents and the meridional overturning circulation, with significant implications on inter-ocean heat and freshwater exchanges and potentially climate variability. Dr. Pujiana is apart of the XBT science team at AOML.
Current Work
A recipe for subseasonal variations of western boundary currents in the North Atlantic basin.
Tracking anomalous changes in the subtropical gyre and meridional overturning circulations and their impacts on inter-ocean and ocean-atmosphere heat exchanges in the North Atlantic Ocean.
2001, B.S. Geophysics & Meteorology, Bandung Institute of Technology, Bandung, Indonesia
2005, M.S. Oceanography & Atmospheric Sciences, Bandung Institute of Technology, Bandung, Indonesia
2007, M.A. Earth & Environmental Sciences, Columbia University, New York, NY
2011, M. Phil. Earth & Environmental Sciences, Columbia University, New York, NY
2012, Ph. D. Earth & Environmental Sciences, Columbia University, New York, NY
Meng, Z., Zhou, L., Murtugudde, R., Yang, Q., Pujiana, K., and Xi, J. Tropical oceanic intraseasonal variabilities associated with central Indian Ocean mode. Climate Dynamics. 2021. doi:10.1007/s00382- 021-05951-1.
Pujiana, K., and McPhaden, M. J. Biweekly Mixed Rossby-gravity waves in the equatorial Indian Ocean. Journal of Geophysical Research-Oceans, 126, e2020JC016840. 2021. doi:10.1029/2020JC016840.
Pujiana, K., and McPhaden, M. J. Intraseasonal Kelvin waves in the equatorial Indian Ocean and their propagation into the Indonesian Seas. Journal of Geophysical Research-Oceans, 125(5), e2019JC015839. 2020. doi:10.1029/2019JC015839.
- Pujiana, K., D.L. Volkov, S. Dong, G. Goni, M. Baringer, R.H. Smith, and R. Garcia. Genesis of the Gulf Stream subseasonal variability in the Florida Straits. Journal of Geophysical Research-Oceans, 128(2):e2022JC018555, https://doi.org/10.1029/2022JC018555 2023
Ref. 4230 - Dong, S., D.L. Volkov, G. Goni, K. Pujiana, F. Tagklis, and M. Baringer. Remote impact of the equatorial Pacific on Florida Current transport. Geophysical Research Letters, 49(4):e2021GL096944, https://doi.org/10.1029/2021GL096944 2022
Ref. 4079 - Kersale, M., D.L. Volkov, K. Pujiana, and H. Zhang. Interannual variability of sea level in the south Indian Ocean: Local versus remote forcing mechanisms. Ocean Science, 18(1):193-212, https://doi.org/10.5194/os-18-193-2022 2022
Ref. 4077
The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine National Research Council Research Associateship 2016
Kyoto University Active Geosphere Outstanding Student Paper Award 2007