Ali Behrangi joins Arizona groundwater initiative
With an average of only 12 inches of rainfall per year, Arizona is looking for ways to improve groundwater recharge of aquifers.
Zack Guido
Ali Behrangi, associate professor of CAEM, joined the project team for an Arizona initiative focusing on improving groundwater recharge to support the state's agriculture and ecosystems.
The Arizona Tri-University Recharge and Water Reliability Project is a collaboration between the University of Arizona, the Arizona Department of Water Resources, Arizona State University and Northern Arizona University. The project is funded by a grant from the Arizona Board of Regents.
Behrangi's main research areas include remote cloud sensing and hydrological modeling, which are crucial to the project's goal of capturing precipitation and runoff before it evaporates to replenish the state’s aquifers. Groundwater accounts for about 40% of Arizona's water supply, making efforts to improve aquifer recharge critical for the state's future.
“Water conservation is one of the most urgent challenges facing Arizona, and our universities are uniquely positioned to develop innovative solutions,” said Regent Fred DuVal. “By combining the deep expertise of our academic institutions with the real-world knowledge and implementation power of our state agencies, we’re building practical, forward-looking solutions that directly serve Arizona’s communities and secure our water future.”