Dr. Thomas Painter

Biography

Thomas Painter is a Visiting Associate Researcher in the Department of Geography at the University of California, Los Angeles, as well as a Principal Scientist at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) of the California Institute of Technology. His research primarily focuses on snow hydrology and water resources, exploring the implications of light-absorbing impurities in snow on glacier melt and the radiative impacts in mountain systems. Painter is known for his leadership as Principal Investigator on the JPL Airborne Snow Observatory, which employs integrated imaging spectrometer and LiDAR systems to provide comprehensive, near real-time maps of snow water equivalent and reflectivity in mountain basins. Additionally, he is a co-investigator of the NASA Earth Venture Instrument EMIT project, which aims to investigate mineralogy and radiative forcing of desert dust. He has made significant contributions to the understanding of how dust emissions and land use changes impact snow and ice cover in mountainous areas, thus influencing regional hydrologic responses amidst the challenges posed by climate change. He has been recognized with several awards, including the NASA Exceptional Technology Achievement Medal and the Bureau of Reclamation’s John W. Keys III Award for his outstanding contributions to the field.

Research Interests

Experience