Newsha Ajami

All Publications

• The Essential Role of Local Context in Shaping Risk and Risk Reduction Strategies for Snowmelt-Dependent Irrigated Agriculture EARTHS FUTURE Gordon, B. L., Boisrame, G. F. S., Carroll, R. W. H., Ajami, N. K., Leonard, B., Albano, C., Mizukami, N., Andrade, M. A., Koebele, E., Taylor, M. H., Harpold, A. A. 2024; 12 (6)

  View details for DOI 10.1029/2024EF004577

  View details for Web of Science ID 001242789100001

• Adaptable and comprehensive vulnerability assessments for water resources systems in a rapidly changing world. Journal of environmental management Gordon, B. L., Koebele, E. A., Rego, J. J., Harpold, A. A., Ajami, N. K. 2024; 352: 119958

  Abstract

  Comprehensive and adaptive approaches to vulnerability assessment are crucial for guiding effective adaptation in global water resources systems. A common approach to quantify vulnerability is through indicators, which capture the 'spirit of vulnerability' while retaining practical ease-of-use benefits. However, a comprehensive meta-analysis of reveals two specific limitations of global indicator-based vulnerability assessments for water resources systems: 1) vulnerability is influenced by complex interactions among multi-domain factors, for which indicator quality and data vary; and 2) vulnerability is dynamic and evolves over time, an aspect overlooked in most approaches. In response to these identified challenges, we propose a new dynamic "build-your-own" approach to vulnerability assessment. Our approach focuses on correcting for the identified gaps and biases in indicators and data to improve assessment comprehensiveness. This approach also incorporates guidance around adapting assessments over time to better reflect vulnerability under changing conditions. The open-source nature of our approach and underlying data can facilitate the development and customization of indicator-based vulnerability assessments for diverse applications, supporting practical and relevant planning for more resilient water resources systems.

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.119958

  View details for PubMedID 38266525

• Building water resilience in the face of cascading wildfire risks. Science advances Belongia, M. F., Hammond Wagner, C., Seipp, K. Q., Ajami, N. K. 2023; 9 (37): eadf9534

  Abstract

  Severe wildfire is altering the natural and the built environment and posing risks to environmental and societal health and well-being, including cascading impacts to water systems and built water infrastructure. Research on wildfire-resilient water systems is growing but not keeping pace with the scale and severity of wildfire impacts, despite their intensifying threat. In this study, we evaluate the state of knowledge regarding wildfire-related hazards to water systems. We propose a holistic framework to assess interactions and feedback loops between water quality, quantity, and infrastructure hazards as determinants of post-fire water availability and access. Efforts to address the evolving threat of wildfires to water systems will require more interdisciplinary research on the complex relationships shaping wildfire's threat to water availability and access. To support this, we need reliable long-term data availability, consistent metrics, greater research in shared contexts, more extensive research beyond the burn area, and multistakeholder collaboration on wildfire risks to water systems.

  View details for DOI 10.1126/sciadv.adf9534

  View details for PubMedID 37713490

• Fast in the pandemic, durable after droughts, inequal during economic downturn. A 20 year multi-dimensional retrospective analysis of water demand change in Southern California ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH LETTERS Gross, M., Ajami, N. K., Cominola, A. 2023; 18 (9)

  View details for DOI 10.1088/1748-9326/acf32b

  View details for Web of Science ID 001065908700001

• A survey of water utilities' digital transformation: drivers, impacts, and enabling technologies NPJ CLEAN WATER Daniel, I., Ajami, N. K., Castelletti, A., Savic, D., Stewart, R. A., Cominola, A. 2023; 6 (1)

  View details for DOI 10.1038/s41545-023-00265-7

  View details for Web of Science ID 001025006100001

• Do water savings persist? Using survival models to plan for long-term responses to extreme drought ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH LETTERS Bolorinos, J., Rajagopal, R., Ajami, N. K. 2022; 17 (9)

