Precip Folks

• Where are you from, where did you receive your education, and what in?

• What first got you interested in the topics you chose to study?

I’ve always had an interest in weather, but as a child that interest was primarily driven by fear. I recall a few times we had to get in our closet during tornado warnings and listen to the wind and hail pummel our roof. As I grew up, the initial fear began to turn into a desire to better understand the weather. After several years working different jobs, I decided I wanted to pursue an education and eventual career in meteorology.

• How has your area of research evolved since you first started doing research?

I began my research as an undergraduate for a capstone project. The project used GMI and Ground Validation data to evaluate the relationship between observed brightness temperature and the hydrometeor species within the same vertical profile. I’ve continued my research with GMI passive microwaves and most recently I have started analyzing the vertical distribution of hydrometeor types. Within the last year I’ve begun working with the Alabama State Climate Office on soil moisture instruments and data. My research now covers from low-earth orbit to 100 cm below the surface.

• Where do you see your area of research headed in the future?

Currently, my research uses data from GMI only, but I hope to apply similar techniques to ongoing or future satellite-based microwave imagers. I also see this research as a prime candidate for machine-learning approaches in the future. I hope that by expanding to other instruments, the temporal resolution will allow us to monitor changes in hydrometeor species during storm evolution. In an ideal scenario, it  would be great to have a geostationary passive microwave sensor.

• What is your favorite part of your job?

To me, the best part of my job is when I produce a meaningful visual product out of the vast arrays of data. I enjoy showing my colleagues, friends, and family the plots that are generated, and explaining what each of them mean. I enjoy working with people that share my interest in weather, and are always willing to give a helping hand when needed. 

• What are some of your hobbies?

Right now my time is mostly spent with my wife and two-year-old son. I try to play guitar when I’m able, and I enjoy being outdoors. I like to fish, take pictures of clouds and storms, hunt, and sit in my hammock with a good book.

• Who has inspired you most throughout your career?

There have been several people that inspired me throughout my career. My parents are both extremely hard-working and provided for me and my sister. My dad always emphasized getting a job that I would enjoy. Another influential person, Dr. Glenn Hudson, taught me physics, calculus, and differential equations. He made the coursework challenging, but he encouraged his students to never give up. I have several people at UAH that have been influential on my career. Dr. Daniel Cecil gave me the chance to work on that capstone project during my senior year, and then allowed me to continue working with him until this day. He has taught me many things, and I look forward to learning as much as I can from him. Dr. Lee Ellenberg has also helped develop my scientific career. He has been a great mentor, and is always there to help whenever I have a question. These are just a few of the many people that have positively impacted my career.

 
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• Where are you from, where did you receive your education, and what in?

• What first got you interested in the topics you chose to study?

For my Master's degree in applied mathematics, I worked on image recognition software to detect holes in supermarket shelves. Many of the papers I read during this time were applying machine learning techniques to satellite data, and I just thought to myself: "Wow, this is so much more exciting than supermarket shelves." It then became clear that I wanted to work in science, so I decided to pursue an additional Master's degree in Physics. During my Master's in Physics, I came into contact with Patrick Eriksson, my future PhD supervisor, which finally led me into atmospheric science.

• How has your area of research evolved since you first started doing research?

My work focuses on precipitation retrieval methodology, and the driving source of innovation during recent years has undoubtedly been the consolidation of machine learning tools. With today's ML software ecosystems, it has become easy to build complex retrieval systems and train them at scale, leveraging datasets that are orders of magnitude larger than I did at the start of my PhD.

• Where do you see your area of research headed in the future?

While many studies have demonstrated the benefits of deep-learning-based retrievals, only a few have become operational products. Therefore, part of my current work is focused on bringing the improvements achieved by deep-learning-based retrievals into operational products so that they can advance precipitation science.

In the longer term, I expect global precipitation retrieval pipelines, like those producing the IMERG products, will move towards a single, integrated machine-learning system that will allow fusing satellite observations in time and across sensors. Ultimately, I'd expect these systems to converge with AI weather forecasting models, thus becoming integrated, data-driven reanalysis systems. These techniques will allow us to produce better precipitation forecasts and significantly improve the historical record of global precipitation measurements.

• What is your favorite part of your job?

The part I like most about my work is its potential to affect people's lives positively. While those positive effects may take time, improved precipitation monitoring and forecasting will ultimately benefit humans and the planet. In addition to this, I enjoy working with satellite data a lot. Seeing the Earth and its atmosphere in those images is an excellent reminder of what a fascinating and beautiful planet we live on.

• What are some of your hobbies?

I spend much of my free time running, preferably on trails and in the mountains. I also race ultra marathons. Running can be a humbling experience, especially here in the Rocky Mountains. Nevertheless, it taught me a valuable lesson: Going in the right direction is much more important than going fast.

• Who has inspired you most throughout your career?

The person that has inspired me most in my career is my PhD supervisor, Patrick Eriksson. Throughout my studies, I had hardly been exposed to Earth sciences at all, and it was only through him that I found my way into atmospheric science. Moreover, he encouraged me to develop and pursue my own research interests during my PhD, which has ultimately allowed me to get where I am now. Currently, another great source of inspiration is working under Christian D. Kummerow, who has played such a formative role in bringing precipitation science to where it is today.

 
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• Where are you from, where did you receive your education, and what in?

• What first got you interested in the topics you chose to study?

Since my hometown is located by a tributary of the Yangtze River, I started “observing” the heavy Mei-yu rainfall and repeated summer floods (due to the monsoon climate) when I was still a child. During the early stages of pursuing my PhD degree, I was initially fascinated by the uncertainty quantification of hydrological modeling. However, it soon became apparent that rainfall, as the input to hydrological models, is one of the key sources of modeling uncertainty, especially in the Yangtze River basin where the high spatiotemporal variations of monsoon rainfall challenge all types of precipitation measurements. Therefore, how to utilize and combine multi-sensor precipitation measurements to improve the monitoring of heavy rainfall and floods became the focus of my PhD study. This motivation has also guided my academic journey throughout the past years, during which most of my research works have remained within this scope.

• How has your area of research evolved since you first started doing research?

