Dr. Dalia B. Kirschbaum is a Research Physical Scientist in the Hydrological Sciences Lab at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD. Her research interests center on rainfall-triggered landslide modeling, focusing on applying remotely sensed surface and precipitation information to landslide hazard models at multiple spatial and temporal scales. Her current research focuses on advancing regional and global landslide hazard and forecasting systems to improve landslide hazard characterization. Information on landslide modeling, mapping, and citizen science efforts is available at: https://landslides.nasa.gov. Dr. Kirschbaum also serves as the Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) Mission Associate Deputy Project Scientist for Applications. In this role, she provides scientific support for applications research and activities. Dr. Kirschbaum serves as a Disaster Response Coordinator for the agency, working with other NASA centers as well as domestic and international partners to bring satellite data and products to bear during natural hazard events to improve situational awareness and inform decision making. Dr. Kirschbaum received her M.S. and Ph.D. in Earth and Environmental Sciences from Columbia University with a focus in Natural Hazards and Remote Sensing. She received her A.B. in Geosciences from Princeton University.
Landslide Hazard Modeling
My research interests center on rainfall-triggered landslide modeling, focusing on applying remotely sensed surface and precipitation information to landslide hazard models at multiple spatial and temporal scales. My current research focuses on advancing a regional landslide hazard and forecasting system with more quantitative and deterministic models to improve landslide hazard assessment. I am also developing a web-based interface for visualization of landslide hazard and remote sensing products for improved situational awareness of landslide hazards and reported events. This landslide interface represents the first regional/global interface to access landslide reports and contribute events to a global database. A prototype of our current system can be seen at https://pmm.nasa.gov/precip-apps
Application of remotely sensed precipitation data
This research involves evaluation and application of remotely sensed precipitation data from GPM and analyzing precipitation extremes as they relate to hydrometeorological hazards
Landslide Citizen Science
Dr. Kirschbaum and her team have developed a landslide citizen science system called "Landslide Reporter" that enables anyone to submit a report through the website: https://landslides.nasa.gov. All reports are evaluated and then posted publicly on the Landslide Viewer portal.
Global Landslide Catalog
This work involves developing and maintaining a Global Landslide Catalog focused on rainfall-triggered landslides. Through this effort we are also working to developed a landslide citizen science portal, "Landslide Reporter" that will be an online portal to visualize, export, and edit this catalog and add additional events that is openly available to the public. This site will launch early in 2018.
Slope-stability modeling: sensitivity analysis and applications
This work involves testing a physically-based slope-stability model over local and regional scales for improved assessment of landslide triggering conditions and sensitivity analysis of the inputs required to effectively model these processes.
2004 – 2009 COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY, NEW YORK, NY
Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences
Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory
Natural Hazards, Geomorphology, Remote Sensing
Dissertation: Multi-Scale Landslide Hazard and Risk Assessment: A Modeling and Multivariate Statistical Approach
Research Advisor: Dr. Arthur Lerner-Lam
Doctoral Degree Received: July 2009
2007 COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY, NEW YORK, NY
M. Phil. Geomorphology, Remote Sensing, Climate
2006 COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY, NEW YORK, NY
M.A. Earth and Environmental Sciences
2000 – 2004 PRINCETON UNIVERSITY, PRINCETON, NJ A.B. Geosciences and Environmental Policy Advisors: Dr. S. George Philander, Dr. Gregory van der Vink
Thesis: A Comparative Analysis of Drought and Famine in
the Sahel and India
1/2011
-
Present
Research Physical Scientist
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Hydrological Sciences Laboratory,
Greenbelt, MD Develop new techniques for rainfall-triggered landslide hazard assessment and forecasting using statistical and deterministic landslide models and remote sensing data.
Specific objectives:
• Develop a regional landslide hazard and forecasting system focused on a prototype in Central America with the goal of expanding the model to other regional nodes
• Implement a web-based visual interface to view landslide hazard and remote sensing products for improved situational awareness for landslide hazards
• Advance a global satellite-based rainfall-triggered landslide hazard algorithm through improved susceptibility, rainfall threshold and soil moisture calculations.
• Compile a Global Landslide Catalog (data available from 2007-present) to be viewed in the online landslide hazard visualization tool and use the GLC for validation of landslide hazard algorithms to characterize model performance accuracy.
• Perform sensitivity analysis of a physically-based slope-stability model (TRIGRS) within the Land Information System (LIS) framework developed within the Hydrological Sciences Laboratory and test input parameters for several case studies using uncertainty testing of model variables and error characterization of slope stability outputs.
9/2014
-
Present
Global Precipitation Measurement Mission Associate Deputy Project Scientist for Applications
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center,
Greenbelt, Maryland Lead scientific support for applications research and activities for the Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) mission. Specific objectives and activities:
- Coordinate and facilitate data access issues in terms of TRMM and GPM data format, accessibility and availability for expert to non-expert users
- Coordinate GPM Applications Workshop (Fall 2013, planned for Spring 2015) to bring together the applications community to discuss both the applications of TRMM and GPM data as well as identify existing issues relating to data quality control, data access, and provenance.
