Weather, climate modeling, weather, urban climate, atmosphere, mitigation, adaptation, air quality, heat, flood, drought
Extreme weather and climate events, including droughts and floods, as well as human-induced land use changes such as urbanization, directly affect the availability and quality of water. Understanding the complex interactions between, climate, weather patterns and the water cycle is critical for anticipating risks and mitigating the impacts of climate change on water resources, ensuring water security and promoting resilience in cities and rural/agricultural areas.

Robert Balling
Professor
School of Geographical Sciences and Urban Planning
- 480/965-7533
- Coor 5564
Balling has a long history of conducting research on the climate change issue with a special interest in blending in applications involving Geographic Information Systems.
Randall Cerveny
President’s Professor
School of Geographical Sciences and Urban Planning
- 480/965-7533
- COOR 5584
Cerveny, professor of geographical sciences, also serves as Rapporteur on Extreme Records for the United Nations/World Meteorological Organization with the responsibility for researching and verifying global weather records.
Melanie Gall
Co-Center Director and Assistant Professor
School of Public Affairs (SPA)
- 602/496-1040
- Downtown Campus UCENT 422H 411 N Central Ave
Gall is a hazards geographer and studies how natural hazards and society interact. She utilizes geospatial analytics and disaster metrics (vulnerability indices, losses, etc.) to capture these interactions.
Matei Georgescu
Professor
School of Geographical Sciences and Urban Planning
Georgescu’s interests are on human-environment interactions, with research aimed to improve understanding of phenomena related to urbanization-induced landscape change. He is a member of the Urban Climate Research Center.
Pierre Herckes
Professor
School of Molecular Sciences
- 480/965-4497
- ISTB4-463 ISTB4
Herckes is a Professor in ASU’s School of Molecular Sciences. His research areas include analytical, environmental and atmospheric chemistry.
Huei-Ping Huang
Associate Professor
School for Engineering of Matter, Transport and Energy
- ENGRC 359
Huang’s research interests are geophysical and environmental fluid dynamics, numerical simulation of atmospheric and oceanic flows, Earth system remote sensing, and climate change.
Junyu Lu
Assistant Professor
School of Community Resources & Development (CRD)
Dr. Lu’s research interests are climate change and adaptation, agricultural community engagement, disaster and risk management, and parks & protected areas. He integrates advanced quantitative methodologies in his research.
Alex Mahalov
Professor
School of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences
- 480/226-2730
- PS A831
Current research interests include 3D Navier-Stokes and Maxwell equations, physics-informed AI/ML computational modeling and the stochastic theory of electromagnetic wave propagation.
Sara Meerow
Associate Professor
School of Geographical Sciences and Urban Planning
Meerow combines the disciplines of geography and urban planning as she researches how to make cities more resilient in the face of climate change as well as other social and environmental hazards.
Stephanie Pfirman
Professor
School of Ocean Futures Faculty
Pfirman focuses on understanding and responding to the changing Arctic, developing innovative approaches to formal and informal education, and exploring the intersection between diversity and interdisciplinarity.
Erinanne Saffell
Associate Teaching Professor
School of Geographical Sciences and Urban Planning
- 602/543-3636
- Coor Geographical Sciences
Erinanne Saffell is the Arizona State Climatologist and Director of the Arizona State Climate Office. Her main research interests are extreme weather events and impacts of the Urban Heat Island.
Zhihua Wang
Associate Professor
School of Sustainable Engineering and the Built Environment
- 480/727-2933
- 777 E. University Drive WCPH (ISTB7) Mail Code 8704
Wang’s research interests include multiscale urban climate modeling, land-atmospheric interactions, landscape and infrastructure management, urban environmental sustainability study and energy efficiency analysis.