Arizona State University expert directory

Jay Famiglietti is director of science for the Arizona Water Innovation Initiative and a renowned hydrologist (formerly with NASA and the Jet Propulsion Lab) who researches water and climate change. 

He can discuss groundwater, freshwater, atmospheric rivers, droughts, floods, water security, how water works and moves and policy affecting its use.

Famiglietti and his research team use satellites to track changing water availability around the world. They pioneered the methods to detect groundwater depletion from space using the NASA GRACE mission. They have been working for many years towards improving hydrological prediction in climate models like those used in the IPCC. This work has driven Famiglietti's interest in global groundwater sustainability, the food-water nexus, corporate water sustainability and stewardship, innovations in financial tools and data-driven reporting platforms, and international water diplomacy.