- Communicate with end users on data and product access, availability and needs
- Work with the Office of Communications and Visualization groups to release GPM data imagery, including first light and subsequent data releases
- Represent GPM Science and Applications at both domestic and international conferences and meetings
- Serve as a GPM science liaison for many media activities, including Live Shots, Hyperwall Presentations, interviews, and other presentations
- Supervised, planned and implemented GPM’s Education and Public Outreach projects by leading a team of scientists, educators, and technical specialists to communicate the science and societal activities of the GPM mission to the general public.
1/2016
-
2/2017
Acting Associate Director for Applied Sciences at GSFC
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center,
Greenbelt, Maryland Serves as the principal operating official in the Division for planning, coordinating, and implementing strategies for applied science research at NASA GSFC. Responsible for the strategic initiatives and organizational processes leading to applied science research that strategically supports the mission of the Division.
Specific objectives and activities:
- Promote and facilitate coordination amongst scientists, missions and current/future partnerships within GSFC in the area of applied research and applications.
- Works with the ESD senior management team to guide the development of specific new business plans, including the development of the Division's investment plans, to foster strategic applied science research with the required institutional support.
- Manages and reports on Earth science applied research and mission applications activities to GSFC senior management and HQ representatives.
- Serves as the principal liaison and main point of contact between the Division and the NASA HQ Earth Sciences applied science research program and GSFC Mission applications activities and communicates activities throughout the organization
7/2010
-
1/2011
Research Associate
Earth System Science Interdisciplinary Center (ESSIC), University of Maryland,
Greenbelt, MD Collaborated with scientists in the Hydrological Sciences Branch at NASA Goddard to develop and test statistical and deterministic landslide models within the Land Information System (LIS) framework developed within the Hydrological Sciences Branch. Evaluation strategies consider how model inputs and spatial scaling impact performance accuracy.
Specific objectives:
• Improve a global satellite-based rainfall-triggered landslide hazard algorithm using LIS-based optimization strategies for threshold detection and characterize system uncertainty using sensitivity testing of input parameters.
• Integrate a physically-based slope-stability model into LIS and test input parameters using uncertainty testing of model variables and error characterization of slope stability outputs.
7/2009
-
6/2010
NASA Postdoctoral Program Fellow, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
NASA Post Doctoral Program,
Greenbelt, MD Collaborated with scientists in the Hydrological Sciences Branch at NASA Goddard to develop and evaluate satellite-based landslide hazard assessment tools within the Land Information System (LIS) framework in order to improve global and regional landslide modeling capabilities.
Specific objectives:
• Integrate a newly developed landslide forecasting algorithm into Land Information System (LIS), an Earth system modeling and data assimilation platform
• Consider how the different spatial scales and accuracy of satellite and in situ data affect hazard evaluation and model outputs
• Characterize data and model sensitivity and within an uncertainty framework
• Advance modeling capabilities to improve satellite-based landslide hazard assessment and real-time hazard forecasting
8/2008
-
6/2009
Visiting Graduate Student, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
Columbia University,
Cambridge, MA Collaborated with the Hydrology Research group in the Civil and Environmental Engineering Department to develop landslide susceptibility methodologies and compare results within Central America and the Caribbean region
Specific objectives:
• Focus on how the spatial and temporal resolution of surface and atmospheric satellite data effect landslide susceptibility assessment
• Work with colleagues in the Hydrology Group to developed two static landslide susceptibility methodologies
• Develop and evaluate two landslide susceptibility methodologies and compared model results for Central America and Puerto Rico
• Participated in bi-monthly Hydrology Research group meetings
• Continuing collaboration with several colleagues in the research group to improve landslide susceptibility and hazard modeling results and compare evaluation methodologies
Deputy Project Science for Applications for the Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) mission
Lead scientific support for applications research and activities for the Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) mission.
Specific objectives and activities:
• Coordinate and facilitate data access issues in terms of TRMM and GPM data format, accessibility and availability for expert to non-expert users
• Coordinate GPM Applications Workshop (Fall 2013, planned for Spring 2015) to bring together the applications community to discuss both the applications of TRMM and GPM data as well as identify existing issues relating to data quality control, data access, and provenance.
• Communicate with end users on data and product access, availability and needs
• Work with the Office of Communications and Visualization groups to release GPM data imagery, including first light and subsequent data releases
• Represent GPM Science and Applications at both domestic and international conferences and meetings
• Serve as a GPM science liaison for many media activities, including Live Shots, Hyperwall Presentations, interviews, and other presentations
• Coordinate GPM’s Education and Public Outreach projects by leading a team of scientists, educators, and technical specialists to communicate the science and societal activities of the GPM mission to the general public.
Disaster Response Coordinator for NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
Dr. Kirschbaum serves as the disaster coordinator for GSFC. In this role, she routinely interfaces with NASA HQ and the Disasters Program Manager to represent GSFC in disasters activities at the agency level. She has been coordinating disaster activities at GSFC since 2013.. She is also working to bring disaster-related experts and data system leaders together to discuss current activities and find synergistic projects across disciplines that could lead to futur opportunities.