It was still the TRMM era when I started my PhD study, but now we have been in the GPM era for more than a decade! During these years, my research has expanded to further examine the utility of new precipitation-capable sensors, such as NASA’s GPM and NOAA’s JPSS satellites, and even acoustic sensors like the Passive Aquatic Listener (PAL), which can fill the gap in oceanic precipitation measurement.

Such advances also allow us to quantify and reduce the uncertainty of any specific sensor’s precipitation measurement, through multi-sensor comparison and merging. Inspired by this idea, my study has moved towards the development of a prototype globally-applicable uncertainty model for GPM IMERG products, using the space-borne radar GPM-DPR as the reference. The most recent work has also explored the possibility of incorporating physics-based precipitation estimates from high-resolution numerical weather prediction (NWP) models to improve satellite retrievals (and their uncertainty estimates) for orographic precipitation and heavy precipitation. For more details on my research over the years, please visit my Google Scholar profile: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=Y4kvR58AAAAJ&hl=en.

• Where do you see your area of research headed in the future?

In the future, I think new spaceborne sensors (e.g., cubesats, smallsats, and space radar constellations) and in-situ sensors (e.g., PALs) will continue to offer new opportunities to measure precipitation globally with improved spatial coverage and temporal sampling. At the same time, as NWP models advance towards convection-permitting resolutions, their physics-based estimates of precipitation and other environmental variables are likely to be combined with multi-sensor precipitation data to improve precipitation estimates (e.g., over complex terrain areas). Lastly, as data-driven AI/ML techniques have already demonstrated their power for knowledge discovery, the information contained in both high-resolution multi-sensor observations and NWP simulations can be better utilized to more effectively and accurately resolve, understand, and predict precipitation processes across different scales.

• What is your favorite part of your job?

Being a scientist is never boring! Every day brings something new to learn and fresh challenges to tackle. It's like a constant adventure, making everyday work exciting and engaging. I also enjoy the flexible working pace. Plus, this job makes me more prepared to answer my kid's endless questions about the environment, nature, weather, and water. It feels wonderful to share what I know (and what I don’t know) and spark his curiosity—and mine—about the world around us.

• What are some of your hobbies?

When staying at home, I usually enjoy reading, listening to music, and cooking. I like to try out different Chinese cuisines and international dishes. For outdoor fun, I love hiking with my family and exploring various trails in the Rocky Mountains. Recently, I've also started learning gardening, which has brought me a lot of joy and relaxation this summer.

• Who has inspired you most throughout your career?

There is a long list! First and foremost, my family's endless love and support are the continuous driving forces behind my career. My Ph.D. and postdoctoral advisors, Prof. Dawen Yang, Prof. Yang Hong, and Prof. Daniel B. Wright, have inspired me in many aspects throughout this academic journey. Many collaborators have also provided inspiration at different points. As Confucius said, "When three people walk together, there is always a teacher for me among them." I truly appreciate the unique rewards provided by a research career— I can always learn from the brilliant ideas of others.

 
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• Where are you from, where did you receive your education, and what in?

• What first got you interested in the topics you chose to study?

I have had a lifelong interest in weather, and I remember watching The Weather Channel very often when I was growing up.  This passion drove me to pursue a career in the atmospheric sciences.  While taking an undergraduate course about radar meteorology, I found the topics fascinating and developed a great appreciation for the sheer amount of information that can be gathered from radar data.  This led to my selection of radar as the primary instrument for my undergraduate capstone and M.S. thesis research.  My fascination with remote sensing was met with a great opportunity to work with the Advanced Microwave Precipitation Radiometer (AMPR) at NASA Marshall Space Flight Center while I was transitioning into my Ph.D.  This allowed for a topic shift for my dissertation and a deeper exploration into passive microwave remote sensing.  Similar to radar, I was amazed at the information that can be retrieved from passive instruments, which drove my interest in exploring these capabilities further.  While I was a Ph.D. student, I spent 1 month in the Philippines supporting AMPR during NASA’s Cloud, Aerosol and Monsoon Processes Philippines Experiment (CAMP2Ex), which gave me a deeper appreciation for field work and helped solidify my interest in researching clouds and precipitation.

• How has your area of research evolved since you first started doing research?

My research has always been strongly rooted in microwave remote sensing, but the science focus and instruments I’ve incorporated into my analyses have changed throughout my research career.  The research I performed during my undergraduate studies was largely centered around evaluating the properties of ice hydrometeors using S-band radar data, which expanded during my M.S. thesis to include C-band radar data and using them to examine the effects of ice hydrometeor melting and mass loading on a storm’s downdraft.  My Ph.D. research focused on passive microwave remote sensing and the use of airborne radiometer data to obtain geophysical information about the atmosphere, including some applications of these data alongside other airborne instruments to evaluate the impacts of environmental and aerosol conditions on maritime tropical convection.  The study for my postdoctoral research expands upon these airborne passive microwave retrievals to include higher-frequency data and their applications across a wider range of climate regions, with particular emphasis on identifying and quantifying cloud-to-precipitation transition zones.  During my Ph.D. work, I was at the forefront of testing and expanding geophysical retrieval capabilities from the upgraded dual-polarization AMPR system, which included leading the first publication of these AMPR retrievals in the peer-reviewed literature.

More information about my research can be found on my Google Scholar profile: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=RFKYqIsAAAAJ

• Where do you see your area of research headed in the future?

Much of the recent work I’ve done has focused on AMPR retrievals using multi-linear regression techniques.  I’m currently working on blending AMPR data with data from higher microwave frequencies to expand the retrieval capabilities, and I foresee continuing this expansion to other frequencies and exploring their applications on spaceborne platforms that operate with similar frequencies (e.g., the Global Precipitation Measurement Mission’s Microwave Imager).  In addition, I envision these retrieval methods being refined using other machine-learning techniques and exploring their global applications in different climate regions.

• What is your favorite part of your job?

My favorite part of my job is seeing a final succinct set of statistics come out of an analysis that has lasted several months.  It’s a great moment of anticipation, and I look forward to sharing the results with others.  I also really enjoy participating in airborne field campaigns and traveling on deployments with AMPR.  It adds another level of depth and appreciation for a set of data when you assisted with their acquisition in real time, and it can help with later analyses (e.g., knowing the background behind certain decisions).  Lastly, I appreciate how no two days are ever the same in my job, which keeps things interesting and opens up a wealth of options and opportunities on a daily basis.

