Top climate scientist A.P. Mitra dies aged 81

New Delhi: Internationally renowned climate scientist Dr Ashesh Prosad Mitra, a man who carried forward India's post-independence vision of using science for development, died here yesterday at the age of 81.

Mitra, who was awarded the Padma Bhushan in 1989 for his services to the country, was director of the National Physical Laboratory (NPL) from 1982 to 1986 and director general of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research from 1986 to 1991.

Born in Kolkata, Mitra completed his M.Sc. in Physics from University of Kolkata, before joining Professor S.K. Mitra, the doyen of ionospheric research in India, for a D.Phil.

His early work at NPL involved earth's near-space environment, with both ground-based and space techniques. He pioneered research in cosmic radio noise for studying the upper atmosphere, leading to a series of discoveries in ionosphere, and solar physics.

He is survived by his wife, Sunanda Mitra, daughters Anasua and Patralekha, and two granddaughters.