  View details for DOI 10.1088/1748-9326/ac8b22

  View details for Web of Science ID 000850676800001

• Building to conserve: Quantifying the outdoor water savings of residential redevelopment in Denver, Colorado LANDSCAPE AND URBAN PLANNING Blount, K., Abdi, R., Panos, C. L., Ajami, N. K., Hogue, T. S. 2021; 214

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.lurbplan.2021.104178

  View details for Web of Science ID 000681114000003

• Environmental Impact Bonds: a common framework and looking ahead ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH: INFRASTRUCTURE AND SUSTAINABILITY Brand, M. W., Seipp, K., Saksa, P., Ulibarri, N., Bomblies, A., Mandle, L., Allaire, M., Wing, O., Tobin-de la Puente, J., Parker, E. A., Nay, J., Sanders, B. F., Rosowsky, D., Lee, J., Johnson, K., Gudino-Elizondo, N., Ajami, N., Wobbrock, N., Adriaens, P., Grant, S. B., Wright, S., Gartner, T., Knight, Z., Gibbons, J. P. 2021; 1 (2)

  View details for DOI 10.1088/2634-4505/ac0b2c

  View details for Web of Science ID 001063746900001

• Infrastructure and the Digital Economy: Reinventing Our Role in the Design, Financing, and Governance of Essential Services for Society JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING Adriaens, P., Ajami, N. 2021; 147 (5)

  View details for DOI 10.1061/(ASCE)EE.1943-7870.0001866

  View details for Web of Science ID 000672215000004

• Mining the gap in long-term residential water and electricity conservation ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH LETTERS Bolorinos, J., Rajagopal, R., Ajami, N. K. 2021; 16 (2)

  View details for DOI 10.1088/1748-9326/abbfc2

  View details for Web of Science ID 000608869600001

• Satellites to Sprinklers: Assessing the Role of Climate and Land Cover Change on Patterns of Urban Outdoor Water Use WATER RESOURCES RESEARCH Blount, K., Wolfand, J. M., Bell, C. D., Ajami, N. K., Hogue, T. S. 2021; 57 (1)

  View details for DOI 10.1029/2020WR027587

  View details for Web of Science ID 000618001100013

• Diverse paradigms of residential development inform water use and drought-related conservation behavior ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH LETTERS Quesnel, K. J., Agrawal, S., Ajami, N. K. 2020; 15 (12)

  View details for DOI 10.1088/1748-9326/abb7ae

  View details for Web of Science ID 000590402200001

• Trade-offs across the water-energy-food nexus: A triple bottom line sustainability assessment of desalination for agriculture in the San quintin Valley, Mexico ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & POLICY Smith, G., Block, L., Ajami, N., Pombo, A., Velasco-Aulcy, L. 2020; 114: 445–52

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.envsci.2020.08.008

  View details for Web of Science ID 000591437200007

• Consumption change detection for urban planning: monitoring and segmenting water customers during drought Water Resources Research Bolorinos, J., Ajami, N. K., Rajagopal, R. 2020; 56 (3)

  View details for DOI 10.1029/2019WR025812

• Shifting landscapes: decoupled urban irrigation and greenness patterns during severe drought ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH LETTERS Quesnel, K. J., Ajami, N., Marx, A. 2019; 14 (6)

  View details for DOI 10.1088/1748-9326/ab20d4

  View details for Web of Science ID 000470867900001

• Goal-based water trading expands and diversifies supplies for enhanced resilience NATURE SUSTAINABILITY Gonzales, P., Ajami, N. K. 2019; 2 (2): 138–47

  View details for DOI 10.1038/s41893-019-0228-z

  View details for Web of Science ID 000458334800015

• Large Landscape Urban Irrigation: A Data-Driven Approach to Evaluate Conservation Behavior WATER RESOURCES RESEARCH Quesnel, K. J., Ajami, N. K. 2019; 55 (1): 771–86