• What are some of your hobbies?

Somewhat contrary to the field I study, I’m very much an indoors person.  I love spending time with my wife, and I feel blessed that we share many of the same hobbies.  My biggest hobby is playing video games, especially indie games and those from retro Nintendo consoles.  Much of my spare time is spent browsing various YouTube channels and streaming services.  Studying history, especially the 19th and 20th centuries, has always been an interest of mine.  I also enjoy cooking and listening to orchestral and hard-rock/heavy-metal music.

• Who has inspired you most throughout your career?

My graduate research advisors, Drs. Larry Carey and Timothy Lang, have been an incredible source of inspiration throughout my career.  Both have taught me invaluable skills in all aspects of being an effective scientist.  Through their own examples, they have demonstrated how to approach a problem, consider a range of analysis options, thoroughly examine the results and their physical explanations, and quantify the uncertainties in those results.  I have a profound appreciation for the opportunities they have provided me, along with their support and assistance with navigating those opportunities.  They continuously inspired me during my graduate work and continue to do so as I work on my postdoctoral research. 

 
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• Where are you from, where did you receive your education, and what in?

• What first got you interested in the topics you chose to study?

I've been passionate about utilizing satellite data for many years. I think it all began during my youth when I observed my father, an archaeologist, employing satellite and aerial images to uncover Roman settlements and roads! When I started studying Earth Observation, watershed analysis captured my attention initially. However, over time, I became excited about the study of the interactions between the Earth's surface and atmosphere, which requires an interdisciplinary approach that I really appreciate, along with the utilization of various datasets, sensors, and ground validation. Today, these are the focal points of my research—to comprehend how shifts in precipitation or land surface temperature affect and are influenced by land cover, and how these interactions impact communities globally.

• How has your area of research evolved since you first started doing research?

The availability and abundance of open satellite data has fundamentally transformed the field. I can still recall when even obtaining Landsat images incurred costs. This posed significant limitations on the amount of data accessible for scientific research or application development. However, the focus on open and FAIR data and the launch of numerous missions, in particular GPM in the past decade or so, have revolutionized the landscape. We now have access to global gridded precipitation data, high resolution surface temperature or soil moisture products, as well as land cover and change datasets, which greatly support environmental studies and applications. The significance of such datasets, like GPM IMERG or ESA GlobCover, cannot be overstated.

Furthermore, precipitation algorithms have undergone substantial enhancements, as evidenced by an increasing body of validation studies (something I also enjoy doing!). This progress provides us with more comprehensive information and trust in utilizing these algorithms to explore the interactions between precipitation and land cover. Additionally, the emergence of cloud computing and advancements in AI/ML present promising opportunities for transformative changes. However, I do have concerns about a diminishing emphasis on understanding the underlying processes, often in favor of utilizing 'black box' methodologies that provide estimates of variables of interest.

• Where do you see your area of research headed in the future?

I believe a trajectory toward fully integrated surface-atmosphere models, delivering high-resolution data on pivotal variables ranging from land cover to precipitation. This integration will encompass satellite observations, ground measurements, and modeling techniques in seamless ways. Hopefully, this will allow a greater emphasis on insights and not on single-variable products that offer limited advantages to most users. I also expect enhanced flexibility in spatial and temporal resolution, alongside the development of more comprehensive integrated products, paving the way for new applications in both scientific and societal domains.

 However, realizing this vision requires bridging scales and prioritizing the insights we need to be available. Achieving this goal requires a much deeper and pragmatic understanding of the genuine needs of end-users and fostering improved collaboration between the public and private sectors. It's improbable that the bulk of research activities will remain confined to academia or research agencies. Rather, it should be expected a much greater role (especially in operational activities) toward the private sector, as has happened in other domains of remote sensing (e.g., very high resolution optical sensors). This transition will be propelled not so much by new satellite technology (in the short term) but by having more hardware in space, access to computing capabilities (and GPUs!), and the emergence of pragmatic use cases. I hope this may also free resources in the public sector to push the boundaries beyond the current state of the art, with greater focus on the science and the launch of higher risk missions or the maintenance of important climate datasets. In this process I also hope to see a much greater collaboration between space agencies, especially those of Europe, USA, and Japan for fully integrated missions and a shared vision. 

Nevertheless, as previously mentioned, there's a real risk of a collective loss of knowledge stemming from an overreliance on AI. Simultaneously, there's a concern that a perceived superior performance of AI-driven models may diminish the motivation to comprehend and study underlying processes. Balancing these factors will be crucial in steering the trajectory of future research endeavors.

• What is your favorite part of your job?

My favorite aspect of my job lies in exploring the feedbacks and connections between vegetation, precipitation, and human communities. Field work, collecting diverse measurements, and actively engaging with users to grasp their challenges and aspirations for the future are probably my favorite parts. Additionally, I like writing Python scripts on platforms like Colab, as it allows me to look at the data and explore the connections in a fun way!

 Furthermore, I am all for sharing the knowledge I've acquired with others. This makes me love teaching and promoting capacity-building initiatives for international audiences. Contributing to the growth and development of others within the field is incredibly rewarding!

• What are some of your hobbies?

I don’t want to rely on the cliché profile of the Earth Scientist. However, I do like the outdoors, whether it's hiking, biking, or birdwatching. I also enjoy drawing and playing the guitar. Spending my time with friends and family, especially my 5-year old kid! Sports have always played a significant role in my life, with sailing holding a special place in my life!

• Who has inspired you most throughout your career?

The list is long! But if I have to choose someone who played a key role in my career, my PhD supervisor, Dr. Alcides Pereira, is certainly at the top. He provided invaluable guidance during the formative stages of my career, emphasizing the significance of addressing real user needs and the importance of conducting rigorous scientific research. Moreover, he drove me to think about the imperative to apply scientific concepts to address societal challenges, emphasizing that our work can ultimately serve to address the real-world problems faced by real people.

 
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• Where are you from, where did you receive your education, and what in?

• What first got you interested in the topics you chose to study?

