Dr. Khan Alam
  • Professor

Dr. Khan Alam

Ph.D , University of Salzburg, Austria (2011) in Atmospheric Physics
Research Interest:  Aerosol monitoring/assessment from space born sensors, Physical, optical and chemical characterization of atmospheric aerosol, Aerosol-Cloud-radiation interaction, Light absorbing aerosol over snow/glacier region, Aerosol and cloud radiative properties.
Telephone: +92-91-9216727
Resume: [ Download ]

Dr. Khan Alam did his graduation in Physics from Department of Physics, University of Peshawar. He obtained his M.Phil. degree from Institute of Space & Planetary Astrophysics, University of Karachi. He completed his PhD from the University of Salzburg, Austria. He has more than 20 years of teaching and research experience in Research & Development Organization and at university level. Dr. Khan Alam has introduced a new field in Pakistan that underpin research on aerosol and their related impacts on cloud micro/macro physics, air quality, human health and climate change. He is the founder of Atmosphere and Environmental Research Laboratory at the Department of Physics, University of Peshawar. His research interests are as follow:

  • Aerosol monitoring/assessment from space born sensors.
  • Physical, optical and chemical characterization of atmospheric aerosol.
  • Aerosol-Cloud-radiation interaction.
  • Light absorbing aerosol over snow/glacier region.
  • Aerosol and cloud radiative properties.

List of Publications:

  1. Anwar, K., Alam, K., Liu, Y., Huang, Z., Huang, J., & Liu, Y. (2022). Analysis of aerosol cloud interactions with a consistent signal of meteorology and other influencing parameters. Atmospheric Research, 106241. [I.F: 5.369].
  2. Zeb, B., Alam, K., Ditta, A., Ullah, S., Ali, H. M., Ibrahim, M., & Salem, M. Z. (2022). Variation in Coarse Particulate Matter (PM10) and Its Characterization at Multiple Locations in the Semiarid Region. Frontiers in Environmental Science, 36. [I.F: 4.581].
  3. Usman, F., Zeb, B., Alam, K., Huang, Z., Shah, A., Ahmad, I., & Ullah, S. (2022). In-Depth Analysis of Physicochemical Properties of Particulate Matter (PM10, PM2. 5 and PM1) and Its Characterization through FTIR, XRD and SEM–EDX Techniques in the Foothills of the Hindu Kush Region of Northern Pakistan. Atmosphere, 13, 124. [I.F: 2.686].
  4. Gharibzadeh, M., Bidokhti, A.A., Alam, K. (2021). The interaction of ozone and aerosol in a semi-arid region in the Middle East: Ozone formation and radiative forcing implications. Atmospheric Environment, 245, 118015. [I.F: 4.798].
  5. Sarwar, F., Alam, K., Chow, C. W., Malik, R. N. (2021). Pulmonary Dysfunction Augmenting Bacterial Aerosols in Leather Tanneries of Punjab, Pakistan. International Journal of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease,16, 2925–2937. [I.F: 3.355].
  6. Wang, P., Mihaylova, L., Munir, S., Chakraborty, R., Wang, J., Mayfield, M., Alam, K., Khokhar, M.F. and Coca, D. (2021). A computationally efficient symmetric diagonally dominant matrix projection-based Gaussian process approach. Signal Processing, 183, 108034. [I.F: 4.662].
  7. Wang, P., Mihaylova, L., Chakraborty, R., Munir, S., Mayfield, M., Alam, K., ... & Fang, H. (2021). A Gaussian Process Method with Uncertainty Quantification for Air Quality Monitoring. Atmosphere, 12(10), 1344. [I.F: 2.686].
  8. Karami, S., Hamzeh, N. H., Alam, K., Noori, F., & Abadi, A. R. S. (2021). Spatio-temporal and synoptic changes in dust at the three islands in the Persian Gulf region. Journal of Atmospheric and Solar-Terrestrial Physics, 214, 105539. [I.F: 1.735].
