Prof. Soni M Pradhanang, Ph.D
University of Rhode Island
Water Resources – Hydrologic and Water Quality Modeling
My research focuses on development of decision support systems for management of water resources from field to the watershed and regional scale. The generation, transformation and transport of sediments and nutrients within the watershed in the context of land use and climate change are the major focus of my current research. I use combined approach of monitoring and modeling to understand water and nutrients movement in complex terrain, soils, land use, and with various watershed protection practices. I strongly believe that an interdisciplinary approach linking hydrology and biogeochemistry with environmental policy and social sciences is critical for all to develop a solid understanding of human-environment interactions in complex systems. In addition, my works also evaluate reliability, predictability and vulnerabilities of the water infrastructure such as reservoirs, dams and spillways in maintaining safe and clean water to the communities. My research evaluates management practices to develop guidelines to ensure the protection of the ecosystem that provides our water. Future research in this area will build and expand on identifying and quantifying processes controlling biogeochemical processes in the landscape, especially those most relevant to anticipated environmental changes associated with climate change. My international works involve climate change vulnerability assessment in water resources in South Asia. I focus primarily on water management issues.