High Mountain Asia Science Team
This project considers the multi-faceted relationship of how landslides impact transportation networks in Nepal. This work looks at characterizing the spatial and temporal frequency of extreme rainfall across this region both in the past and into the future to establish relationships for how trends in extreme rainfall may modulate patterns in landslide activity.
Landslide indicators for the National Climate Assessment
This project develops landslide and related indicators for the National Climate Assessment to support the characterization of potential landslide variability across the U.S. both in past and looking towards the future. This work brings together a database of landslide inventories from across the U.S., with a focus on the Pacific Northwest United States.
Precipitation Measurement Mission Science Team
This work considers how extreme rainfall characteristics vary in complex terrain and evaluate the limits of extreme rainfall estimates from satellites within the context of natural hazards. A main focus of this project is linking both empirical and deterministic landslide models with rainfall distributions to better understand the role that precipitation uncertainty plays in affecting landslide hazard assessment.
Co-lead of CEOS Disaster Working Group Landslide Pilot
Through this effort, Dr. Kirschbaum is co-leading a new Committee on Earth Observing Satellites (CEOS) Landslide Pilot, working closely with colleagues at the USGS and in Italy. She is working to formulate the pilot objectives and deliverables with representatives from the landslide and remote sensing communities from over 12 countries.
Facebook Live Event for GPM
6
/
2016
-
6
/
2016
http://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/12287
I hosted a Facebook Live event on 6/21/2016 on the Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) mission and how we can use this data to better understand our weather, climate, monsoons, etc. and also to show the public how we control satellites from the GPM Mission Operations Control center. The event reached over 2 million people and was shared over 110,000 times. You can check it out at: http://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/12287 or at https://www.facebook.com/search/top/?q=precipitation%20measurement%20missions.
Hurricane Joaquin Live Shots, Oct. 2nd 2015:
10
/
2015
-
10
/
2015
https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/details.cgi?aid=12017
Fielded questions from tens of news outlets about Hurricane Joaquin
Faces of GPM: Dalia Kirschbaum
1
/
2014
-
1
/
2014
http://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/details.cgi?aid=11102#17579
I was one of several scientists and engineers that are contributing to the Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) Mission. My specific "Faces of GPM" piece can be found at: http://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/details.cgi?aid=11102#17579
Live Launch Coverage of the Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) mission Core Observatory
2
/
2014
-
2
/
2014
http://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/details.cgi?aid=11496#18869
I was the science host for 3 hours of Live launch coverage on NASATV for the launch of the GPM Core Observatory satellite from Tanegashima Space Center, Japan. I was the co-host to provide information to the public about what was happening prior to the launch, give people a background on the the mission and its relevance, and interview other scientists about the mission. A link to this coverage can be found at http://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/details.cgi?aid=11496#18869
Communicating GPM Science to the community
7
/
2010
-
Present
Presented GPM overview talks on applications and E/PO activities to thousands of people and tens of talks, including (but not limited to): Museum Alliance, Earth to Sky Workshop, NOAA User Workshop on GPM, PMM Science Team Meetings, IGARSS Annual Meeting, AGU Hyperwall, GSA Hyperwall, classroom visits (K-12, college)
GPM Education and Outreach Coordinator
7
/
2009
-
Present
As the Education and Outreach coordinator for GPM, I have given a large number of presentations to groups ranging from elementary and middle school students, to high schoolers, community and 4-year college audiences, Capitol Hill staff members, congressmen, and delegations from other countries. I have given many tours of the GPM satellite when it was being built and tested at GSFC and was the science host of the program covering GPM's launch on February 27th, 2014. I have also participated in Live Shots and given a large number of hyperwall presentations relating to GPM and the water cycle.
Editor/reviewer of Journal articles
2014
-
Present
• Served as guest editor for the Journal of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Special Issue: Remote Sensing and Modeling of Landslides: Detection, Monitoring and Risk Evaluation.
• Reviewed at least 1 research paper per month for various journals (Natural Hazards, Natural Hazards and Earth Systems Sciences, International Journal of Remote Sensing, Earth and Environmental Sciences, etc.)
Refereed
Yatheendradas, S., D. Kirschbaum, G. Nearing, et al. 2019. "Bayesian analysis of the impact of rainfall data product on simulated slope failure for North Carolina locations."
Computational Geosciences,
[10.1007/s10596-018-9804-y]
Fayne, J. V., A. Ahamed, J. Roberts-Pierel, A. C. Rumsey, and D. Kirschbaum. 2019. "Automated Satellite-Based Landslide Identification Product for Nepal."
Earth Interactions,
23
(3):
1-21
[10.1175/ei-d-17-0022.1]
Kirschbaum, D., and T. Stanley. 2018. "Satellite-Based Assessment of Rainfall-Triggered Landslide Hazard for Situational Awareness."
Earth's Future,
[10.1002/2017ef000715]
Skofronick-Jackson, G., D. Kirschbaum, W. Petersen, et al. 2018. "The Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) mission's scientific achievements and societal contributions: reviewing four years of advanced rain and snow observations."
