Congratulations to Eli Orland (617/UMBC), who has been promoted from Research Associate I to Research Associate II within GESTAR II! We asked him about the research he conducts as part of the Hydrological Sciences Laboratory (Code 617) at NASA GSFC.
"My research focuses on the ways that fire alters the hydrologic cycle of a landscape. I specifically target the risks of "cascading" natural hazards after wildfire, such as flash flooding, debris flows, and landslides. I take a unique approach: by utilizing satellite observations of wildfire, my research investigates the links between direct measurements of an active fire—such as spread rate, intensity, and persistence—with impacts to vegetation and soil. In doing so, I aim to reduce the time needed to make assessments of burn severity and more rapidly allocate resources for emergency response."
As for his free time, Mr. Orland enjoys trail running, riding his bike, and playing music.