DR. U P G PATHIRANA

• B.Sc. (Hons) Oceanography and Marine Geology (University of Ruhuna, Sri Lanka)
• M.Sc. in Physical Oceanography (South China Sea Institute of Oceanology (SCSIO), China)
• Ph.D. in Climate Dynamics (Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), South Korea)

• Coordinator for FDN courses (English)

• OCG1252 – Statistics for Experimental Analysis I
• OCG2243 – Physical Oceanography
• OCG3152 – Statistics for Experimental Analysis II
• OCG3292 – Ocean Modelling
• OCG32B1 – Satellite Oceanography
• OCG4162 – Advanced Physical Oceanography

• Climate Change
• Tropical Air-Sea Interactions
• Bio-Physical Interaction
• Meteorology (Extreme Weather)
• Ocean Dynamics
• Research Cruises
  • 2015 – R/V Roger Revelle, NRL, USA – Bay of Bengal Monsoon Expedition
  • 2018 – R/V Shi Yan 3, SCSIO, China – Eastern Indian Ocean Expedition
  • 2020 – R/V Xiang Yang Hong 6, SIO, China - Joint Advanced Marine and Ecological Studies (JAMES) in the Bay of Bengal and the eastern equatorial Indian Ocean

• Abeywickrama, T., Pathirana, G., Noh, K.-M., Dissanayake, D., Wang, D., and Lee, D.-G.: Asymmetric effects of Indian Ocean dipole on surface chlorophyll variability in the Indian Ocean, under review. https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-5719068/v1
• Kajakokulan, P., Pathirana, G., Xin, G., and Premarathne, U.: Distinct impacts of pure El Niño events on spring rainfall of Sri Lanka, under review. https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-4355490/v1
• Le, Z., Subrahmanyam, M.V., Raju, P.V.S., Pathirana, G., Wang, D., and Song, W.: A revisit of the semi-geostrophic eddy east of the Sri Lanka Dome with anisotropy insight, Frontiers in Marine Science, 2025. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2024.1504821
• Pathirana, G., Noh, K.-M., Lee, D.-G., Park, H.-J., Wang, D., and Kug, J.-S.: Intensified phytoplankton responses to the Indian Ocean Dipole under greenhouse warming, Environmental Research Letters, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/ad4db8
• Pathirana, G., Noh, K.-M., Lee, D.-G., Huiji, L., and Kug, J.-S.: A biological dipole variability in the Indian Ocean, Environmental Research Letters, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/ad1641
• Pathirana, G., Shin, N.-Y., Wu, Y.-K., Kwon, M., Kug, J.-S.:  Intermodel relation between present-day warm pool intensity and future precipitation changes. Climate Dynamics, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00382-023-06918-0
• Kajakokulan, P., Warnasooriya, A., Pathirana, G.: Strengthening of Sri Lanka summer monsoon rainfall with rapid Arabian Sea warming. International Journal of Climatology, 2023. https://doi.org/10.1002/joc.8172
• Kajakokulan, P., Pathirana, G., Dheerasinghe, M., and Edirisooriya, I.: Influence of Indian Ocean warming on rainfall of Sri Lanka. International Journal of Climatology, 2023. https://doi.org/10.1002/joc.8124.
• Pathirana, G., Oh, J.-H., Cai, W., An, S.-I., Min, S.-K., Jo, S.-Y., Shin, J., Kug, J.-S.: Increase in convective Extreme El Niño events in a CO2 removal scenario. Science Advances, 2023. https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.adh2412
• Ye, W… Pathirana, G., et al.: Vertical variation of bacterial production and potential role in oxygen loss in the southern Bay of Bengal. Frontiers in Microbiology, 2023. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2023.1250575
• Ye, R… Pathirana, G., et al.: An energetic mesoscale anticyclonic eddy in the southern Bay of Bengal in June 2020: A case study. Journal of Geophysical research: Oceans, 2023. https://doi.org/10.1029/2022JC019188
• Pathirana, G., Wang, D., Chen, G., Abeyratne, M.K. and Priyadarshana, T.: Effect of seasonal barrier layer on mixed-layer heat budget in the Bay of Bengal, Acta Oceanologica Sinica, 2022. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13131-021-1966-0
• Pathirana, G., Chen, G., Wang, D., Abeyratne, M. and Priyadarshana, T.: Anomalous propagation pathway of the Sri Lanka Dome in summer 2014. Journal of the National Science Foundation of Sri Lanka, 2022.
• Pathirana, G. and Priyadarshani, K.: Tropical cyclones in the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal: comparison of environmental factors, Journal of the National Science Foundation of Sri Lanka, 2022.
• Jinadasa, S. U. P., Pathirana, G., Ranasinghe, P. N., Centurioni, L. and Hormann, V.: Monsoonal impact of the circulation pathways of the Indian Ocean, Acta Oceanologica Sinica, 2020. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13131-020-1557-5
• Pathirana, G. and Priyadarshani, K.: A mini-warm pool during spring in the Bay of Bengal, Journal of the National Science Foundation of Sri Lanka, 2020.
• Pathirana, G., Priyadarshani, K., Wang, D., Chen, G. and Priyadarshana, T.: Effect of spring mini-warm pool on the tropical cyclones in the Bay of Bengal: case studies, Journal of Nanjing University of Science and Technology, 2020. https://doi.org/10.13878/j.cnki.jnuist.2020.04.007