Quarterly Journal of the Royal Meteorological Society,
144:
27-48
[10.1002/qj.3313]
Skofronick-Jackson, G., W. Berg, C. Kidd, et al. 2018. "Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM): Unified Precipitation Estimation from Space."
Springer Remote Sensing/Photogrammetry,
175-193
[10.1007/978-3-319-72583-3_7]
Monsieurs, E., D. B. Kirschbaum, J. Tan, et al. 2018. "Evaluating TMPA Rainfall over the Sparsely Gauged East African Rift."
Journal of Hydrometeorology,
19
(9):
1507-1528
[10.1175/jhm-d-18-0103.1]
Kidd, C., A. Becker, G. J. Huffman, et al. 2017. "So, how much of the Earth’s surface is covered by rain gauges?"
Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society,
98
(1):
69-78
[10.1175/bams-d-14-00283.1]
Rossi, M., S. Luciani, D. Valigi, et al. 2017. "Statistical approaches for the definition of landslide rainfall thresholds and their uncertainty using rain gauge and satellite data."
Geomorphology,
285:
16-27
[10.1016/j.geomorph.2017.02.001]
Stanley, T., and D. B. Kirschbaum. 2017. "A heuristic approach to global landslide susceptibility mapping."
Natural Hazards,
1-20
[10.1007/s11069-017-2757-y]
Stanley, T., D. B. Kirschbaum, G. J. Huffman, and R. F. Adler. 2017. "Approximating Long-Term Statistics Early in the Global Precipitation Measurement Era."
Earth Interactions,
21
(3):
1-10
[10.1175/ei-d-16-0025.1]
Kirschbaum, D. B., G. J. Huffman, R. Adler, et al. 2017. "NASA’s Remotely-sensed Precipitation: A Reservoir for Applications Users."
Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society,
98
(6):
1169-1184
[10.1175/BAMS-D-15-00296.1]
Stanley, T. A., and D. B. Kirschbaum. 2017. "Effects of inventory bias on landslide susceptibility calculations."
Landslides: Putting Experience, Knowledge And Emerging Technologies Into Practice, AEG Special Publication No. 27,
794-806,
ISBN: 978-0-9897253-7-8.
Wright, D. B., D. B. Kirschbaum, and S. Yatheendradas. 2017. "Satellite Precipitation Characterization, Error Modeling, and Error Correction Using Censored Shifted Gamma Distributions."
Journal of Hydrometeorology,
18
(10):
JHM-D-17-0060.1
[10.1175/jhm-d-17-0060.1]
Skofronick-Jackson, G., W. A. Petersen, W. Berg, et al. 2017. "The Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) Mission for Science and Society."
Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society,
98
(8):
1679-1695
[10.1175/bams-d-15-00306.1]
Kirschbaum, D. B., T. Stanley, and S. '. Yatheendradas. 2016. "Modeling Landslide Susceptibility over Large Regions with Fuzzy Overlay."
Landslides,
13:
485-496
[Full Text (Link)]
[10.1007/s10346-015-0577-2]
Kirschbaum, D. B., and K. G. Patel. 2016. "Precipitation data key to food security and public health."
Eos,
97:
[Full Text (Link)]
[10.1029/2016EO045583]
Schumann, G. J., S. Frye, G. Wells, et al. 2016. "Unlocking the full potential of Earth observation during the 2015 Texas flood disaster."
Water Resources Research,
52
(5):
3288-3293
[10.1002/2015wr018428]
Schumann, G., D. Kirschbaum, E. Anderson, and K. Rashid. 2016. "Role of Earth Observation data in disaster response and recovery: from science to capacity building."
Earth Science Satellite Applications: Current and Future Prospects,
119-146,
ISBN: 978-3-319-33436-3.
[10.1007/978-3-319-33438-7_5]
Wu, H., M. Huang, Q. Tang, D. B. Kirschbaum, and P. Ward. 2016. "Hydrometeorological Hazards: Monitoring, Forecasting, Risk Assessment, and Socioeconomic Responses."
Advances in Meteorology,
2016:
1-3
[10.1155/2016/2367939]
Biasutti, M., R. Seager, and D. B. Kirschbaum. 2016. "Landslides in West Coast metropolitan areas: The role of extreme weather events."
Weather and Climate Extremes,
14:
67-79
[10.1016/j.wace.2016.11.004]
Kirschbaum, D. B., T. Stanley, and J. M. Simmons. 2015. "A Dynamic Landslide Hazard Assessment System for Central America and Hispaniola."
Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences,
15
(10):
2257-2272
[Full Text (Link)]
[10.5194/nhess-15-2257-2015]
Kirschbaum, D. B., T. Stanley, and Y. Zhou. 2015. "Spatial and temporal analysis of a global landslide catalog."
Geomorphology,
249
(Geohazard Databases):
4-15
[Full Text (Link)]
[10.1016/j.geomorph.2015.03.016]
Kargel, J. S., G. J. Leonard, D. H. Shugar, et al. 2015. "Geomorphic and geologic controls of geohazards induced by Nepals 2015 Gorkha earthquake."