  9. Karami, S., Hamzeh, N. H., Rashki, A., Kaskaoutis, D., Alam, K., Ranjbar, A. (2021). Numerical simulations of dust storms originated from dried lakes in central and south Asia: the case of Areal Sea and Sistan basin. Aeolian Research, 50, 100679. [I.F: 3.336].
  10.  Rizvi, S. H., Alam, K., Fatima, H., Iqbal, M. J. (2021). The Surface Urban Heat Island Intensity and Urban Expansion: A Comparative Analysis for the Coastal Areas of Pakistan. Environment, Development and Sustainability, 23, 5520-5537. [I.F: 3.219]
  11. Ifthikhar, M., Alam, K., Syed, W. A., Ahmad, M., Zeb, B., Liu, Y., Gulistan, N. (2021). Contrasting changes in cloud optical properties and the influence of aerosols, meteorology and radiation feedback in the Himalaya Karakoram region. Atmospheric Research, 248, 105210. [I.F: 5.369]
  12. Yazdani, M., Baboli, Z., Maleki, H., Birgani, Y. T., Zahiri, M., Chaharmahal, S. S. H., Alam, K. ... & Goudarzi, G. (2021). Contrasting Iran’s air quality improvement during COVID-19 with other global cities. Journal of Environmental Health Science and Engineering, 19(2), 1801-1806. [I.F: 2.130]
  13. Ahmad, M., Tariq, S., Alam, K., Anwar, S., Ikram, M. (2020). Long-term variation in aerosol optical properties and their climatic implications over major cities of Pakistan. Journal of Atmospheric and Solar-Terrestrial Physics, 210, 105419. [I.F: 1.735].
  14. Ahmad, M., Alam, K., Tariq, S. (2020). Contrasting changes in snow cover and its sensitivity to aerosol optical properties in Hindukush-Karakoram-Himalaya region. Science of the Total Environment, 699, 134356. [I.F: 7.963]
  15. Zeb, B., Alam, K., Nasir, J., Mansha, M., Ahmad, I., Bibi, S., Malak, S. M., Ali, M. (2020). Black Carbon Aerosol Characteristics and Radiative Forcing Over the High Altitude Glacier Region of Himalaya-Karakorum-Hindukush. Atmospheric Environment, 238, 117711. [I.F: 4.798]
  16. Rizvi, S. H., Iqbal, M. J., Fatima, H., Alam, K. (2020). The Effect of Urbanization on the Intensification of SUHIs: Analysis by LULC on Karachi. Journal of Atmospheric and Solar-Terrestrial Physics, 207, 105374. [I.F: 1.735].
  17. Luo, M., Liu, Y., Zhu, Q., Tang, Y., & Alam, K. (2020). Role and Mechanisms of Black Carbon Affecting Water Vapor Transport to Tibet. Remote Sensing, 12, 231. [I.F: 4.848]
  18. Liu, Zhu, Q., Hua, S., Alam, K., Dai, T., Cheng, Y. (2020). Tibetan Plateau driven impact of Taklimakan dust on northern rainfall. Atmospheric Environment, 234, 117583. [I.F: 4.798]
  19. Zhang, X., Chen, S., Kang, L., Yuan, T., Luo, Y., Alam, K., Li, J., He, Y., Bi, H., Zhao, D. (2020). Direct radiative forcing induced by light-absorbing aerosols in different climate regions over East Asia. Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres, 125, e2019JD032228. DOI:10.1029/2019JD032228. [I.F: 4.26]
  20. Khan, N., Alam, K., Seema, H., Samreen, A., & Zeb, B. (2020). Fabrication of graphene oxide coated quartz filter paper for enhanced adsorption of particulate matter. Applied Optics, 59, 463-468. [I.F: 1.961]
  21. Alvi, M. U., Kistler, M., Shahid, I., Alam, K., Chishtie, F., Mahmud, T., & Kasper-Giebl, A. (2020). Composition and source apportionment of saccharides in aerosol particles from an agro-industrial zone in the Indo-Gangetic Plain. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 27, 14124–14137. [I.F: 4.223]
  22. Karami, S., Hamzeh, N. H., Alam, K., Ranjbar, A. (2020). The study of a rare frontal dust storm with snow and rain fall: Model results and ground measurements. Journal of Atmospheric and Solar-Terrestrial Physics, 197, 105149. [I.F: 1.735].