I am studying spatially compound climate extremes, such as spatially synchronized extreme precipitation. This topic was chosen because it is application-based and highly related to people’s daily life. Such spatially compound extremes can lead to severe consequences that far surpass the cumulative effects of individual events. Accurately assessing the risk of these compound climate extremes can empower policymakers with invaluable knowledge to prepare for rare events that can profoundly impact local communities.

• How has your area of research evolved since you first started doing research?

I am interested in research topics that solve real-life problems. During my undergraduate, I worked on analytical solutions for the transport of underground volatile contaminants from water table to the building. The developed analytical model is useful for accurately and rapidly assessing indoor contaminant concentration (link). Then, at the beginning of my PhD period, the desert locust plagued Africa and the Middle East, the world’s most food-insecure regions. I established a data-driven framework to extract coherent spatiotemporal features, identify trends, pinpoint hotspots, and quantify the compound risk of locust invasions (link). My analyses allow entomological and climatological interpretations of large-scale locust prevalence and the spatiotemporal quantification of spatially compound locust risks. It was highlighted by several press media such as The New York Times [Link], Associated Press [Link], Inside Climate News [Link], ABC News [Link], FOX Weather [Link], and Live Science [Link].  During this study, I realized that ignoring the spatially compound events can underestimate hazard risks. Therefore, I developed a deep generative model to better consider the spatial dependence structure of compound climate extremes (link). To summarize, my research methods changed from analytical solutions to data-driven methods, and my research topics changed from groundwater hydrology to hydroclimate applications.

• Where do you see your area of research headed in the future?

Deep learning in earth science was in its infancy but has developed quickly over the years for its computational efficiency. I believe it is an unavoidable direction to combine traditional study in earth science with deep learning techniques, given the increasingly available large stream of open-source public datasets. Yet deep learning is just a set of tools; the main core is still the physical mechanisms behind observational records. Therefore, future directions would focus on using data to discover knowledge, such as deep learning for causal inference, or using knowledge to improve established deep learning models, such as physics-informed machine learning.

• What is your favorite part of your job?

I like the freedom. Working as a researcher is like working for yourself. The knowledge and skills I master are my own. I enjoy the feeling that I keep improving myself.

• What are some of your hobbies?

I enjoy outdoor activities with energy and good views, such as playing baseball, climbing, and hiking, but I also like to stay by myself, cooking and then watching movies along with the good food. Playing the piano is also my favorite activity when I am alone.

• Who has inspired you most throughout your career?

My supervisor, Prof. Xiaogang He, inspired me the most throughout my PhD period. Being nice and helpful, he is not only my academic advisor but also my life mentor. I learned how to analyze data, visualize results, and organize papers. More importantly, I learned from him how to form ideas and think critically. It is my supervisor who teaches me how to become a scientist. He is always enthusiastic about research, and he manages his time efficiently. My supervisor is my role model and the kind of person I want to become.

 
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• Where are you from, where did you receive your education, and what in?

• What first got you interested in the topics you chose to study?

My interest in civil engineering and hydrology began when I was young, living in Kerman, a city known in Iran for its dry, long, hot summers. The scarcity of water and the impact of its distribution and quality on people's lives made me curious. I decided to study Civil Engineering for my Bachelor's and Master's degrees to understand better and contribute to water management solutions. As I learned more, my fascination with the complexity of precipitation as a critical component of the Earth's water cycle grew.

This passion led me to explore the field of hydrometeorology for my Ph.D. at UCI. I wanted to combine traditional engineering with innovative technologies to estimate and manage water resources more effectively. The more I learned about the potential of satellite remote sensing and machine learning, the more I realized how these tools could revolutionize our understanding and management of water in the environment. It's exciting to think that we can now estimate and nowcast weather patterns and potential natural disasters more accurately, potentially saving lives and conserving resources. This blend of engineering, environmental science, and cutting-edge technology drove me to pursue this field and continues to inspire me every day.

• How has your area of research evolved since you first started doing research?

Since I started my research, there has been a significant evolution in both the scope of my work and the methods I use. Initially, my focus was on understanding the fundamental aspects of civil engineering in water management. This foundational knowledge was crucial as I moved into the domain of hydrometeorology for my Ph.D. work at UCI. Over time, my research has shifted from traditional approaches to incorporating advanced technologies such as machine learning. I began with an interest in precipitation estimation from satellite observations, and this has expanded to develop high spatiotemporal resolution quantitative precipitation estimation products using neural networks. I've also worked on machine learning frameworks that combine satellite observations in near-real-time, a significant shift from my earlier focus. Also, my involvement with various institutions, like NASA Ames and the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, has broadened my work on interdisciplinary and operational projects, combining environmental and computer science. The progression of my research reflects a broader shift in the field of hydrometeorology  — where the integration of technology and data analytics has become essential in addressing complex hydrometeorological issues.

• Where do you see your area of research headed in the future?

My research area should continue to evolve toward greater technology integration, especially as artificial intelligence becomes more sophisticated. My work at the intersection of environmental science and data science has already begun to leverage these advancements, and I see this trend only growing in the future. We will see a significant increase in real-time data processing and operational capabilities, leading to faster and more accurate precipitation estimates and weather forecasting. Additionally, I expect a rise in interdisciplinary approaches that combine atmospheric science, hydrology, and computational science to tackle complex environmental issues. The future of hydrometeorology will likely involve collaborative efforts that bridge multiple scientific domains, and I'm excited about the potential for discoveries and applications that such collaborations will foster.

• What is your favorite part of your job?

My favorite part of my job is the opportunity to stand at the crossroads of multiple scientific disciplines. Combining principles of hydrometeorology, environmental science, and cutting-edge computational methods like machine learning brings my work a unique and exciting dimension. It allows me to engage with complex problems in innovative ways and contribute to science that can impact our understanding and management of water resources and climate phenomena.

• What are some of your hobbies?

Some of my favorite hobbies include painting, which lets me tap into my creative side and let out all those hidden emotions. Hiking with my dog Leo is another activity I love; it's an awesome way to soak in the beauty of nature in southern California and just chill. Plus, for a guaranteed good laugh, I'll watch some stand-up comedy. It's the perfect way to lighten up and see the funny side of everyday stuff.

• Who has inspired you most throughout your career?