Science,
351
(6269):
aac8353-aac8353
[10.1126/science.aac8353]
Kumar, S. V., K. W. Harrison, C. D. Peters-Lidard, J. A. Santanello, and D. B. Kirschbaum. 2014. "Assessing the Impact of L-Band Observations on Drought and Flood Risk Estimation: A Decision-Theoretic Approach in an OSSE Environment."
J. Hydrometeor,
15
(6):
2140-2156
[Full Text (Link)]
[10.1175/JHM-D-13-0204.1]
Wan, Z., Y. Hong, S. Khan, et al. 2014. "A cloud-based global flood disaster community cyber-infrastructure: Development and demonstration."
Environmental Modelling & Software,
58:
86–94
[10.1016/j.envsoft.2014.04.007]
Taramelli, A., M. Pasqui, J. Barbour, et al. 2013. "Spatial and temporal dust source variability in northern China identified using advanced remote sensing analysis."
Earth Surface Processes and Landforms,
38
(8):
793–809
[10.1002/esp.3321]
Kucera, P. A., E. E. Ebert, J. F. Turk, et al. 2013. "Precipitation from Space: Advancing Earth System Science."
Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society,
94
(3):
365-375
[10.1175/BAMS-D-11-00171.1]
Kirschbaum, D. B., R. F. Adler, D. Adler, C. D. Peters-Lidard, and G. J. Huffman. 2012. "Global Distribution of Extreme Precipitation and High-Impact Landslides in 2010 Relative to Previous Years."
J. Hydrometeor.,
13
(5):
1536-1551
[10.1175/JHM-D-12-02.1]
Liao, Z., Y. Hong, D. Kirschbaum, and C. Liu. 2012. "Assessment of shallow landslides from Hurricane Mitch in central America using a physically based model."
Environmental Earth Sciences,
66
(6):
1697-1705
[10.1007/s12665-011-0997-9]
Kirschbaum, D. B., and H. Fukuoka. 2012. "Remote sensing and modeling of landslides: detection, monitoring and risk evaluation."
Environmental Earth Sciences,
66
(6):
1583
[10.1007/s12665-012-1543-0]
Kirschbaum, D. B., R. F. Adler, Y. Hong, S. V. Kumar, and C. D. Peters-Lidard. 2011. "Advances in landslide nowcasting: evaluation of a global and regional modeling approach."
Environmental Earth Sciences,
66
(6):
1683-1696
[10.1007/s12665-011-0990-3]
Kirschbaum, D. B., R. F. Adler, Y. Hong, S. Hill, and A. Lerner-Lam. 2010. "A global landslide catalog for hazard applications: method, results, and limitations."
Natural Hazards,
52
(3):
561-575
[10.1007/s11069-009-9401-4]
Hong, Y., R. F. Adler, D. B. Kirschbaum, and G. J. Huffman. 2010. "Capacity Building for Disaster Prevention in Vulnerable Regions of the World: Development of a Prototype Global Flood/Landslide Prediction System."
Disaster Advances,
3
(3):
14-19.
Kirschbaum, D., R. Adler, Y. Hong, and A. Lerner-Lam. 2009. "Evaluation of a Satellite-based Landslide Algorithm using Global Landslide Inventories."
Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences,
9:
673-686.
Kirschbaum, D., R. F. Adler, Y. Hong, and A. Lerner-Lam. 2009. "Evaluation of a preliminary satellite-based landslide hazard algorithm using global landslide inventories."
Natural Hazards and Earth System Science,
9
(3):
673-686
[10.5194/nhess-9-673-2009]
Non-Refereed
Kirschbaum, D. B. 2017. "A view from above: Earth Observation."
Crisis Response Journal
12
(4):
64-67.
Ward, A., D. Kirschbaum, and M. Hobish. 2015. "Measuring Rain and Snow for Science and Society: The Second GPM Applications Workshop."
The Earth Observer
27
(5):
4--11.
