Ryoko Araki

I am a Ph.D. candidate in Hydrology at the Joint Program at San Diego State University & University of California, Santa Barbara, and I am also an inaugural cohort of the Quad Fellowship.

Soil moisture data is my passion, whether it’s measured from in-situ sensors or remotely sensed from satellite platforms. My primary focus is on exploring the utility of soil moisture data. Soil storage plays a critical role in controlling both land-surface and subsurface processes, yet how these processes scale across different spatiotemporal resolutions is still not fully understood. I am intrigued by the challenges of understanding and modeling these dynamics, as doing so could significantly improve the accuracy of hydrologic modeling and enhance predictions for flood and drought management under changing climate and land-use conditions.

Outside of my office, I love hiking in the SoCal mountains and exploring the beautiful arid landscapes in the region. I am also a big fan of brewing third-wave coffees. Finally, I enjoy reading books on a wide variety of topics and learning as much as I can about the world around me.