AGU 2025 marked another strong year of scientific engagement and leadership for our research group, with major contributions in research presentation, student participation, and international collaboration.
This year, Prof. Hyunglok Kim served consecutively as the primary convener of the session
H41B: Advances in Remote Sensing, AI, and Modeling for Hydrology and the Terrestrial Water Cycle.
This session focused on recent advances in satellite remote sensing, artificial intelligence, and physically based modeling for improving the understanding and prediction of hydrological processes and the terrestrial water cycle. Topics included soil moisture retrieval, evapotranspiration estimation, precipitation and drought monitoring, data assimilation, land atmosphere interactions, machine learning for hydrologic prediction, and the integration of multi-source observations into Earth system models.
The session emphasized interdisciplinary approaches that combine satellite observations, advanced AI techniques, and hydrologic modeling frameworks to address critical challenges in climate variability, extreme events, and global water resource management.
The session consisted of three oral blocks:
(1) Oral Session II: 08:30 - 10:00
(2) Oral Session III: 10:30 - 12:00
(3) Oral Session IV: 16:15 - 17:45
In total, the session hosted 18 oral presentations, including 3 invited presentations, and was accompanied by over 40 poster presentations spanning satellite remote sensing, hydrologic modeling, data assimilation, and artificial intelligence.
The invited speakers were:
(1) Dr. Kumar, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center - Session II
(2) Dr. Long, Tsinghua University - Session III
(3) Dr. Wang, Arizona State University - Session IV
Our research group was strongly represented.
Prof. Hyunglok Kim presented ongoing collaborative research with USDA ARS on agricultural drought development, highlighting advances in understanding drought dynamics using satellite observations and modeling.
Subin Kim, a 2nd-year MS-PhD student, delivered an oral presentation on her recent work. Dr. Jesea Lee (our postdoctoral researcher) and Mr. Choi (1st-year PhD student) presented a poster, generating extensive technical discussions with international researchers. Suah Cho, a 1st-year MS-PhD student actively participated in technical sessions and networking activities, gaining first-hand experience in the global research environment.
Beyond individual presentations, the session itself became a hub for interdisciplinary dialogue. Discussions ranged from next-generation satellite missions and advanced microwave remote sensing to emerging AI-based hydrological prediction systems and Earth system modeling frameworks. The diversity of topics and strong international participation reflected the rapidly evolving landscape of modern hydrology.
AGU 2025 once again demonstrated that leadership in science is built not only through publishing results, but also through building communities, mentoring young scientists, and fostering long-term collaborations. Our team returns with renewed motivation and a clear vision for the next phase of our research.