  View details for DOI 10.1029/2018WR023549

  View details for Web of Science ID 000459536500041

• A case-study based framework for assessing the multi-sector performance of green infrastructure. Journal of environmental management Gordon, B. L., Quesnel, K. J., Abs, R., Ajami, N. K. 2018; 223: 371–84

  Abstract

  Green infrastructure is emerging as a holistic stormwater management strategy that can also provide multi-sector benefits. Robust demonstration of project success can help leverage the appeal of green infrastructure to different sectors and open the door to a variety of funding opportunities. Yet comprehensively assessing the performance of these natural systems can be challenging, especially when communicating the benefits to a wide variety of stakeholders. A cohesive, well-described assessment structure may promote a higher degree of investor confidence by more comprehensively monitoring and measuring green infrastructure success. This paper develops a conceptual framework that incorporates a robust assessment component for communicating with potential investors through the inclusion of multiple evaluation methods, performance metrics, and risk categories. The applied performance of this framework is then validated using fourteen U.S. and international case studies. We found that our framework fit a wide range of projects while maintaining a degree of flexibility that did not sacrifice specificity when applied to individual case studies. This suggests that: 1) some GI projects already incorporate one or more evaluation methods; 2) a number of highly specific metrics-particularly social and economic performance metrics-exist that are capable of capturing a wide-range of benefits that can be easily integrated into a framework; 3) the incorporation of risk and risk management technique identification could be emphasized to increase investor confidence; 4) at least some degree of standardization across projects exists already which can help future project implementers design GI strategies that best fit their needs.

  View details for PubMedID 29936350

• Advancing Water Innovation through Public Benefit Funds: Examining California’s Electricity Public Goods Charge Journal American Water Works Association Quesnel, K. J., Ajami, N. K. 2018; 110 (2)

  View details for DOI 10.5942/jawwa.2018.110.0009

• Recent innovations and trends in in-conduit hydropower technologies and their applications in water distribution systems Recent innovations and trends in in-conduit hydropower technologies and their applications in water distribution systems Sari, M., Badruzzaman, M., Cherchi, C., Swindle, M., Ajami, N. K., Jacangelo, J. G. 2018; 228: 416-428

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.jenvman.2018.08.078

• Balancing marine ecosystem impact and freshwater consumption with water-use fees in California’s power markets: An evaluation of possibilities and trade-offs Balancing marine ecosystem impact and freshwater consumption with water-use fees in California’s power markets: An evaluation of possibilities and trade-offs Bolorinos, J., Yu, Y., Ajami, N. K., Rajagopal, R. 2018; 226 (C): 644-654

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.apenergy.2018.06.028

• Evaluating Environmental Governance along Cross-Border Electricity Supply Chains with Policy-Informed Life Cycle Assessment: The California-Mexico Energy Exchange. Environmental science & technology Bolorinos, J. n., Ajami, N. K., Muñoz Meléndez, G. n., Jackson, R. B. 2018

  Abstract

  This paper presents a "policy-informed" life cycle assessment of a cross-border electricity supply chain that links the impact of each unit process to its governing policy framework. An assessment method is developed and applied to the California-Mexico energy exchange as a unique case study. CO2-equivalent emissions impacts, water withdrawals, and air quality impacts associated with California's imports of electricity from Mexican combined-cycle facilities fueled by natural gas from the U.S. Southwest are estimated, and U.S. and Mexican state and federal environmental regulations are examined to assess well-to-wire consistency of energy policies. Results indicate most of the water withdrawn per kWh exported to California occurs in Baja California, most of the air quality impacts accrue in the U.S. Southwest, and emissions of CO2-equivalents are more evenly divided between the two regions. California energy policy design addresses generation-phase CO2 emissions, but not upstream CO2-eq emissions of methane during the fuel cycle. Water and air quality impacts are not regulated consistently due to varying U.S. state policies and a lack of stringent federal regulation of unconventional gas development. Considering local impacts and the regulatory context where they occur provides essential qualitative information for functional-unit-based measures of life cycle impact and is necessary for a more complete environmental impact assessment.