2017: Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE) - Awarded by Obama, January 2017
2017: Arthur S. Flemming Award
2016: Scientific Achievement Award NASA’s Hydrospheric and Biospheric Labs
2015: Robbert H Goddard Exceptional Achievement Outreach Team - GPM Outreach Team Award
2014: NASA Agency Award - Early Career Achievement Medal
2014: Achievement in Outreach Award from NASA's Hydrospheric and Biospheric Labs
2013 Best Publication from NASA’s Hydrospheric and Biospheric Labs
2005 Sara F. Langer Book Prize, Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory
2004 William Bonini Prize for Excellence in Teaching, Geosciences, Princeton University
10/03/2016 -
09/30/2019
High Mountain Asia Science Team,
NASA
Multi-sensor impact analysis of cascading hazards and transportation corridors in Nepal
;
Science Team PI
05/01/2016 -
04/30/2019
Climate Indicators and Data Products for Future National Climate Assessments,
NASA
Landslide hazard and exposure indicators for the National Climate Assessment
;
Principal Investigator
01/01/2016 -
12/31/2018
Precipitation Measurement Missions Science Team,
NASA
A Regional Analysis Framework for Evaluating Satellite Rainfall Extremes in Complex Terrain for Landslide Hazards Applications
;
Principal Investigator
08/01/2012 -
07/31/2016
NASA SERVIR Applied Sciences Team,
NASA ROSES
Landslide Hazard Assessment and Forecasting System using near real-time remote sensing information over SERVIR-Mesoamerica
;
PI on project
10/01/2012 -
09/30/2015
NASA New Investigator Program (NIP) in Earth Science,
NASA ROSES
Application of remotely sensed information to a multi-scale landslide modeling and forecasting framework
;
PI for project
07/11/2012 -
06/30/2015
NASA Earth Surface and Interior,
NASA ROSES
Advancing Multi-scale Landslide Hazard Prediction by Integrating High Resolution Remote Sensing Data and Subsurface In-situ Monitoring
;
Co-I for project
02/01/2012 -
01/31/2015
NASA AIST: Advanced Information Systems Technology,
NASA ROSES
A mission simulation and evaluation platform for terrestrial hydrology using the NASA Land Information System (LIS)
;
Co-I on project
American Geophysical Union,
2003
-
Present
2013-present: Natural Hazards Focus Group Fall Meeting Program Committee
American Meteorological Society,
2010
-
2012
Geological Society of America,
2009
-
2011
2013-present: Executive Committee for the Remote Sensing and Hydrology Focus Group for AGU
2014-present: Executive Committee for Natural Hazards Focus Group
2013-2015 Program Committee for AGU Natural Hazards Focus Group
2015-present CEOS Disaster Working Group Landslide Pilot Lead
2009-present Convened landslide sessions in the Natural Hazards Focus Group at the Fall AGU Conference in San Francisco
November 2013: 1st GPM/TRMM Applications Workshop: November, 2013 - Coordinated and ran meeting. https://pmm.nasa.gov/meetings/2015-gpm-applications-workshop
June 2015: 2nd GPM/TRMM Applications Workshop - Coordinated and ran meeting.https://pmm.nasa.gov/meetings/2015-gpm-applications-workshop
Invited
Global Landslide Hazard Assessment with Satellite Data
9
/
28
/
2017
Remote presentation to group of landslide experts from Indonesia regarding the use of satellite capabilities for landslide hazard assessment and monitoring.
Presenter at Library of Congress NASA Series
8
/
11
/
2015
Panelist on National Research Council Agenda for NRC Special Workshop on Landslides
2
/
24
/
2015
Finding the Slippery Slope: “Detecting” Landslides from Space
3
/
2014
NASA Goddard Science Colloquim
Finding the Slippery Slope: Detecting Landslides from Space
1
/
2014
Gerald Soffen Public Lecture at NASA GSFC VIsitor's Center
Evaluation of a Satellite-based Landslide Algorithm using Global Landslide Inventories
9
/
2011
Colorado School of Mines/USGS Hazards Seminar Series
Other
Uncertainty evaluation of a regional real-time system for rain-induced landslides
4
/
15
/
2015
A new prototype regional model and evaluation framework has been developed over Central America and the Caribbean region using satellite-based information including precipitation estimates, modeled soil moisture, topography, soils, as well as regionally available datasets such as road networks and distance to fault zones. The algorithm framework incorporates three variables: a static susceptibility map; a 24 rainfall triggering threshold; and an antecedent soil moisture variable threshold, which have been calibrated using historic landslide events. Dynamic thresholds are regionally heterogeneous and are based on the percentile distribution of the rainfall or antecedent moisture time series. A simple decision tree algorithm framework integrates all three variables and generates a landslide nowcast in real-time based on the previous 24 hours over this region.
This system has been evaluated using several available landslide inventories over the Central America and Caribbean region. Spatiotemporal uncertainty and evaluation metrics are presented here based on evaluation of landslides reported within the catalog as well as comparisons with other regional models. This work also presents a probabilistic representation of potential landslide activity over the region which can be used to further refine and improve the real-time landslide hazard assessment system as well as better identify and characterize the uncertainties inherent in this type of regional approach. The landslide algorithm provides a flexible framework to improve hazard estimation and reduce uncertainty at any spatial and temporal scale.
Uncertainty and Sensitivity analysis of a physically-based landslide model
4
/
17
/
2015
Rainfall-induced landslides are hazardous to life and property. Rain data sources like satellite remote sensors combined with physically-based models of landslide initiation are a potentially economical solution for anticipating and early warning of possible landslide activity. In this work, we explore the output uncertainty of the physically-based USGS model, TRIGRS (Transient Rainfall Infiltration and Grid-Based Regional Slope-Stability) under both an a priori model parameter specification scenario and a model calibration scenario using a powerful stochastic optimization algorithm. We study a set of 50+ historic landslides over the Macon County in North Carolina as an example regional robust analysis. We then conduct a robust multivariate sensitivity analysis of the modeled output to various factors including rainfall forcing, initial and boundary conditions, and model parameters including topographic slope. Satellite rainfall uncertainty distributions are prescribed based on stochastic regressions to benchmark rain values at each location. Information about the most influential factors from sensitivity analysis will help to preferentially direct field work efforts towards associated observations. This will contribute to reducing output uncertainty in future modeling efforts. We also show how we can conveniently reduce model complexity considering negligibly influential factors to maintain example required levels of predictive accuracy and uncertainty.
