"Stable Isotopes in nature and in the laboratory" sums up my research interests. I apply known stable isotope techniques to geochemical, hydrological and related environmental studies and also go hunting for new and novel applications. Presently, I am involved in the study of lake sediments to understand paleoclimate and in ground water to understand various biogeochemical and hydroclimatologic processes. I also spend time in developing techniques that will make a stable isotope geochemist's life a bit easy, and look for collaborative research. We have developed simple techniques for the extraction of dissolved inorganic carbon in water samples and for the analysis of carbon and oxygen isotopes in carbonates (see publication list). Collaboration at present involves  Dr M. Baskaran (Wayne State University), Dr Navin Juyal (Physical Research Laboratory). The stable isotope laboratory under my direction is equipped with a Micromass Optima isotope ratio mass spectrometer, various vaccum extraction lines, constant temperature bath and a microwave sample digestion system.

Educational Background

Ph.D - Physical Resarch Laboratory, Department of Space, Ahmedabad., 1984
M.S. - Utkal University, 1974
B.Sc.(honors) - Utkal Univ., 1970

Research Specializations

Stable Isotope Geochemistry

Ongoing Projects

Courses Taught

Graduate courses:
Stable isotope geochemistry
Geochronology and Global Change
Thermodynamics for Geologists
Tracers in Hydrology

Undergraduate courses:
Environmental Earth Sciences

Selected Publications [5]

1. Ahmed A. Murad and Krishnamurthy, R.V. (2004) Factors controlling groundwater quality in Eastern United Arab Emirates: a chemical and isotopic approach. Journal of Hydrology 286, 227-235


2. A.M. Marfia , R.V. Krishnamurthy , E.A. Atekwana and W.F. Panton. (2004) A Geochemical Survey of the Natural Waters of Belize, Central America, Applied Geochemistry , 19, 937-946


3. Atekwana E. A. and Krishnamurthy R. V. (2004) Investigating Landfill Impacted Groundwater Seepage into Headwater Streams Using Stable Carbon Isotopes, Earth Surface Processes 18, 191501926


4. Krishnamurthy, R.V, Schmitt, D, Atekwana, E and Baskaran, M (2001) Isotopic investigations of carbonate growth on concrete structures, Applied Geochemistry , 18, 435-444(2003)


5. Krishnamurthy R.V, Machavaram M, Baskaran, M,and Brooks,J (2001) Carbon flow in the Ob,Yenisey rivers and Kara Sea of the Arctic region Marine Pollution Bulletin 42, 726-732 (2001) .