  23. Alvi, M. U., Mahmud, T., Kistler, M., Kasper-Giebl, A., Shahid, I., Alam, K., Chishtie, F., Mitu, L. (2020). Elemental Composition of Particulate Matter in South-Asian Megacity (Faisalabad-Pakistan): Seasonal Behaviors, Source Apportionment and Health Risk Assessment. Revista de Chimie, 71, 288-301. [I.F: 1.755]
  24. Ahmad, M., Alam, K., Tariq, S. (2019). Estimating fine particulate concentration using a combined approach of linear regression and artificial neural network. Atmospheric Environment, 219, 117050. [I.F: 4.798]
  25. Alvi, M. U., Kistler, M., Mahmud, T., Shahid, I., Alam, K., Chishtie, F., ... & Kasper-Giebl, A. (2019). The Composition and Sources of Water Soluble Ions in PM10 at an Urban Site in the Indo-Gangetic Plain. Journal of Atmospheric and Solar-Terrestrial Physics, 196, 105142. [I.F: 1.735]
  26. Shaheen, K., Shah, Z., Suo, H., Liu, M., Ma, L., Alam, K., ... & Khan, S. A. (2019). Aerosol clustering in an urban environment of Beijing during (2005–2017). Atmospheric Environment, 213, 534-547. [I.F: 4.798]
  27. Nasir, J., Zeb, B., Sorooshian, A., Mansha, M., Alam, K., Ahmad, I., Haider, H., Shafique, M. (2019). Spatio-Temporal Variations of Absorbing Aerosols and their Relationship with Meteorology over Four High Altitude Sites in Glaciated Region of Pakistan. Journal of Atmospheric and Solar-Terrestrial Physics, 190, 84-95. [I.F: 1.735].
  28. Rizvi, S. H., Alam, K., & Iqbal, M. J. (2019). Spatio-temporal variations in urban heat island and its interaction with heat wave. Journal of Atmospheric and Solar-Terrestrial Physics, 185, 50-57. [I.F: 1.735].
  29. Zeb, B., Alam, K., Sorooshian, A., Chishtie, F., Ahmad, I., & Bibi, H. (2019). Temporal characteristics of aerosol optical properties over the glacier region of northern Pakistan. Journal of Atmospheric and Solar-Terrestrial Physics, 186, 35-46. I.F: 1.735].
  30. Gharibzadeh, M., Alam, K., Abedini, Y., Biokhti, A. A., Masoumi, A., Bibi, H., Zeb. B. (2019). Climatological analysis of the optical properties of aerosols and their direct radiative forcing in the Middle East. Journal of Atmosphere and Solar Terrestrial Physics, 183, 86-98. [I.F: 1.735].
