Space-Based Tools for California’s Water Quality Challenges: Linking Satellites to Solutions

More than 3 billion people around the world lack access to reliable information about the quality of the water they drink. As wildfires, drought, and land degradation intensify, our water systems face growing pressure—not just from scarcity, but from worsening quality. Communities, ecosystems, and economies increasingly depend on timely, science-based data to manage risks and build resilience.

In this seminar, I will explore how satellite-based Earth observations are transforming the way we monitor, understand, and protect water quality. Drawing on case studies from across California, I will demonstrate how spaceborne data are being used to detect harmful algal blooms and emerging contaminant, assess the impacts of megafires and floods, support habitat conservation, and inform public health and resource management decisions. These tools are playing a growing role in bridging science, technology, and policy—offering decision-makers actionable insights to address both immediate challenges and long-term sustainability goals.

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