• Jinadasa, S. U. P., Pathirana, G., Wijesundara, A. P., Wijesekara, H. W. and Fernando, H. J. S.: Water Mass Intrusion from Arabian Sea to the Bay of Bengal during summer; Experimental Observations in August 2015, Ocean Science Meeting, 17th February 2020. https://agu.confex.com/agu/osm20/meetingapp.cgi/Paper/656795.
• Pathirana, G., Chen, G., Ranasinghe, P. N., Liang, Z., and Wang, D.: Heat storage variability in the Bay of Bengal: Importance of using altimetry data, CLIVAR Exchanges SI, 76, 33–37.
• Kanchana Priyadarshani, Jie, X., Pathirana, G., Liao, J., Li, R., Jayarathne, W.N.D.S., and Wang, D.: Spatial variability in Nutrients and Phytoplankton Biomass in Eastern Indian Ocean during spring inter-monsoon, Xiamen Symposium on Marine Environmental Sciences (XMAS-IV), 07th January 2019 at Xiamen University, China.

Conferences and Meetings of Professional Associations

• Pathirana, G., Chen, G., Abeyratne, M.K., Wang, D. and Priyadarshana, T.: Anomalous Propagation of the Sri Lanka Dome during 2014: Forcing Mechanisms, 17th Academic Sessions, 4th March 2020 at University of Ruhuna.
• Pathirana, U. P. G., Chen, G., Wang, D., and Priyadarshana, T.: Importance of cyclone induced vertical mixing: A case study on tropical cyclones Maarutha and Mora in the Bay of Bengal, 15th Academic Sessions, 7th March 2018 at University of Ruhuna.
• Pathirana, U. P. G., Jinadasa, S. U. P., Ranasinghe, P. N.: Study of Critical Factors on Cyclone Genesis in the Bay of Bengal during 2010 – 2015. NARA Scientific Sessions, 29th March 2016 at NARA Auditorium.
• Pathirana, U. P. G., Jinadasa, S. U. P., Ranasinghe, P. N., Centurioni, L.: Seasonal variability of surface circulation in the northern Bay of Bengal. NARA Scientific Sessions, 9th June 2015 at NARA Auditorium.
• Pathirana, U. P. G., Jinadasa, S. U. P., Ranasinghe, P. N., Centurioni, L.: Variability of Current Patterns in the Bay of Bengal with special reference on Coastal Currents along Sri Lanka. 12th Academic Sessions, 4th March 2015 at University of Ruhuna.

• May 2024 – Best Young Scientist Award, 21st Pacific-Asian Marginal Seas Meeting (PAMS) 2024, Zhuhai, China
• August 2022 – Best Poster Award in Climate Session, Korean Meteorological Society Fall Conference, South Korea
• Sep 2016 - January 2019: UCAS full scholarship provided by the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences to follow the program: Master of Science in physical oceanography, SCSIO, China.
• Jun 2018 - Jul 2018: Scholarship offered by the IOC/UNESCO to follow a training course in Ocean Forecasting/Sea Level Change conducted by First Institute of Oceanography (FIO), China.
• Dec 2017: Awarded the first prize of 2017, 'The Silk Road' scholarship for international students, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology (SCSIO), China.
• Jul 2016: Scholarship offered by the International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP) to follow a training course in Earth System Modelling conducted by Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), India.
• Jul 2016: Scholarship offered by the Partnership for Observation of the Global Oceans (POGO) to follow a training course in Ocean Data Analysis conducted by Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS), India.
• Apr 2016 - May 2016: Scholarship offered by the Centre for Space Science and Technology Education in Asia and the Pacific (CSSTEAP) to follow a short course in Weather Forecasting Using Numerical Weather Prediction Models conducted by Indian Institute of Remote Sensing (IIRS), India.

• ............................................

• Coordinator - “Fire risk mapping and projection in the Asia-Pacific region based on big data and artificial intelligence technique”. A project funded by Asia-Pacific Network for Global Change Research (APN).
• Coordinator – NARA-KIOST colloboration on data center and e-library.