Throughout my academic and professional journey, the one person who has profoundly inspired me is my Ph.D. advisor, Professor Soroosh Sorooshian. From the moment I arrived in the United States (September 2017), Professor Sorooshian has been a pillar of support both professionally and personally. He's been like family, helping me grow in my studies and making sure I'm doing okay in this new country.

His dedication to excellence, unwavering encouragement, and insightful research approach have profoundly shaped my career path. Professor Sorooshian has played a crucial role in helping me navigate the complexities of hydrometeorology and has always encouraged innovative thinking. His belief in my abilities and his readiness to share his vast knowledge and experience have been invaluable to my development as a scientist. His mentorship has left an indelible mark on me, and I am always grateful for his role in my career.

 
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• Where are you from, where did you receive your education, and what in?

• What first got you interested in the topics you chose to study?

My interest in my field of study was sparked by the environmental challenges faced by Urmia Lake in Iran. Witnessing the lake's diminishing water levels due to climate change and snow droughts, I felt compelled to understand the dynamics behind this phenomenon. This led me to focus on modeling the lake's water level, especially looking at how variations in snowpack affect it. This initial intrigue grew into a broader passion for applying remote sensing and geospatial techniques to environmental monitoring and climate change impacts.

• How has your area of research evolved since you first started doing research?

My research journey began with a focus on modeling the water levels of Urmia Lake in Iran, primarily to understand the impact of climate change and snow droughts on this vital ecosystem. Over time, my area of study has significantly evolved. I delved deeper into remote sensing and data science, expanding my expertise to broader environmental monitoring and analysis. This transition enabled me to explore how snowpack variations influence broader ecological systems and hydrological cycles. Currently, my research encompasses a more comprehensive approach, using advanced data science and machine learning techniques to investigate snowpack and wildfire monitoring in the Western U.S., thereby contributing to a better understanding of climate change impacts on diverse environmental systems.

• Where do you see your area of research headed in the future?

I envision the field of remote sensing and geospatial analysis, particularly in environmental sciences, advancing towards more integrated and dynamic modeling approaches in the future. This evolution will likely be driven by the increasing availability of high-resolution satellite data and advancements in machine learning algorithms. These developments will enable more accurate and timely monitoring of environmental phenomena like snowpack dynamics, wildfire patterns, and climate change impacts. The integration of diverse data sources, including ground observations and satellite imagery, will enhance our predictive capabilities. This will be crucial for proactive environmental management and disaster response strategies. Additionally, there's a growing trend towards open science and collaborative research, which will further enrich our understanding and capabilities in addressing complex environmental challenges.

• What is your favorite part of your job?

My favorite part of the job is the opportunity to apply my expertise in remote sensing, GIS, geospatial analysis, and data science to real-world environmental challenges, particularly in the context of climate change impacts like snowpack variability and wildfire dynamics. Collaborating with diverse teams and translating complex scientific data into actionable insights is immensely satisfying. I also value being part of a very active snow remote sensing community, which continually offers opportunities for professional development and shapes my future career path. This environment fosters learning, innovation, and meaningful contributions to environmental policy and management.

• What are some of your hobbies?

In addition to hiking, snowboarding, working out, and hanging out with friends, I enjoy a variety of other activities. These include watching movies, exploring nature, learning new skills related to my field of study, like advanced remote sensing and data science techniques, and participating in community events. I also find relaxation in singing and cooking. These hobbies not only provide a great balance to my academic and professional life but also keep me inspired and energized

• Who has inspired you most throughout your career?

Throughout my career, I have been most inspired by my academic mentors and leading researchers in the fields of remote sensing and snow science. Their dedication to advancing scientific understanding and their ability to innovate and apply research in practical, impactful ways have been a guiding force in my own journey. These mentors have not only provided valuable knowledge and insights but also demonstrated the importance of perseverance, creativity, and a commitment to environmental stewardship. Their influence has shaped my approach to research and my aspirations to contribute significantly to the field of snowpack and climate change studies.

 
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• Where are you from, where did you receive your education, and what in?

• What first got you interested in the topics you chose to study?

This will definitely sound cliche, but I’ve loved this stuff ever since I was a kid. Growing up I always wanted to be some kind of -ologist. Marine biologist, paleontologist, geologist, and eventually meteorologist. I had a geography class in third grade and there was this section on the water cycle and clouds. I think I must have named every cloud I saw for months after that. Then in high school I did a college program called Running Start where I took classes at the community college up the street for dual credit. I took an introductory course in meteorology and oceanography, and the little kid in me just loved it. After the financial collapse my plans for the future got a bit derailed, but I made it here eventually!

• How has your area of research evolved since you first started doing research?

My undergraduate research was actually in atmospheric chemistry and the formation of perchlorate in the stratosphere, which hasn’t been anything like what I’m doing now in grad school. Previously I was working with ice core data, but now I’m working much more with reanalysis products and ground based observations. The ice core data was much cleaner and easier to use, but also more limited. Right now, I’m looking at how atmospheric rivers impact snowfall over the central Greenland Ice Sheet, and how different variables impact the characteristics of snowfall at Summit Station and the magnitude and duration of snowfall events.

• Where do you see your area of research headed in the future?

Right now my research questions are focused on one location, Summit Station in Greenland, but when I complete this project I plan to use data from another research station in Ny-Ålesund, which is a coastal region. I want to take what I learn from this project and apply it to the coastal location and do an intercomparison.

• What is your favorite part of your job?

Nothing stays the same. I left my old job as a cartographer because the monotony of doing QA day in and day out was driving me nuts. I like having new challenges and hearing the perspectives of my friends and colleagues.

• What are some of your hobbies?

I love reading, mostly fantasy and science fiction. I play a lot of video games in my time off, and when I have the space, I find gardening to be very zen and therapeutic.

• Who has inspired you most throughout your career?

I’ve had the good fortune to have some very supportive people in my life who have inspired me to believe in myself. My college calculus teacher, Jon Armel, who gave me the skills and encouragement I needed to go for what I really wanted and who reassured me that not everyone gets into graduate school on their first try (it took him three tries to get into a PhD program!). My undergraduate research advisor Becky Alexander, and my graduate mentor, Yuk Chun Chan, both inspired me to believe that I had what it took to get into a PhD program and who guided me in my growth as a researcher. My husband, who has always supported me in following my dreams and provided a shoulder to cry on when I took my first physics class and I couldn’t figure out where that spherical cow would land after being catapulted from a wall. And my mother, who always told me that I could do and be anything that I wanted to be. I will always be forever grateful to these people in my life.