  31. Riaz, R., Ali, U., Li, J., Zhang, G., Alam, K., Sweetman, A. J., Jones, K. V., Malik, R. N. (2019). Assessing the level and sources of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) in soil and sediments along Jhelum riverine system of lesser Himalayan region of Pakistan. Chemosphere, 216, 640-652. [I.F:7.086]
  32. Alam, K., Khan, R., Sooroshian, A., Blaschke, T., Bibi, S., Bibi, H. (2018). Analysis of aerosol optical properties due to a haze episode in the Himalayan foothills: Implications for climate forcing. Aerosol Air Quality Research, 18, 1331-1350. [I.F:3.063]
  33. Sarwar, F., Malik, R. N., Chow, C. W., Alam, K. (2018). Occupational exposure and consequent health impairments due to potential incidental nanoparticles in leather tanneries: An evidential appraisal of south Asian developing countries. Environment International, 117, 164-174. [I.F:9.621]
  34. Gharibzadeh, M., Alam, K., Abedini, Y., Biokhti, A. A., Masoumi, A., Bibi, H. (2018). Characterization of aerosol optical properties using multiple clustering techniques over Zanjan, Iran, during 2010-2013. Applied Optics, 57,2881-2889. [I.F: 1.791]
  35. Shahid, I., Alvi, M. U., Shahid, M. Z., Alam, K., Chishtie, F. (2018). Source apportionment of PM at an Urban Site of a South Asian Mega City. Aerosol Air Quality Research, 18, 2498-2509.  [I.F:3.063]
  36. Zeb, B., Alam, K., Sooroshian, A., Blaschke, T., Ahmad, I., Shahid, I. (2018). On the Morphology and Composition of Particulate Matter in an Urban Environment. Aerosol Air quality research, 18, 1431-1447. [I.F:3.063]
  37. Ifthikhar, M., Alam, K., Sorooshian, A., Syed, W. A., Bibi, S., Bibi, H. (2018). Contrasting aerosol optical and radiative properties between dust and urban haze episidoes in megacities of Pakistan. Atmospheric Environment, 173, 157-172. [I.F: 4.798]
  38. Bibi, S., Alam, K., Chishistie, F., Bibi, H, Rahman, S. (2017). Observations of Black Carbon Aerosols characteristics over an urban environment: Radiative forcing and related implications. Science of the Total Environment, 603-604, 319-329. [I.F: 7.963]
  39. Gharibzadeh, M., Alam, K., Abedini, Y., Biokhti, A. A., Masoumi, A. (2017). Monthly and seasonal variations of aerosol optical properties and direct radiative forcing over Zanjan, Iran. Journal of Atmosphere and Solar Terrestrial Physics, 164, 268-275. [I.F: 1.735]
  40. Bibi, H., Alam, K., Bibi, S. (2017). Estimation of shortwave direct aerosol radiative forcing at four locations on the Indo-Gangetic Plains: Model results and ground measurement. Atmospheric Environment, 163, 166-181. [I.F: 4.798]
  41. Bibi, S., Alam, K., Chishtie, F., Bibi, S. (2017). Characterization of absorbing aerosol types using ground and satellites based observations over an urban environment. Atmospheric Environment, 150, 126-135. [I.F: 4.798]
  42. Bibi, S., Alam, K., Chishtie, F., Bibi, S., Rahman, S. (2017). Temporal variation of Black Carbon concentration using Aethalometer observations and its relationship with meteorological variables in Karachi, Pakistan. Journal of Atmosphere and Solar Terrestrial Physics, 157-158, 67-77. [I.F: 1.735]
  43. Gharibzadeh, M., Alam, K., Biokhti, A. A., Abedini, Y., Masoumi, A. (2017). Radiative    effects and optical properties of aerosol during two dust events in 2013 over Zanjan, Iran. Aerosol Air quality research, 17, 888-898. [I.F:3.063]
  44. Bibi, H., Alam, K., Bibi, S. (2016). In-depth discrimination of aerosol types using multiple clustering techniques over four locations in Indo-Gangetic plains. Atmospheric Research, 181, 106-114. [I.F: 5.369]
  45. Alam, K., Shaheen, K., Blaschke, T., Chishtie, F., Khan, H. U., Haq, B. S. (2016). Classification of aerosols in an urban environment on the basis of optical measurements.  Aerosol Air quality research, 16, 2535-2549. [I.F:3.063]
  46. Bibi, H., Alam, K., Bibi, S. Blaschke, T., Iqbal, M.J. (2016). Long-term (2007-2013) analysis of aerosol optical properties over four locations in the Indo-Gangetic plains, Applied Optics, 55, 6199-6211. [I.F: 1.791]
  47. Haq, B. S., Khan, H., Alam, K., Attaullah, S.,Memoona, S. (2016). Weak two-photon absorption applied to rapid prototyping of cell scaffolds. Applied Optics, 55, 228-235. [I.F: 1.791].
