Badarvada Yadidya

Department of Earth & Environmental Sciences

University of Michigan

Ann Arbor, MI, USA

I am a Physical Oceanographer and Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the University of Michigan, working with Prof. Brian K. Arbic.

My research lies at the intersection of high-resolution numerical modeling and satellite oceanography. I focus on understanding the global internal wave field by bridging the gap between global ocean simulations (like HYCOM) and cutting-edge satellite altimetry data.

Currently, my work is centered on the SWOT (Surface Water and Ocean Topography) mission. I use data-assimilative simulations to diagnose and validate the time and spatial variability of internal tides. My goal is to improve our ability to map internal tides and gravity waves, which is crucial for closing the global ocean energy budget.

Research Focus

My research focuses on the multi-scale dynamics of the ocean, with a specific emphasis on how internal waves interact with the broader circulation and contribute to global mixing.

Next-Generation Satellite Altimetry (SWOT):
- Developing internal tide correction products for the SWOT mission using global, data-assimilative hydrodynamic models.
- Isolating internal wave signatures from balanced motions (eddies) in wide-swath altimetry data.
Internal Gravity Waves & Tides:
- Diagnosing global energy budgets and lifecycle of internal tides (generation, propagation, and dissipation).
- Distinguishing between coherent and incoherent internal tides in complex ocean environments.
- Investigating the variability of internal waves across multiple timescales.
High-Resolution Ocean Modeling:
- Utilizing global HYCOM simulations with tidal forcing and data assimilation.
- Validating high-resolution hydrodynamic models against in-situ (moorings) and remotely sensed data.
- Developing frameworks to predict the spatiotemporal variability of the internal wave field.
Regional Ocean Dynamics:
- Indian Ocean Circulation: Examining the unique stratification and internal tide activity in the Andaman Sea, Bay of Bengal and Arabian Sea.
- Climate Teleconnections: Understanding how large-scale modes (like the Indian Ocean Dipole) modulate small-scale mixing processes.

Background

I received my PhD in January 2023 from the Centre for Atmospheric Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi. My doctoral research, supervised by Prof. A. D. Rao and Prof. Vimlesh Pant, investigated the variability of internal waves in the Andaman Sea—a global hotspot for large-amplitude internal waves.

selected publications

ESS
Advancing Internal Tide Correction for SWOT Cal/Val: The Role of Ocean Forecasts

Badarvada Yadidya, Brian K. Arbic, Jay F. Shriver, Edward D. Zaron, Maarten C. Buijsman, and 3 more authors

Earth and Space Science, Nov 2025

Abs DOI Bib

Internal tides are sub‐surface inertia‐gravity waves that generate significant sea surface height signals detectable with satellite altimetry. The Surface Water and Ocean Topography (SWOT) mission provides an exciting opportunity to characterize these signals with unprecedented spatial detail. Separating tidal and non‐tidal oceanic signals is necessary for achieving the SWOT mission’s objective of advancing our understanding of mesoscale and submesoscale processes. In this study, we evaluate the performance of a data‐assimilative HYbrid Coordinate Ocean Model (HYCOM) forecast system in resolving both phase‐locked and non‐phase‐locked internal tides during the SWOT Cal/Val period. We compare HYCOM’s effectiveness to the High‐Resolution Empirical Tide model (HRET22), which is currently used for internal tide corrections but only accounts for the phase‐locked component. HYCOM achieves an average of 5% greater reduction in phase‐locked internal tide variance and a 24.6% greater total variance reduction compared to HRET22 by also accounting for non‐phase‐locked internal tides.
@article{yadidya2025ess, year = {2025}, month = nov, title = {Advancing Internal Tide Correction for {SWOT} Cal/Val: The Role of Ocean Forecasts}, author = {Yadidya, Badarvada and Arbic, Brian K. and Shriver, Jay F. and Zaron, Edward D. and Buijsman, Maarten C. and Carrère, Loren and Tchilibou, Michel and Uchida, Takaya}, journal = {Earth and Space Science}, issn = {2333-5084}, doi = {10.1029/2025ea004511}, number = {11}, volume = {12}, _google_scholar_id = {M3ejUd6NZC8C}, dimensions = {true}, }

GRL

Phase‐Accurate Internal Tides in a Global Ocean Forecast Model: Potential Applications for Nadir and Wide‐Swath Altimetry

Badarvada Yadidya, Brian K. Arbic, Jay F. Shriver, Arin D. Nelson, Edward D. Zaron, and 2 more authors

Geophysical Research Letters, Feb 2024

DOI Bib

@article{yadidya2024,
  year = {2024},
  month = feb,
  title = {Phase‐Accurate Internal Tides in a Global Ocean Forecast Model: Potential Applications for Nadir and Wide‐Swath Altimetry},
  author = {Yadidya, Badarvada and Arbic, Brian K. and Shriver, Jay F. and Nelson, Arin D. and Zaron, Edward D. and Buijsman, Maarten C. and Thakur, Ritabrata},
  journal = {Geophysical Research Letters},
  doi = {10.1029/2023gl107232},
  _google_scholar_id = {5nxA0vEk-isC},
  number = {4},
  volume = {51},
  dimensions = {true},
}

Nature CEE

Projected climate variability of internal waves in the Andaman Sea

B. Yadidya and A. D. Rao

Communications Earth & Environment, Oct 2022

DOI Bib

@article{yadidya2022cee,
  year = {2022},
  month = oct,
  title = {Projected climate variability of internal waves in the Andaman Sea},
  author = {Yadidya, B. and Rao, A. D.},
  journal = {Communications Earth \& Environment},
  doi = {10.1038/s43247-022-00574-8},
  _google_scholar_id = {LkGwnXOMwfcC},
  number = {1},
  volume = {3},
  dimensions = {true},
}

Sci Rep

Interannual variability of internal tides in the Andaman Sea: an effect of Indian Ocean Dipole

B. Yadidya and A. D. Rao

Sci Rep, Jun 2022

DOI Bib

@article{yadidya2022sr,
  year = {2022},
  month = jun,
  title = {Interannual variability of internal tides in the Andaman Sea: an effect of Indian Ocean Dipole},
  author = {Yadidya, B. and Rao, A. D.},
  journal = {Sci Rep},
  doi = {10.1038/s41598-022-15301-8},
  pages = {11104},
  number = {1},
  volume = {12},
  _google_scholar_id = {_FxGoFyzp5QC},
  dimensions = {true},
}

JGR: Oceans

Investigation of Internal Tides Variability in the Andaman Sea: Observations and Simulations

B. Yadidya, A. D. Rao, and G. Latha

Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans, Apr 2022

DOI Bib

@article{yadidya2022jgr,
  year = {2022},
  month = apr,
  title = {Investigation of Internal Tides Variability in the Andaman Sea: Observations and Simulations},
  author = {Yadidya, B. and Rao, A. D. and Latha, G.},
  journal = {Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans},
  doi = {10.1029/2021jc018321},
  _google_scholar_id = {eQOLeE2rZwMC},
  number = {4},
  volume = {127},
  dimensions = {true},
}