Dr. Chandrakanta Ojha is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences at IISER Mohali. He has a Ph.D. in Civil and Environmental Engineering from the University of Rome, Italy, MTech from the IIT Bombay in Resource Engineering, and MSc in Physics from Delhi University. Earlier, he worked as a research fellow at IREA-CNR, Italy, postdoctoral researcher at the Arizona State University in the USA, and a scientist in Geoscience-Australia under the Australian government. His primary research focused on developing advanced multi-temporal SAR interferometry (InSAR) algorithms and exploring InSAR capability by integrating with other remote sensing data for monitoring various natural and anthropogenic hazard phenomena.

Social Media Links

ResearchGate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Chandrakanta-Ojha
Twitter: https://twitter.com/chandraphyctc

Our group focuses on interdisciplinary research covering a broad spectrum of satellite remote sensing technology and its application for Earth observation related to natural and anthropogenic processes. This includes hydrological and geophysical processes involving glacier dynamics studies, landslides, land subsidence, groundwater studies, coastal inundation mapping, infrastructure monitoring, land cover classification, etc.

Journals

• L. O. Ohenhen, M. Shirzaei, C. Ojha, S. F. Sherpa, R. J. Nicholls, “Disappearing Cities on U.S. Coasts,” Nature, 627, 108–115 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-024-07038-3
• M. Ojha, S. Goswami, P.C. Sahu, C. Ojha, “Identifying susceptible groundwater contamination zones in western Odisha of India using hydro-geochemical and geostatistical approaches.” Journal of Contaminant Hydrology (Elsevier), January 2024. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jconhyd.2024.104302
• L.Ohenhen, M. Shirzaei, C. Ojha, M. L. Kirwan, “Hidden vulnerability of US Atlantic coast to sea-level rise due to vertical land motion”, Nature Communication, 14, 2038 (2023) https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-37853-7
• S. Sherpa, M. Shirzaei, C. Ojha, “Disruptive Role of Vertical Land Motion in Future Assessments of Climate Change-Driven Sea-Level Rise and Coastal Flooding Hazards in the Chesapeake Bay”, JGR-Solid Earth, April 2023, volume 128, Issue4, e2022JB025993. https://doi.org/10.1029/2022JB025993
• J.C. McCubbine, Z. Du, C. Ojha, M.C. Garthwaite, N.J. Brown, “InSAR processing over the Great Artesian Basin and analysis over the western Eromanga Basin and northern Surat Basin” Record 2022/029 Geoscience Australia, Canberra. http://dx.doi.org/10.11636/Record.2022.029
• S. Tung, M. Shirzaei, C. Ojha, A. Pepe, Z. Liu, “Structural controls over the rupture and aftershocks of the 2019 Ridgecrest earthquake one sequence investigated by high-fidelity elastic models of velocity structures” JGR-Solid Earth, 2021, 126, Issue7, https://doi.org/10.1029/2020JB021124.
• M. Shirzaei, M. Khoshmanesh, C. Ojha, S. Werth, H. Kerner, G. Carlson, S. Futi Sherpa, G. Zhai, J.C. Lee, “Persistent impact of compound extremes on crop loss in U.S. Midwest,” Weather and Climate Extremes, 2021, 34, DOI: 10.1016/j.wace.2021.100392
• C. Ojha, M. Shirzaei, S. Werth, “Recovery of aquifer-systems in Southwest US following 2012-2015 drought: evidence from InSAR, GRACE and groundwater level data”, Journal of Hydrology, 2020, Volume 587, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2020.124943
• E. Blackwell, M. Shirzaei, C. Ojha, S. Werth, “Tracking California’s sinking coast from space: implications for relative sea-level rise SAR interferometry for measuring coastal subsidence,” Science-Advance, 31 Jul 2020, Vol. 6, no. 31, eaba4551, DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.aba4551
• G. Carlson, M. Shirzaei, S. Werth, C. Ojha, “Subsidence-Derived Volumetric Strain Models for Mapping Extensional Fissures and Constraining Rock Mechanical Properties in the San Joaquin Valley, California,” JGR-Solid Earth, Volume125, Issue9, August 2020, DOI: 10.1029/2020JB019980
• S. Sherpa, M. Shirzaei, and C. Ojha, S. Werth, R. Hostache, “Probabilistic Mapping of August 2018 Flood of Kerala, India, Using Space-borne Synthetic Aperture Radar”, IEEE JSTARS, Vol. 13, pp. 896-913, 2020, DOI: 10.1109/JSTARS.2020.2970337
• G. Carlson, M. Shirzaei, G. Zhai, S. Werth, C. Ojha, “Seasonal and Long‐Term Groundwater Unloading in the Central Valley Modifies Crustal Stress,” JGR-Solid Earth, 125, 2020, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1029/2019JB018490
• C. Ojha, A. Fusco, M. Pinto, “Interferometric SAR Phase Denoising Using Proximity Based K-SVD Technique,” Sensors, 2019, 19, 2684. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/s19122684
• C. Ojha, S. Werth, M. Shirzaei, “Groundwater loss and aquifer-system compaction in San Joaquin Valley during 2012 – 2015 drought”, JGR-Solid Earth, 2019, 124(3), pp. 3127-3143. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1029/2018JB016083.
• M. Shirzaei, C. Ojha, S. Werth, G. Carlson, E. Vivoni, “Comment on Short-lived pause in Central California subsidence after heavy winter precipitation of 2017 by K. D. Murray and R. B. Lohman”, Science Advance, 2019, Vol. 5, no. 6, eaav803. DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.aav8038
• C. Ojha, M. Shirzaei, S. Werth, D. Argus, T. Farr, “Sustained groundwater loss in California’s Central Valley exacerbated by intense drought periods,” Water Resources Research, 2018, 54 (7), pp. 4449-4460, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1029/2017WR022250.
• S. Scifoni, M. Bonano, M. Marsella, A. Sonnessa, V. Tagliafierro, M. Manunta, R. Lanari, C. Ojha, and M. Sciotti, “On the joint exploitation of long-term DInSAR time series and geological information for the investigation of ground settlements in the city of Roma (Italy),” Remote Sensing of Environment, Vol. 182, pp. 113-127, 2016, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rse.2016.04.017
• C. Ojha, M. Manunta, R. Lanari, and A. Pepe, “The Constrained-Network Propagation (C-NetP) Technique to Improve SBAS-DInSAR Deformation Time-Series Retrieval,” in IEEE Journal of Selected Topics in Applied Earth Observations and Remote Sensing, 2015, DOI: 10.1109/JSTARS.2015.2482358.
• E. Sansosti, M. Manunta, F. Casu, M. Bonano, C. Ojha, M. Marsella, and R. Lanari, “Radar remote sensing from space for surface deformation analysis: present and future opportunities from the new SAR sensor generation,” Rend. Lincei, Springer, Vol. 26, no. 1, pp. 75–84, 2015, DOI: 10.1007/s12210-015-0440-3