  View details for PubMedID 29630347

• A novel search algorithm for quantifying news media coverage as a measure of environmental issue salience Environmental Modelling & Software Roby, N. A., Gonzales, P., Quesnel, K. J., Ajami, N. K. 2018; 101: 249-255

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.envsoft.2017.12.012

• An integrative regional resilience framework for the changing urban water paradigm SUSTAINABLE CITIES AND SOCIETY Gonzales, P., Ajami, N. K. 2017; 30: 128-138

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.scs.2017.01.012

  View details for Web of Science ID 000398181700011

• A Framework for Building Efficient Environmental Permitting Processes SUSTAINABILITY Ulibarri, N., Cain, B. E., Ajami, N. K. 2017; 9 (2)

  View details for DOI 10.3390/su9020180

  View details for Web of Science ID 000395590500022

• The changing water cycle: impacts of an evolving supply and demand landscape on urban water reliability in the Bay Area Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews: Water Gonzales, P., Ajami, N. 2017; 4 (6): e1240

  View details for DOI 10.1002/WAT2.1240

• Social and Structural Patterns of Drought-Related Water Conservation and Rebound Water Resources Research Gonzales, P., Ajami, N. 2017; 53

  View details for DOI 10.1002/2017WR021852

• Accelerating the Integration of Distributed Water Solutions: A Conceptual Financing Model from the Electricity Sector Environmental Management Quesnel, K. J., Ajami, N. K., Wyss, N. 2017; 60 (5): 867–881

  Abstract

  Modern challenges require new approaches to urban water management. One solution in the portfolio of potential strategies is the integration of distributed water infrastructure, practices, and technologies into existing systems. However, many practical barriers have prevented the widespread adoption of these systems in the US. The objective of this paper is to address these challenges by developing a conceptual model encompassing regulatory, financial, and governance components that can be used to incorporate new distributed water solutions into our current network. To construct the model, case studies of successfully implemented distributed electricity systems, specifically energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies, were examined to determine how these solutions have become prominent in recent years and what lessons can be applied to the water sector in a similar pursuit. The proposed model includes four action-oriented elements: catalyzing change, establishing funding sources, using resource pathways, and creating innovative governance structures. As illustrated in the model, the water sector should use suite of coordinated policies to promote change, engage end users through fiscal incentives, and encourage research, development and dissemination of new technologies over time.

  View details for DOI 10.1007/s00267-017-0914-4

• Coordinating water conservation efforts through tradable credits: A proof of concept for drought response in the San Francisco Bay area Water Resources Research Gonzales, P., Ajami, N., Sun, Y. 2017; 53 (9): 7662–7677

  View details for DOI 10.1002/2017WR020636

• Changes in water consumption linked to heavy news media coverage of extreme climatic events Science Advances Quesnel, K. J., Ajami, N. K. 2017; 3 (10): e1700784

  Abstract

  Public awareness of water- and drought-related issues is an important yet relatively unexplored component of water use behavior. To examine this relationship, we first quantified news media coverage of drought in California from 2005 to 2015, a period with two distinct droughts; the later drought received unprecedentedly high media coverage, whereas the earlier drought did not, as the United States was experiencing an economic downturn coinciding with a historic presidential election. Comparing this coverage to Google search frequency confirmed that public attention followed news media trends. We then modeled single-family residential water consumption in 20 service areas in the San Francisco Bay Area during the same period using geospatially explicit data and including news media coverage as a covariate. Model outputs revealed the factors affecting water use for populations of varying demographics. Importantly, the models estimated that an increase of 100 drought-related articles in a bimonthly period was associated with an 11 to 18% reduction in water use. Then, we evaluated high-resolution water consumption data from smart meters, known as advanced metering infrastructure, in one of the previously modeled service areas to evaluate breakpoints in water use trends. Results demonstrated that whereas nonresidential commercial irrigation customers responded to changes in climate, single-family residential customers decreased water use at the fastest rate following heavy drought-related news media coverage. These results highlight the need for water resource planners and decision makers to further consider the importance of effective, internally and externally driven, public awareness and education in water demand behavior and management.