 
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• Where are you from, where did you receive your education, and what in?

• What first got you interested in the topics you chose to study?

I fell in love with thunderstorms at a young age and always enjoyed math in school. It wasn’t long before I knew meteorology was for me. Many of the remaining pieces guiding me toward radar and lightning research fell into place through my undergraduate career. Dr. Phillip Chilson mentored me during one of my earliest research experiences, using precipitation radar to study bat flight behaviors in response to meteorological phenomena. Later, I took an elective course in Lightning Meteorology where I learned that lightning provides a wealth of information about the precipitation processes in and the intensity of deep convection.

• How has your area of research evolved since you first started doing research?

My first graduate research project incorporated ground-based radar and Lightning Mapping Array (LMA) analyses to diagnose how trends in lightning relate to convective intensification in supercell thunderstorms. As I began my Ph.D., I began looking more closely at the electrification structures and physical processes taking place within these storms using three-dimensional wind retrievals and radar-based precipitation microphysics analyses. I have since applied these skills to diagnose space-based precipitation observations in all convective modes using ground-based instruments and retrievals. Common themes of the projects I have worked on include using base-level data from ground-based Doppler radar to build information about the size, type, and quantity of precipitation in storms as well as the three-dimensional wind flow to infer crucial information about thunderstorm processes. Tools for these kinds of analyses have advanced over the past few years. Still, there are several crucial processes that we can’t resolve or missing pieces we don’t yet have the technology to observe on the required scales and scope. New and emerging technology, including machine learning, makes these problems more approachable and expands the utility of historic data collections. Having this kind of information should help answer questions about processes we still struggle to resolve in observations as well as simulations.

• Where do you see your area of research headed in the future?

I feel fortunate to work in two different areas of research, lightning and precipitation, that seem to be growing in similar ways and sometimes overlap. More and more, the greater community is finding new and different ways to use expanding lightning observations to address processes not directly related to thunderstorm intensity, including providing insights into cloud composition and signals of a changing climate. On the side of precipitation, the GPM era is moving forward with efforts to observe and make direct measurements of vertical velocity coupled with global precipitation. Syntheses of complementary datasets, including lightning, three-dimensional winds, and precipitation, will provide a great deal of information about mass flux, atmospheric transport, and global convective impacts.

• What is your favorite part of your job?

I enjoy most how a research job can change and grow based on different team structures and project goals. Because of this, I’ve had more and more career opportunities over the past few years that I really value, including engaging more in hands-on field work, becoming involved in larger collaborative teams, and working with students.

• What are some of your hobbies?

In the warmer months, I’m outside gardening as often as possible. I usually start a vegetable garden in the spring, and I especially enjoy working with shade plants such as hostas and ferns. When the growing season ends, I resume knitting and crocheting in my free time. I also really enjoy photography. I’m learning more about macrophotography, and seagulls are an odd but favorite subject of mine.

• Who has inspired you most throughout your career?

Career inspiration comes in many forms from my family as well as numerous mentors, peers, and colleagues I have had the privilege of working with. One example is my grandmother, who has accomplished many things throughout her life, including building several successful businesses while raising her family. I especially admire that despite all her hard work, says she enjoyed everything she did too much to call it work. I also draw career inspiration from my graduate advisor, Dr. Larry Carey. I could write pages on what I have learned from him over the years but in terms of career inspiration, he models adaptability to apply skills and interests to approach a variety of research themes. I also hope to emulate his ability to work with teams and mentor students in ways that promote growth while drawing out others’ strengths.

 
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• Where are you from, where did you receive your education, and what in?

• What first got you interested in the topics you chose to study?

I was raised in the countryside and spent most of my childhood in the woods and on the farmlands. My grandparents used to complain a lot about how unpredictable rainfalls would damage the crop production. I didn’t want them to be upset but I also had no idea why rolling clouds usually came with lightning and rainfall. I guess that was the first time when I got interested in what I currently study.

• How has your area of research evolved since you first started doing research?

My research experience starts with atmospheric retrieval based on radiative transfer because I thought remote sensing is very interesting and also important in observing atmospheric processes and monitoring key parameters. When I took my qualifying exam, my committee members thought I had a good understanding of atmospheric retrieval techniques, and could put more effort into depicting the big picture. That’s when I started to grow more interested in research about precipitation processes and synoptic mechanisms.

• Where do you see your area of research headed in the future?

Atmospheric remote sensing and precipitation in polar regions are my two favorite research areas. Studies have shown that precipitation will become more frequent at high latitudes in a warming climate. I expect there will be various observing approaches in the future, leveraging the synergistic effects of multiple airborne/spaceborne instruments, and complementary insights from in-situ measurements.

• What is your favorite part of your job?

I like how it is related to nature and also everyday life. If I go hiking with my friends, we can talk about why as we go higher the Lays chips bag would inflate. If I saw a double rainbow after a rain event, I can explain to my parents why the two rainbow are in opposite directions. It’s just pure fun to me.

• What are some of your hobbies?

I love sports. I like jogging, hiking, swimming, and recently got into playing tennis. I play traditional Chinese instruments Erhu and Guzheng, and also enjoy listening to rock music. After I came to Ann Arbor, I grew a new hobby of feeding squirrels.

• Who has inspired you most throughout your career?

There have been many people who have inspired me throughout my career, and I’m so lucky to have them in my life. For example, my advisor Dr. Claire Pettersen has inspired me a lot, not only as an outstanding female faculty actively participating in research, teaching, community service, but also as a role model of an excellent advisor, a supportive colleague, and sometimes a compassionate friend. If I ever were to become a faculty advisor sometime in the future, I wish I could be as great as she is.

 
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• Where are you from, where did you receive your education, and what in?

• What first got you interested in the topics you chose to study?

I like computational fluid mechanics (CFD). And modeling clouds and precipitation is so cool! They are beautiful. 

• How has your area of research evolved since you first started doing research?