Journals

• M. Corsetti, M. Manunta, M. Marsella, S. Scifoni, A. Sonnessa, C. Ojha, “Satellite Techniques: new perspectives for the monitoring of dams,” in Engineering Geology for Society and Territory-Vol 5., Springer International Publishing, pp. 989-993, 2015, DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-09048-1_190
• L. O. Ohenhen, M. Shirzaei, C. Ojha, S. F. Sherpa, R. J. Nicholls, “Disappearing Cities on U.S. Coasts,” Nature, 627, 108–115 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-024-07038-3
• M. Ojha, S. Goswami, P.C. Sahu, C. Ojha, “Identifying susceptible groundwater contamination zones in western Odisha of India using hydro-geochemical and geostatistical approaches.” Journal of Contaminant Hydrology (Elsevier), January 2024. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jconhyd.2024.104302
• L.Ohenhen, M. Shirzaei, C. Ojha, M. L. Kirwan, “Hidden vulnerability of US Atlantic coast to sea-level rise due to vertical land motion”, Nature Communication, 14, 2038 (2023) https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-37853-7
• S. Sherpa, M. Shirzaei, C. Ojha, “Disruptive Role of Vertical Land Motion in Future Assessments of Climate Change-Driven Sea-Level Rise and Coastal Flooding Hazards in the Chesapeake Bay”, JGR-Solid Earth, April 2023, volume 128, Issue4, e2022JB025993. https://doi.org/10.1029/2022JB025993
• J.C. McCubbine, Z. Du, C. Ojha, M.C. Garthwaite, N.J. Brown, “InSAR processing over the Great Artesian Basin and analysis over the western Eromanga Basin and northern Surat Basin” Record 2022/029 Geoscience Australia, Canberra. http://dx.doi.org/10.11636/Record.2022.029
• S. Tung, M. Shirzaei, C. Ojha, A. Pepe, Z. Liu, “Structural controls over the rupture and aftershocks of the 2019 Ridgecrest earthquake one sequence investigated by high-fidelity elastic models of velocity structures” JGR-Solid Earth, 2021, 126, Issue7, https://doi.org/10.1029/2020JB021124.
• M. Shirzaei, M. Khoshmanesh, C. Ojha, S. Werth, H. Kerner, G. Carlson, S. Futi Sherpa, G. Zhai, J.C. Lee, “Persistent impact of compound extremes on crop loss in U.S. Midwest,” Weather and Climate Extremes, 2021, 34, DOI: 10.1016/j.wace.2021.100392
• C. Ojha, M. Shirzaei, S. Werth, “Recovery of aquifer-systems in Southwest US following 2012-2015 drought: evidence from InSAR, GRACE and groundwater level data”, Journal of Hydrology, 2020, Volume 587, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2020.124943
• E. Blackwell, M. Shirzaei, C. Ojha, S. Werth, “Tracking California’s sinking coast from space: implications for relative sea-level rise SAR interferometry for measuring coastal subsidence,” Science-Advance, 31 Jul 2020, Vol. 6, no. 31, eaba4551, DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.aba4551
• G. Carlson, M. Shirzaei, S. Werth, C. Ojha, “Subsidence-Derived Volumetric Strain Models for Mapping Extensional Fissures and Constraining Rock Mechanical Properties in the San Joaquin Valley, California,” JGR-Solid Earth, Volume125, Issue9, August 2020, DOI: 10.1029/2020JB019980
• S. Sherpa, M. Shirzaei, and C. Ojha, S. Werth, R. Hostache, “Probabilistic Mapping of August 2018 Flood of Kerala, India, Using Space-borne Synthetic Aperture Radar”, IEEE JSTARS, Vol. 13, pp. 896-913, 2020, DOI: 10.1109/JSTARS.2020.2970337
• G. Carlson, M. Shirzaei, G. Zhai, S. Werth, C. Ojha, “Seasonal and Long‐Term Groundwater Unloading in the Central Valley Modifies Crustal Stress,” JGR-Solid Earth, 125, 2020, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1029/2019JB018490