  View details for DOI 10.1126/sciadv.1700784

  View details for PubMedCentralID PMC5656424

• Monthly water balance modeling: Probabilistic, possibilistic and hybrid methods for model combination and ensemble simulation JOURNAL OF HYDROLOGY Nasseri, M., Zahraie, B., Ajami, N. K., Solomatine, D. P. 2014; 511: 675-691

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.jhydrol.2014.01.065

  View details for Web of Science ID 000335274900060

• Complexity in microbial metabolic processes in soil nitrogen modeling: a case for model averaging STOCHASTIC ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND RISK ASSESSMENT Ajami, N. K., Gu, C. 2010; 24 (6): 831-844

  View details for DOI 10.1007/s00477-010-0381-4

  View details for Web of Science ID 000279605300004

• Addressing snow model uncertainty for hydrologic prediction ADVANCES IN WATER RESOURCES Franz, K. J., Butcher, P., Ajami, N. K. 2010; 33 (8): 820-832

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.advwatres.2010.05.004

  View details for Web of Science ID 000280938300002

• Reply to Comment by B. Renard et al. on "An integrated hydrologic Bayesian multimodel combination framework: Confronting input, parameter, and model structural uncertainty in hydrologic prediction'' WATER RESOURCES RESEARCH Ajami, N. K., Duan, Q., Sorooshian, S. 2009; 45

  View details for DOI 10.1029/2008WR007215

  View details for Web of Science ID 000264233900005

• Sustainable water resource management under hydrological uncertainty WATER RESOURCES RESEARCH Ajami, N. K., Hornberger, G. M., Sunding, D. L. 2008; 44 (11)

  View details for DOI 10.1029/2007WR006736

  View details for Web of Science ID 000260785000001

• Multi-model ensemble hydrologic prediction using Bayesian model averaging ADVANCES IN WATER RESOURCES Duan, Q., Ajami, N. K., Gao, X., Sorooshian, S. 2007; 30 (5): 1371-1386

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.advwatres.2006.11.014

  View details for Web of Science ID 000246092800025

• An integrated hydrologic Bayesian multimodel combination framework: Confronting input, parameter, and model structural uncertainty in hydrologic prediction WATER RESOURCES RESEARCH Ajami, N. K., Duan, Q., Sorooshian, S. 2007; 43 (1)

  View details for DOI 10.1029/2005WR004745

  View details for Web of Science ID 000243532500001

• Multi-Model Combination Techniques for Hydrological Forecasting: Application to Distributed Model Intercomparison Project Results Journal of Hydrolometeorology Ajami, N. K., Duan, Q., Gao, X., Sorooshian, S. 2006; 7 (4): 755–768

  View details for DOI 10.1175/JHM519.1

• Hydrologic ensemble prediction experiment focuses on reliable forecasts EOS Franz, K., Ajami, N. K., Schaake, J., Buizza, R. 2005; 86 (25): 239

  View details for DOI 10.1029/2005EO250004

• Overall distributed model intercomparison project results JOURNAL OF HYDROLOGY Reed, S., Koren, Smith, M., Zhang, Z., Moreda, F., Seo, D. J., DMIP Participants 2004; 298 (1-4): 27–60

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.jhydrol.2004.03.031

  View details for Web of Science ID 000223672900003

• Calibration Of A Semi Distributed Hydrologic Model For Streamflow Estimation Along A River System Journal of Hydrology Ajami, N. K., Gupta, H., Wagner, T., Sorooshian, S. 2004; 298 (1-4): 112-135

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.jhydrol.2004.03.033

• Reservoir operation optimization: A nonstructural solution for control of seepage from tar reservoir in Iran WATER INTERNATIONAL Karamouz, M., Zahraie, B., Khodatalab, N. 2003; 28 (1): 19–26

  View details for DOI 10.1080/02508060308691661

  View details for Web of Science ID 000182421800003