Thomas H. Painter

Thomas H. Painter is a Research Professor in the Department of Geography at the University of California, Los Angeles, and a Principal Scientist at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), California Institute of Technology. His work bridges snow hydrology, remote sensing, and climate impacts on mountain systems. He leads the JPL Airborne Snow Observatory, the first system to map snow water equivalent and reflectivity comprehensively, and co-investigates NASA's EMIT mission on dust radiative forcing.

His research focuses on snow hydrology, radiative impacts of light-absorbing impurities, and multisensor remote sensing of snow properties. He has pioneered understanding of dust emissions and black carbon effects on glacial melt in the Anthropocene.

Scientific awards include the NASA Exceptional Technology Achievement Medal (2018) and the Bureau of Reclamation’s John W. Keys III Award.