I had an internship in Lawrence Berkeley National Lab and the supervisor wanted me to simulate watershed. That’s the first time I actually did something with CFD beyond classes. Then I felt interested and wanted to explore more. 

• Where do you see your area of research headed in the future?

Currently I am working on rain only. It would be nice to expand work to solid form precipitation, snow and hail. I hope to merge all precipitation types together in the model, understanding them across all the scales.

• What is your favorite part of your job?

See my code working! Watch the results!

• What are some of your hobbies?

Fishing and snowboarding.

• Who has inspired you most throughout your career?

My advisor Ana Barros~ She knows the field well and has many brilliant ideas.

 
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• Where are you from, where did you receive your education, and what in?

• What first got you interested in the topics you chose to study?

I first became interested in weather and climate because of my Grandpa. Monitoring and explaining the weather is one of his hobbies and I was fascinated to learn from him when I was younger. Additionally, a common field trip destination when I was in school was the National Weather Service Office in my hometown. Getting to see the NEXRAD radar and operations center on these trips as a kid was always exciting and led me to study atmospheric science in college. Undergraduate coursework in radiative transfer and clouds/precipitation ignited my interest in applying instruments to study snowfall and better understand microphysical processes. 

• How has your area of research evolved since you first started doing research?

When I first started doing research in undergrad, I primarily examined the environmental and synoptic conditions associated with winter storms in Marquette, MI. I then began to incorporate observations from ground-based instruments that allowed me to evaluate the microphysical properties of different snow regimes. Currently, I am expanding my research to include additional locations that experience winter storms (e.g., Alaska, Finland, etc.) and am focusing on evaluating the effects of atmospheric rivers on snow microphysics.

• Where do you see your area of research headed in the future?

I expect my future research to focus on characterizing global snowfall properties. I want to expand my research to include data from spaceborne instruments aboard the Global Precipitation Measurement, CloudSat, and eventually the Atmosphere Observing System missions. The goals of which would be to better understand snowfall in diverse environments, validate the ground and space perspectives, and better constrain snowfall events and their microphysical properties in satellite retrievals. I also plan to explore the application of machine learning methods that can connect atmospheric precursors to snow properties.

• What is your favorite part of your job?

Getting to work with and be around brilliant people every day! It is thrilling to track everyone’s progress and growth as scientists and individuals who are ready to tackle the big questions in weather and climate research.

• What are some of your hobbies?

Running is my favorite hobby all year round! I also enjoy hiking, playing the trumpet (I was in the UW Marching Band through undergrad), and ice skating/playing hockey. My less exciting hobbies include being lazy and watching movies or binge watching a good TV series.

• Who has inspired you most throughout your career?

There are countless people who have inspired me throughout my career. Firstly, I wouldn’t be where I am today without the continuous support from my parents and family members. I’ve also been fortunate to receive instruction from fantastic professors and teachers who’ve encouraged my curiosity and passion for the weather and related sciences. Lastly, I am privileged to have great mentors and research advisors that inspire me with their own work and encouragement.

 
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• Where are you from, where did you receive your education, and what in?

• What first got you interested in the topics you chose to study?

Water-related disasters caused a lot of deaths and property loss. Since I was a kid, I dreamed about becoming a scientist and helping society. 

• How has your area of research evolved since you first started doing research?

I started my research on hydrological modeling in 2016 using conceptual models to simulate flooding events. Since then, I have continued to work on flood simulation and forecasting using distributed models with a focus on developing a framework that allows error propagation from streamflow to precipitation to better understand and characterize precipitation errors in complex terrain. Currently, I work on regionalizing precipitation error models derived from water balance approach and travel time theories.

• Where do you see your area of research headed in the future?

In the future, I expect that my research will produce generalized precipitation error models over the vast mountains using our newly developed physics-based data-driven models, hoping to provide much more inputs into precipitation errors.

• What is your favorite part of your job?

The favorite part of my job is definitely its novelty. We know that we are investigating precipitation errors from a new perspective and we hope this new perspective can provide us valuable insights regarding extreme precipitation in the mountains. 

• What are some of your hobbies?

I like bodybuilding and watching anime, and regularly hang out with my wife and friends. Recently, I started learning to cook a variety of cuisines from Asian to Mexican to American and much more to come. 

• Who has inspired you most throughout your career?

My PhD advisor, Ana P. Barros, has inspired me the most throughout my PhD journey. She taught me how to think as a scholar and how to do science. Her passion and discipline always gave me a positive impact. 

 
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• Where are you from, where did you receive your education, and what in?

• What first got you interested in the topics you chose to study?

I come from Bangladesh, a nation in the largest deltaic plain, formed by the mighty Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna basin. The country’s economy, livelihood, end agriculture are largely affected by the unique characteristics of its interconnected networks of rivers and tributaries. While blessed with rich alluvial soil, the country is vulnerable to extreme hydroclimatic events such as floods, cyclones, and droughts. My motivation to study water resources engineering emerges from the desire to enhance community resilience in the face of the climate crisis. By examining hydroclimatic extremes and their variability, I aim to improve predictability and ultimately enhance vulnerable communities’ ability to withstand and adapt to these challenges. 

• How has your area of research evolved since you first started doing research?

During my undergraduate studies, I developed a keen interested in the practical application of water modeling, particularly, in simulating interaction between river and floodplain. My focus was on investigating how encroachment on the banks of the river effect flood flows on natural channels and eventually the flow conveyance in downstream. From then, my research direction shifted significantly from river flow modeling to studying precipitation trends. As a junior engineer at IWM, I actively collaborated with my team to navigate the complexities of hydrological and hydrodynamic modeling components. This involved integrating field observations with these models to gain better understanding of surface water-groundwater resources. As I started my PhD, I spent some time to mapping atmospheric variables at a higher resolution over Northern Virginia using physical-based and machine learning approaches. This particular research eventually led me to specialize in analyzing changes in extreme precipitation at different spatial scales. To accomplish this, I leverage multi-source precipitation datasets obtained from remote sensing and earth system models, combining them with statistical modeling techniques. Specifically, I assessed trends in precipitation magnitude, frequency, and intensity in the Contiguous United States (CONUS) and High Mountain Asia (HMA) at seasonal and annual scales. My long-term goal is to develop tools such as flood forecasting and drought monitoring that will help better understanding shifts in hydrological regime and trends of high-impact events under a warming climate using observation, models, and data science.