Teaching Assistant and lecturer for a Graduate Seminar for SIPA Policy students at Columbia University (2005)
Teaching Assistant for an undergraduate Hazards course at Barnard College.
Teaching Assistant for Upper Level Natural Hazards Seminar and Laboratory Assistant for entry level geology course on Volcanoes and Earthquakes at Princeton University.
Developed Landslide Catalog and Model Framework: Website https://pmm.nasa.gov/precip-apps
Refereed
Yatheendradas, S., D. Kirschbaum, G. Nearing, et al. 2019. "Bayesian analysis of the impact of rainfall data product on simulated slope failure for North Carolina locations."
Computational Geosciences
[10.1007/s10596-018-9804-y]
Fayne, J. V., A. Ahamed, J. Roberts-Pierel, A. C. Rumsey, and D. Kirschbaum. 2019. "Automated Satellite-Based Landslide Identification Product for Nepal."
Earth Interactions
23
(3):
1-21
[10.1175/ei-d-17-0022.1]
Kirschbaum, D., and T. Stanley. 2018. "Satellite-Based Assessment of Rainfall-Triggered Landslide Hazard for Situational Awareness."
Earth's Future
[10.1002/2017ef000715]
Skofronick-Jackson, G., D. Kirschbaum, W. Petersen, et al. 2018. "The Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) mission's scientific achievements and societal contributions: reviewing four years of advanced rain and snow observations."
Quarterly Journal of the Royal Meteorological Society
144
27-48
[10.1002/qj.3313]
Skofronick-Jackson, G., W. Berg, C. Kidd, et al. 2018. "Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM): Unified Precipitation Estimation from Space."
Springer Remote Sensing/Photogrammetry
175-193
[10.1007/978-3-319-72583-3_7]
Monsieurs, E., D. B. Kirschbaum, J. Tan, et al. 2018. "Evaluating TMPA Rainfall over the Sparsely Gauged East African Rift."
Journal of Hydrometeorology
19
(9):
1507-1528
[10.1175/jhm-d-18-0103.1]
Kidd, C., A. Becker, G. J. Huffman, et al. 2017. "So, how much of the Earth’s surface is covered by rain gauges?"
Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society
98
(1):
69-78
[10.1175/bams-d-14-00283.1]
Rossi, M., S. Luciani, D. Valigi, et al. 2017. "Statistical approaches for the definition of landslide rainfall thresholds and their uncertainty using rain gauge and satellite data."
Geomorphology
285
16-27
[10.1016/j.geomorph.2017.02.001]
Stanley, T., and D. B. Kirschbaum. 2017. "A heuristic approach to global landslide susceptibility mapping."
Natural Hazards
1-20
[10.1007/s11069-017-2757-y]
Stanley, T., D. B. Kirschbaum, G. J. Huffman, and R. F. Adler. 2017. "Approximating Long-Term Statistics Early in the Global Precipitation Measurement Era."
Earth Interactions
21
(3):
1-10
[10.1175/ei-d-16-0025.1]
Kirschbaum, D. B., G. J. Huffman, R. Adler, et al. 2017. "NASA’s Remotely-sensed Precipitation: A Reservoir for Applications Users."
Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society
98
(6):
1169-1184
[10.1175/BAMS-D-15-00296.1]
Stanley, T. A., and D. B. Kirschbaum. 2017. "Effects of inventory bias on landslide susceptibility calculations."
Landslides: Putting Experience, Knowledge And Emerging Technologies Into Practice, AEG Special Publication No. 27
794-806
Wright, D. B., D. B. Kirschbaum, and S. Yatheendradas. 2017. "Satellite Precipitation Characterization, Error Modeling, and Error Correction Using Censored Shifted Gamma Distributions."
Journal of Hydrometeorology
18
(10):
JHM-D-17-0060.1
[10.1175/jhm-d-17-0060.1]
Skofronick-Jackson, G., W. A. Petersen, W. Berg, et al. 2017. "The Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) Mission for Science and Society."
Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society
98
(8):
1679-1695
[10.1175/bams-d-15-00306.1]
Kirschbaum, D. B., T. Stanley, and S. '. Yatheendradas. 2016. "Modeling Landslide Susceptibility over Large Regions with Fuzzy Overlay."
Landslides
13
485-496
[Full Text (Link)]
[10.1007/s10346-015-0577-2]
Kirschbaum, D. B., and K. G. Patel. 2016. "Precipitation data key to food security and public health."
Eos
97
[Full Text (Link)]
[10.1029/2016EO045583]
Schumann, G. J., S. Frye, G. Wells, et al. 2016. "Unlocking the full potential of Earth observation during the 2015 Texas flood disaster."
Water Resources Research
52
(5):
3288-3293
[10.1002/2015wr018428]
Schumann, G., D. Kirschbaum, E. Anderson, and K. Rashid. 2016. "Role of Earth Observation data in disaster response and recovery: from science to capacity building."
