NEW ORLEANS, La. – The Cooperative Institute for Research to Operations in Hydrology, or CIROH, played a prominent role at the 2025 American Geophysical Union Annual Meeting, contributing cutting-edge research, operational insights and workforce development efforts to one of the world’s largest Earth and space science gatherings.
AGU25 convened more than 25,000 attendees from over 100 countries in New Orleans, bringing together scientists, policymakers, educators, students and practitioners to advance understanding of Earth systems and strengthen connections across disciplines. This year’s meeting theme, “Where Science Connects Us,” underscored the importance of collaboration in addressing complex, real-world challenges.
CIROH researchers convened and contributed to more than 30 AGU sessions, spanning flood prediction, coastal and urban hydrology, artificial intelligence and big data, community water modeling, climate extremes and community-engaged science. Collectively, these sessions highlighted CIROH’s mission to accelerate the transition of research into operational water prediction tools that support decision-making and public safety.
Advancing Flood and Extreme Event Prediction
CIROH-supported presentations showcased advances in large-scale flood modeling, flood inundation mapping and uncertainty analysis, with applications ranging from urban and coastal flooding to catastrophic extreme events. Several sessions examined how improved modeling, high-resolution data and post-event evaluation can strengthen real-time forecasting and risk communication. This research aims to address critical needs as floods become more frequent and severe.
AI, High-Performance Computing and Next-Generation Models
Researchers also highlighted progress in AI-enabled hydrologic modeling, community water resources frameworks and high-performance computing infrastructure. Presentations on the North American Water Model, NOAA’s Next Generation Water Resources Modeling Framework and CIROH’s Research-to-Operations Hybrid Cloud (R2OHC) platform demonstrated how scalable, open and collaborative systems are transforming water prediction across continental domains.
Connecting Science, Communities and Decision-Making
In alignment with the AGU25 theme, CIROH contributions emphasized co-production of knowledge, community-engaged research and the integration of social, behavioral and physical sciences. Sessions explored how flood hazards, water quality risks and climate extremes intersect with infrastructure, public health and environmental justice, reinforcing the need for science that is both technically robust and societally relevant.
CIROH and AWI Engage Attendees on the Exhibit Floor
Beyond oral sessions and poster presentations, CIROH and the Alabama Water Institute maintained a strong presence on the AGU exhibit floor, using interactive engagement to spark conversations about water prediction, research to operations and workforce development.
A centerpiece of the booth was the Wheel of Water, an interactive activity designed to encourage informal, approachable discussions around water science, forecasting challenges and real-world impacts. The activity drew steady interest from students and early-career scientists, creating opportunities to connect research concepts with lived experiences and decision-making needs.
Investing in the Future Water Workforce
AGU25 also marked milestones in education and training, including reflections on a decade of impact from the Water Prediction Innovators Summer Institute. CIROH-affiliated programs highlighted how experiential learning, interdisciplinary collaboration and partnerships with federal agencies are preparing the next generation of water scientists and practitioners.
National Recognition for Scientific Leadership
CIROH-affiliated researcher Dr. Marty Ralph was named a 2025 AGU Union Fellow, one of the organization’s highest honors recognizing scientific eminence and sustained impact in Earth and space sciences.
Ralph, director of the Center for Western Weather and Water Extremes, was recognized for his pioneering contributions to runoff and precipitation prediction, including the use of deep learning approaches to improve forecasts of heavy rainfall and extreme runoff events. His work addresses long-standing challenges in underpredicting large flood-producing storms and directly supports more reliable streamflow forecasts used operationally by the National Weather Service to help protect lives and livelihoods.
AGU Union Fellows are selected for breakthrough discoveries, innovation in disciplinary and cross-disciplinary science and sustained scientific impact, as well as demonstrated leadership, mentorship and commitment to AGU values.
Looking Ahead
AGU announced that the 2026 AGU Fall Meeting will be held December 7–11, 2026, in San Francisco, California, where CIROH and its partners will continue advancing collaborative, use-inspired water research.
About CIROH
The Cooperative Institute for Research to Operations in Hydrology (CIROH) is a NOAA Cooperative Institute hosted at The University of Alabama and supported by the National Weather Service. As a unique national consortium with 28 partner institutions, CIROH unites academic, government and private sector partners to co-produce research that enhances operational water prediction capabilities and informs critical decision-making for issues like floods, droughts and water quality. Through its interdisciplinary research, educational initiatives and outreach programs, CIROH advances NOAA’s water prediction services with new techniques such as artificial intelligence and remote sensing, equips the next generation of water-resource professionals with essential skills and fosters public and stakeholder engagement to support federal agency and private sector needs. CIROH transforms scientific innovations into practical solutions and operational tools that boosts the delivery of actionable water intelligence, increases effectiveness of water resources management, promotes community resilience and informs decision-makers across the United States.