• Where do you see your area of research headed in the future?

There have been numerous efforts to better estimate precipitation. Integrating multi-source precipitation estimates (i.e., ground observations, space-based sensors, reanalysis products, and climate model simulations) can be pivotal role in addressing research inquiries, especially in regions with limited data availability. Higher spatial resolution allows for a better understanding of trends of extreme events at regional scales. However, when examining the finer details, variability can make it extremely challenging to discern any clear direction or change, particularly, when considering future changes that involve many ensemble members. I envision my research work evolving towards the integration of multi-source datasets to build better predictive models. The aim is to enhance understanding of compound hazards in a warming world (such as the occurrence of hotter days followed by heavy downpours). Given the urgency of the climate crisis, my objective is to investigate future climate variability and predictability. Through this research, I aim to identify and map regions and communities most susceptible to the adverse effects of climate change. Decision-makers and stakeholders can use the insights and tools to inform decision-making processes.

• What is your favorite part of your job?

I love to learn about new ideas that lead to new research direction, particularly, in the realm of understanding the influence of climate crisis on extreme hydroclimatic events. One aspect that brings me immense joy is engaging in brainstorming sessions and exchanging scientific ideas with individuals who share a similar enthusiasm for fostering a regional research community.

• What are some of your hobbies?

I have been nurturing my indoor plants for over three years and it has become a source of solace and relaxation for me. Cooking is another passion of mine and I thoroughly enjoy exploring new cuisines and experimenting in my kitchen. Traveling to new and exciting destinations is something I always look forward to. 

When it comes to finding peace and tanquility, nothing compares to listening to music. It has been my go-to option for uplifting my spirits. I do love painting which I find therapeutic and I am putting my effort to try out new painting techniques. The next on my bucket list is to finally complete reading the books I have accumulated over time and have yet to finish.

• Who has inspired you most throughout your career?

My supervisor Dr Viviana Maggioni has been my biggest inspiration. I have been fortunate to be surrounded by incredibly kind-hearted individuals, particularly, my friends, especially I am amazed by the female scientists or in the process of becoming a scientist. Their determination, passion and dedication to their work inspire me greatly. Witnessing their achievements and journey towards significant contributions to their respective fields is truly inspiring. Having such supportive and inspiring figures in my life has motivated me to pursue my aspirations.

Twitter: @dolaishrat

 
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• Where are you from, where did you receive your education, and what in?

• What first got you interested in the topics you chose to study?

I enjoyed studying Physics and Mathematics, and always had an interest in weather and space.  My interest in space came from visiting the National Space Center in my hometown, Leicester, and the specialization of my University’s Physics Department in astrophysics and other space sciences.

• How has your area of research evolved since you first started doing research?

I first started my research on satellite precipitation observations in summer 2014, only a few months after the launch of the Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) mission’s Core Observatory (CO).  My research began with validating the GPM-CO sensors over Great Britain and Ireland.  In the 9 years since, I have continued to validate GPM products with a focus on GPM’s IMERG multi-satellite precipitation product.  In particular, I have analyzed the diurnal cycle of precipitation and climate model performance using IMERG, and I currently trace errors in the IMERG algorithm back to their source using the GPM Validation Network at NASA Marshall Space Flight Center.

• Where do you see your area of research headed in the future?

In the future, I anticipate that my research in conducting novel satellite precipitation validation studies will continue, with a focus on tracing errors in multi-satellite algorithms such as IMERG.  I also would like to support the next generation of satellite precipitation missions, including NASA’s Atmosphere Observing System (AOS).

• What is your favorite part of your job?

The favorite part of my job is statistically analyzing satellite precipitation products and identifying performance deficiencies in their algorithms.  Helping to improve our retrievals from precipitation observations is very satisfying as it aids science and society.

• What are some of your hobbies?

I like to watch a wide range of movies, and regularly visit the movie theater to see the latest releases.  I also like to bake and cook, play pickleball, and to go for frequent walks and hikes.

• Who has inspired you most throughout your career?

My PhD supervisor, Alessandro Battaglia, has inspired me most throughout my career.  Alessandro mentored me in the principles of precipitation science and research, and his passion and commitment to research in this field is influential.

Twitter: @DanielCWatters

 
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• Where are you from, where did you receive your education, and what in?

• What first got you interested in the topics you chose to study?

I remember deciding to become an electrical engineer. I wanted to understand things that I previously didn’t, like how my phone worked. What drew me to meteorology so many years later? Honestly it was largely the same driver: a desire to expand on my engineering knowledge to understand new things but this time I was more motivated to understand weather phenomena that impacted people: a larger scope beyond the instruments I was focusing on.

• How has your area of research evolved since you first started doing research?

My master’s degree was focused on antenna design and that propelled me on a path to doing research in radio frequency hardware design and testing. Now I am studying precipitation as seen by a dual-polarization phased array radar. My perspectives on this topic have continually been evolving since I started my PhD program, and I am interested to see where they take me.

• Where do you see your area of research headed in the future?

I think that technology is advancing at the same time as precipitation research with ever expanding ways to observe atmospheric processes. I see a future with more measurements utilizing the “internet of things,” communication links, machine learning techniques, improved radar spatial and temporal coverage, an increased number of satellite missions, and advancements in other technologies like lidar and radiometers. While there are challenges to be faced with an increase in measurements this means ultimately that the future holds a better representation of physical processes, microphysics, accumulation of precipitation on the ground, and weather forecasts. These improvements will filter into more informed decision making. We are just the people who will help do the work to get there.

• What is your favorite part of your job?

I’m excited to be entering a field where I can explore the ideas that I want to explore and ask the questions that I deem important. This is the magic of research that makes what I do fulfilling.

• What are some of your hobbies?

While I have others, my favorite hobby is to garden both indoors in the winter and outside when the weather is nice. Even if I’m just checking on my herb window each day it’s something that brings instant joy.

• Who has inspired you most throughout your career?

I’m inspired in different ways by all the people I have known and had the pleasure of working with throughout my career. Those people who genuinely care about others and want to see a better world are the people that tend to inspire me the most.

 
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