Manoj C. Nair is a Senior Research Scientist in Geomagnetism at CIRES, University of Colorado Boulder, working with NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information. He develops and evaluates models of Earth’s magnetic field, with particular emphasis on crustal magnetic structure, time-varying disturbances, and uncertainty in navigation and surveying applications. His work connects satellite and ground observations with scientific software and operational services.
Research
My interests in geomagnetism span the physical processes that generate Earth’s magnetic field, the observations and models used to describe it, and its practical applications. I am particularly interested in connecting these areas-understanding what magnetic measurements reveal about our planet and how reliably they can support navigation, surveying, and environmental research.
- Magnetic-field modeling and uncertainty: Developing and evaluating global and regional magnetic-field models from satellite and ground observations, with an emphasis on crustal structure, independent validation, and uncertainty.
- Space weather and magnetic navigation: Understanding how time-varying magnetic fields and electromagnetic induction affect magnetic referencing and navigation, and developing methods to characterize and correct these effects.
- Ionospheric currents and electric fields: Investigating equatorial electrodynamics and developing physics-based and machine-learning approaches to ionospheric modeling and forecasting.
- Ocean-generated magnetic signals: Studying magnetic fields generated by seawater motion and their contribution to Earth’s observed magnetic field.
- Smartphone magnetometry and citizen science: Developing and evaluating methods for magnetic mapping and environmental investigation through MagMapper and CrowdMag.
- Research to operations: Transition geomagnetic research products to operational use. Real-time forecasting of disturbance-storm-time (Dst) index. Cloud-based, real-time modeling of magnetic and ionospheric fields.
External affiliation
Co-founder and Chief Technology Officer, Monarch Magnetics, Inc.
Positions Held
- Senior Research Scientist and Team Lead at CIRES / NOAA, 2021–present.
- Research Scientist at CIRES / NOAA 2007-2021
- Research Associate at GFZ-Potsdam 2003-2005
- Scientist at NGRI-Hyderabad 1999-2007
Research Publications
Honors and Awards
Colorado Governor’s Award for High-Impact Research, 2015
CIRES Outstanding Performance Awards in science and engineering 2010, 2015, 2019