• C. Ojha, A. Fusco, M. Pinto, “Interferometric SAR Phase Denoising Using Proximity Based K-SVD Technique,” Sensors, 2019, 19, 2684. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/s19122684
• C. Ojha, S. Werth, M. Shirzaei, “Groundwater loss and aquifer-system compaction in San Joaquin Valley during 2012 – 2015 drought”, JGR-Solid Earth, 2019, 124(3), pp. 3127-3143. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1029/2018JB016083.
• M. Shirzaei, C. Ojha, S. Werth, G. Carlson, E. Vivoni, “Comment on Short-lived pause in Central California subsidence after heavy winter precipitation of 2017 by K. D. Murray and R. B. Lohman”, Science Advance, 2019, Vol. 5, no. 6, eaav803. DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.aav8038
• C. Ojha, M. Shirzaei, S. Werth, D. Argus, T. Farr, “Sustained groundwater loss in California’s Central Valley exacerbated by intense drought periods,” Water Resources Research, 2018, 54 (7), pp. 4449-4460, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1029/2017WR022250.
• S. Scifoni, M. Bonano, M. Marsella, A. Sonnessa, V. Tagliafierro, M. Manunta, R. Lanari, C. Ojha, and M. Sciotti, “On the joint exploitation of long-term DInSAR time series and geological information for the investigation of ground settlements in the city of Roma (Italy),” Remote Sensing of Environment, Vol. 182, pp. 113-127, 2016, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rse.2016.04.017
• C. Ojha, M. Manunta, R. Lanari, and A. Pepe, “The Constrained-Network Propagation (C-NetP) Technique to Improve SBAS-DInSAR Deformation Time-Series Retrieval,” in IEEE Journal of Selected Topics in Applied Earth Observations and Remote Sensing, 2015, DOI: 10.1109/JSTARS.2015.2482358.
• E. Sansosti, M. Manunta, F. Casu, M. Bonano, C. Ojha, M. Marsella, and R. Lanari, “Radar remote sensing from space for surface deformation analysis: present and future opportunities from the new SAR sensor generation,” Rend. Lincei, Springer, Vol. 26, no. 1, pp. 75–84, 2015, DOI: 10.1007/s12210-015-0440-3
• Book chapter
• M. Corsetti, M. Manunta, M. Marsella, S. Scifoni, A. Sonnessa, C. Ojha, “Satellite Techniques: new perspectives for the monitoring of dams,” in Engineering Geology for Society and Territory-Vol 5., Springer International Publishing, pp. 989-993, 2015, DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-09048-1_190

• IDC101-Introduction to Computers
• EES204: Remote Sensing and GIS
• EES212: Remote Sensing and GIS lab
• EES302: Quantitative data analysis in earth and environmental sciences
• EES403-Advanced Remote Sensing and GIS
• EES644-Principles of Microwave Remote Sensing
• EES403-Remote Sensing and GIS
• EES642-Principles of Microwave Remote Sensing
• IDC101-Introduction to Computers

• NAS computing cum storage server
• Low-end Workstations
• Soil moisture cum resistivity meter
• Soil testing kit

Research Projects

• RESPOND Project – Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO)
  Title: Harnessing Advanced MT-InSAR Techniques and GNSS Integration for High-resolution Deformation Monitoring and Strain Modelling of Active Tectonic Zones of North Eastern Region, India.
  Principal Investigator: Dr. Chandrakanta Ojha
• NISAR Utilization Programme (NISAR-UP) – Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO)
  Title: Multi-Model-Geodetic Approach Investigating Coastal Land Subsidence Effects to Sea Level Rise.
  Principal Investigator: Dr. Chandrakanta Ojha