  48. Majid, H., W.-H, R., Madl, P., Hofmann, W., Alam, K. (2016). Effect of Oral Pathway on Charged Particles Deposition in the Human Bronchial Airways. Journal of Aerosol Medicine and Pulmonary Drug Delivery, 29, 24-29. [I.F:2.849]
  49. Haq, B. S., Attaullah, S., Shakoor, A., Khan, H. U., Alam, K., Shaheen, K. (2016). Characterization and efficacy of ultra-fast Laser pulses for biomedical applications. Journal of Engineering and Applied Science, 35, 67-76.
  50. Haq, B. S., Attaullah, S., Shakoor, A., Khan, H. U., Shaheen, K., Alam, K. (2016). Two-Photon fluorescence excitation cross-section of photosensitizer thioxanthone to fabricate cell scaffold for biomedical applications. Journal of Engineering and Applied Science, 35, 63-67.
  51. Alam, K., Rahman, N., Khan, H. U., Bibi, S. (2015). Particulate matter and its source apportionment in Peshawar, Northern Pakistan. Aerosol Air quality research, 15, 634-647. [I.F:3.063]
  52. Sharif, F., Alam, K., Afsar, S. (2015). Spatio-temporal distribution of aerosol and cloud properties over Sindh using MODIS satellite data and a HYSPLIT model. Aerosol Air quality research, 15, 657-672. [I.F:3.063]
  53. Bibi, H., Alam, K., Chishtie, F., Bibi, S., Shahid, I., Blaschke, T. (2015). Intercomparison of MODIS, MISR, OMI, and CALIPSO aerosol optical depth retrievals for four locations on the Indo-Gangetic plains and validation against AERONET data. Atmospheric Environment, 111, 113-126. [I.F:4.798].
  54. Alam, K., Khan, R., Ali, S., Ajmal, M., Khan, G., Wazir, M., Azmat, M. (2015). Variability of aerosol optical depth over Swat in northern Pakistan based on satellite data. Arabian Journal of Geosciences, 8, 547-555. [I.F: 1.827]
  55. Khan, H.U., Alam, K., Mateenullah, M., Blaschke, T., Haq, B.S. (2015). Synthesis and characterization of solid solution Ag(NbxTa1-x)O3 (x = 0, 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, 0.1). Journal of the European Ceramic Society, 35, 2775-2789. [I.F:4.029].
  56. Haq, B. S., Khan, H., Alam, K., Ajmal, M., Attaullah, S., Zari, I. (2015). Determination of two-photon absorption cross sections of photosensitizers and its implications for two-photon polymerization. Applied Optics, 54, 132-140. [I.F: 1.791].
  57. Haq, B. S., Khan, H., Alam, K., Ajmal, M., Attaullah, S., Zari, I., Mateenullah, M. (2015). Study of the two-photon excitation of photoinitiator in various solvents, and the two-photon polymerization process. Applied Optics, 54, 7020-7026. [I.F: 1.791].
  58. Haq, B. S., Khan, H., Alam, K., Attaullah, M., Attaullah, S., Zari, I. (2015). Femtosecond pulsed laser ablation of polyimide at oblique angles for medical applications. Applied Optics, 54, 7413-7418. [I.F: 1.791].
  59. Haq, B. S., Khan, H., Dou, Y., Alam, K., Attaullah, S., Zari, I. (2015). Keratin film ablation for the fabrication of brick and mortar skin structure using femtosecond laser pulses. Applied Physics A, 120, 1415-1425. [I.F: 2.584].
  60. Muhammad, W., Ullah, A., Hussain, A., Ali, N., Alam, K., Khan, G., Matiullah., Maeng, S., Lee, S. H. (2015). Some Folded Issues Related to Over-shielded and Unplanned Rooms for Medical Linear Accelerators - A Case Study. Journal of the Korean Physical Society, 67, 599-607. [I.F: 0.649].