Earth Science Satellite Applications: Current and Future Prospects
119-146
[10.1007/978-3-319-33438-7_5]
Wu, H., M. Huang, Q. Tang, D. B. Kirschbaum, and P. Ward. 2016. "Hydrometeorological Hazards: Monitoring, Forecasting, Risk Assessment, and Socioeconomic Responses."
Advances in Meteorology
2016
1-3
[10.1155/2016/2367939]
Biasutti, M., R. Seager, and D. B. Kirschbaum. 2016. "Landslides in West Coast metropolitan areas: The role of extreme weather events."
Weather and Climate Extremes
14
67-79
[10.1016/j.wace.2016.11.004]
Kirschbaum, D. B., T. Stanley, and J. M. Simmons. 2015. "A Dynamic Landslide Hazard Assessment System for Central America and Hispaniola."
Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences
15
(10):
2257-2272
[Full Text (Link)]
[10.5194/nhess-15-2257-2015]
Kirschbaum, D. B., T. Stanley, and Y. Zhou. 2015. "Spatial and temporal analysis of a global landslide catalog."
Geomorphology
249
(Geohazard Databases):
4-15
[Full Text (Link)]
[10.1016/j.geomorph.2015.03.016]
Kargel, J. S., G. J. Leonard, D. H. Shugar, et al. 2015. "Geomorphic and geologic controls of geohazards induced by Nepals 2015 Gorkha earthquake."
Science
351
(6269):
aac8353-aac8353
[10.1126/science.aac8353]
Kumar, S. V., K. W. Harrison, C. D. Peters-Lidard, J. A. Santanello, and D. B. Kirschbaum. 2014. "Assessing the Impact of L-Band Observations on Drought and Flood Risk Estimation: A Decision-Theoretic Approach in an OSSE Environment."
J. Hydrometeor
15
(6):
2140-2156
[Full Text (Link)]
[10.1175/JHM-D-13-0204.1]
Wan, Z., Y. Hong, S. Khan, et al. 2014. "A cloud-based global flood disaster community cyber-infrastructure: Development and demonstration."
Environmental Modelling & Software
58
86–94
[10.1016/j.envsoft.2014.04.007]
Taramelli, A., M. Pasqui, J. Barbour, et al. 2013. "Spatial and temporal dust source variability in northern China identified using advanced remote sensing analysis."
Earth Surface Processes and Landforms
38
(8):
793–809
[10.1002/esp.3321]
Kucera, P. A., E. E. Ebert, J. F. Turk, et al. 2013. "Precipitation from Space: Advancing Earth System Science."
Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society
94
(3):
365-375
[10.1175/BAMS-D-11-00171.1]
Kirschbaum, D. B., R. F. Adler, D. Adler, C. D. Peters-Lidard, and G. J. Huffman. 2012. "Global Distribution of Extreme Precipitation and High-Impact Landslides in 2010 Relative to Previous Years."
J. Hydrometeor.
13
(5):
1536-1551
[10.1175/JHM-D-12-02.1]
Liao, Z., Y. Hong, D. Kirschbaum, and C. Liu. 2012. "Assessment of shallow landslides from Hurricane Mitch in central America using a physically based model."
Environmental Earth Sciences
66
(6):
1697-1705
[10.1007/s12665-011-0997-9]
Kirschbaum, D. B., and H. Fukuoka. 2012. "Remote sensing and modeling of landslides: detection, monitoring and risk evaluation."
Environmental Earth Sciences
66
(6):
1583
[10.1007/s12665-012-1543-0]
Kirschbaum, D. B., R. F. Adler, Y. Hong, S. V. Kumar, and C. D. Peters-Lidard. 2011. "Advances in landslide nowcasting: evaluation of a global and regional modeling approach."
Environmental Earth Sciences
66
(6):
1683-1696
[10.1007/s12665-011-0990-3]
Kirschbaum, D. B., R. F. Adler, Y. Hong, S. Hill, and A. Lerner-Lam. 2010. "A global landslide catalog for hazard applications: method, results, and limitations."
Natural Hazards
52
(3):
561-575
[10.1007/s11069-009-9401-4]
Hong, Y., R. F. Adler, D. B. Kirschbaum, and G. J. Huffman. 2010. "Capacity Building for Disaster Prevention in Vulnerable Regions of the World: Development of a Prototype Global Flood/Landslide Prediction System."
Disaster Advances
3
(3):
14-19
Kirschbaum, D., R. Adler, Y. Hong, and A. Lerner-Lam. 2009. "Evaluation of a Satellite-based Landslide Algorithm using Global Landslide Inventories."
Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences
9
673-686
Kirschbaum, D., R. F. Adler, Y. Hong, and A. Lerner-Lam. 2009. "Evaluation of a preliminary satellite-based landslide hazard algorithm using global landslide inventories."
Natural Hazards and Earth System Science
9
(3):
673-686
[10.5194/nhess-9-673-2009]
Non-Refereed
Kirschbaum, D. B. 2017. "A view from above: Earth Observation."
Crisis Response Journal
12
(4):
64-67
Ward, A., D. Kirschbaum, and M. Hobish. 2015. "Measuring Rain and Snow for Science and Society: The Second GPM Applications Workshop."
The Earth Observer
27
(5):
4--11
