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Peyman Abbaszadeh: Hydrology and Hope for the Future

Peyman Abbaszadeh works with researchers around the world to model and estimate the ways in which water flows above and below the surface of the Earth.

Peyman Abbaszadeh smiles slightly at the camera in an informal portrait. He has short dark hair, wears a blue winter jacket, and stands in front of an old, red brick building and yellow-green grass.
Dr. Peyman Abbaszadeh poses outside Princeton University, where he is a postdoctoral research associate in the department of civil and environmental engineering. Peyman’s research area is computational hydrology and satellite data assimilation.
u003cstrongu003eu003cemu003eCredits: Atieh Alipour / Courtesy of Peyman Abbaszadehu003c/emu003eu003c/strongu003e

Editor’s Note: A revised version of this story was posted on February 17, 2023, to include the interviewee’s updated description of his work responsibilities and goals.

Name: Dr. Peyman Abbaszadeh

Title: Science Collaborator

Organization: Hydrological Sciences Laboratory, Sciences and Exploration Directorate (Code 617)

What do you do and what is most interesting about your role here at Goddard? How do you help support Goddard’s mission?

I work with researchers at Goddard on developing a new generation of hydrologic data assimilation systems by integrating the NASA LIS (Land Information Systems) and ParFlow hydrologic model. My role at Goddard is especially interesting because I get to work with a team of researchers from all over to collaborate on this project. Our goal is to understand the interaction between the land surface and subsurface hydrologic processes and how this complex system is affected by human activities and the environment at different spatial and temporal scales. It is very exciting working closely with outstanding scientists at NASA on solving unknown problems. This is a great opportunity, and I am so excited about that.

Providing access to the information we generate empowers others in the scientific community to use it in their own field studies. Like a recipe, we post all our models and analyses on GitHub with instructions, so that users can utilize them efficiently.

What is your background?

I got my bachelor’s in civil engineering at the University of Tabriz in Iran. Later I moved to Tehran to study hydrology at Tehran Polytechnic University. Later I moved to Tuscaloosa, Alabama, where I got my Ph.D. in water resources at the University of Alabama. Currently, I am continuing my postdoctoral research at Princeton University and reside in New Jersey.

Peyman Abbaszadeh, wearing a white tee and jeans, gestures while speaking at the front of a classroom of children. The room has lab coats, a fridge and a large whiteboard. Children sit in colorful chairs and listen.
Dr. Peyman Abbaszadeh, a science collaboration researcher at Goddard, discusses the importance of uncertainty in hydrologic studies with high school students in the Water and Climate Academy Week at Watershed Institute, Hopewell Township, New Jersey.
u003cstrongu003eu003cemu003eCredits: Lisa Gallagher / Courtesy of Peyman Abbaszadehu003c/emu003eu003c/strongu003e

Can you explain how these hydrologic models function?

Hydrologic models simplify the Earth’s surface and subsurface physical processes using a combination of mathematical equations. They are built to predict and estimate the ways in which water flows above and below the surface of the Earth. Knowing this is extremely important as it helps us to better manage water resources and irrigation systems in different locations with different hydroclimate regimes. Hydrologic models are utilized to enhance drought monitoring, flood forecasting, and other early warning systems by providing more accurate and reliable estimates of soil moisture, evapotranspiration, surface runoff, and subsurface water flow among others.

Why did you become a hydrology focused scientist?

I became a hydrologist to study how much water we have access to on Earth and how it moves and stores in the atmosphere, on the land surface, and below the ground while being affected by climate change. Along with conducting research, one of my top priorities is making sure that my research contributes to the education of younger generations. To achieve this, I am so happy that I got the chance to get involved in the outreach and education program at the IGWMC (Integrated GroundWater Modeling Center) at Princeton University, where we promote the education of K-12 students and teachers, as well as community members.

Can you explain why hydrological science is significant to current research?

As we know, climate change is now a climate crisis, as it is warming our planet and disturbing the water cycle by changing the hydrologic processes on the land surface and below the ground. Understanding how the hydrologic variables and fluxes — for example, soil moisture, evapotranspiration, river flow, and groundwater — change over time and interact helps us better prepare and plan for current conditions and accurately forecast future events, such as floods, droughts, wildfires, and heatwaves. These extreme events cause billions of dollars in damage annually in the US and globally. Hydrologic science contributes to a better understanding of the physics behind these processes and their interactions and paves the way for better estimating the likelihood of future events.

What inspires you?

I decided to apply for this position because during my Ph.D. study, there was a constant voice in the back of my head asking how I could apply the skills I had learned and contribute to society. I wanted to reapply my knowledge in the field to help solve real-world water-related problems and challenges. Working on this project helps me see the real footprint of my research.

What do you like to do in your free time?

I love to travel with my wife. Recently we had the opportunity to visit Vermont and New Hampshire, which have beautiful scenery. I also love hiking, so this recent trip was a blast!

How do you relax after a long day spent in the lab?

Card games are another passion of mine, particularly a good poker night. But it’s not a complete end of the day without a good TV show to unwind.

Learn more about LIS here:

https://lis.gsfc.nasa.gov/

By Ranna P. Zahabi
NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md.

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Conversations With Goddard is a collection of Q&A profiles highlighting the breadth and depth of NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center’s talented and diverse workforce. The Conversations have been published twice a month on average since May 2011. Read past editions on Goddard’s “Our People” webpage.