  61. Alam, K., Mukhtar, A., Shahid, I., Blaschke, T., Majid, H., Rahman, S., Khan, R., Rahman, N. (2014). Source apportionment and characterization of Particulate Matter (PM10) in urban environment of Lahore. Aerosol & Air Quality Research, 14, 1851-8161.   [I.F:3.063]
  62. Alam, K., Sahar, N., Iqbal, Y., (2014). Aerosol Characteristics and Radiative Forcing during Pre-monsoon and Post-monsoon in an Urban Environment. Aerosol & Air Quality Research, 14, 99-107. [I.F: 3.063]
  63. Alam, K., Trautmann, T., Blaschke, T., Subhan, F. (2014). Changes in aerosol optical properties due to dust storm in the Middle East and Southwestern Asia. Remote Sensing of the Environment,143, 216-227. [I.F: 10.164]
  64. Alam, K., Khan, R., Blaschke, T., Mukhtiar, A. (2014). Variability of Aerosol Optical Depth and their impact on cloud properties in Pakistan. Journal of Atmosphere and Solar Terrestrial Physics, 107, 104-112. [I.F: 1.735]
  65. Alam, K., Madl, P., Trautmann, T., Blaschke, T., Iqbal, M.J. (2014). Retrieval of aerosol properties from surface measurements in an urban environment. Aerosol & Air Quality Research, 14, 686-696. [I.F: 3.063]
  66. Hussain, M., Alam, K., Madl, P. (2013). Exposure assessment and associated lung deposition calculations for vehicular exhaust in four metropolitan cities of Pakistan. Environmental monitoring and assessment,185,5265-5276. [I.F: 2.513]
  67. Alam, K., Trautmann, T., Blaschke, T., Hussain, M. (2012). Aerosol optical and radiative properties during summer and winter seasons over Lahore and Karachi. Atmospheric Environment, 50, 234-245. [I.F: 4.798]
  68. Hussain, M., Madl, P., Hofmann, W., Alam, K. (2012). Implementation of charged particles deposition in stochastic lung model and calculation of enhanced deposition. Aerosol Science and Technology, 46, 547-554. [I.F: 2.34]
  69. Muhammad, W., Lee, S. H., Alam, K., Maqbool, M., Khan, G. (2012). Dose non-linearity of the dosimetry system and possible monitor unit error on medical linear accelerator used in conventional and intensity-modulated radiation therapy. Journal of Nuclear Technology & Radiation Protection, 27, 368-373. [I.F: 1.057]
  70. Hussain, M., Madl, P., Alam, K. (2012). Ambient air quality with emphasis on roadside junctions in metropolitan cities of Pakistan and its potential health effects. The Health 3(3), 79-85.
  71. Alam, K., Blaschke, T., Madl, P., Mukhtar, A., Hussain, M., Trautmann, T., Rehman, S. (2011). Aerosol size distribution and mass concentration measurements in various cities of Pakistan. Journal of Environmental Monitoring, 13, 1944-1952. [I.F: 4.238]
  72. Alam, K., Trautmann, T., Blaschke, T. (2011). Aerosol Optical Properties and radiative forcing over mega city Karachi. Atmospheric Research, 101, 773-782. [I.F: 5.369]
  73. Alam, K., Qurashi, S., and Blaschke, T. (2011). Monitoring spatio-temporal aerosol patterns over Pakistan based on MODIS, TOMS and MISR satellite data and a HYSPLIT model. Atmospheric Environment, 45, 4641-4651. [I.F: 4.798]
  74. Hussain, M., Madl, P., Alam, K. (2011). Review: Lung deposition predictions of airborne particles and the emergence of contemporary diseases Part-1. The Health 2(2), 51-59.
  75. Alam, K., Iqbal, M. J., Blaschke, T., Qureshi, S., and Khan, G. (2010). Monitoring spatio-temporal variations in aerosols and aerosol-cloud interactions over Pakistan using MODIS data. Advances in Space Research, 46, 1162-1176. [I.F: 1.746].