A headshot of Jennifer Jacobs, professor in the EOS Earth Systems Research Center.

Jennifer Jacobs

Professor
Phone: (603) 862-0635
Office: Morse Hall, Room 444, Durham, NH 03824
Websites:
Jennifer Jacobs is a Professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of New Hampshire. Dr. Jacobs received her Sc.B. in Electrical Engineering from Brown University in 1987, an M.S. from Tufts University in 1993, and her Ph.D. from Cornell University in 1997. Dr. Jacobs is a Water Resources Professor with over 25 years of experience, more than 100 published journal articles, and host to 11 Ph.D. and 30 master's students, eight post-doctoral scientists, and numerous undergraduate researchers. Jennifer’s career trajectory includes expert systems/AI (the 1980s!!), atmospheric boundary layer evapotranspiration, and soil moisture (the 1990s), and instream flows (2000s). Since 2010, she has had two research passions – climate change influences on infrastructure and cold regions/snow hydrology. A common research thread through the years is a strong experimental focus (let’s get outside!!), the use of NASA’s big data (30 years and counting), tractable approaches to physical processes, and research informed by my colleagues in the practice. When Dr. Jacobs is not working, she can be found biking along the New England coast or playing agility with her German wirehaired pointers Beacon and Reign.

Courses Taught

  • CEE 650: Fluid Mechanics Lab
  • CEE 751/851: Open Channel Flow
  • CEE 754/854: Engineering Hydrology
  • CEE 796: Spc Top/Fluid Mech Lab Only
  • CEE 796/896: Spc Top/Snow Hydrology
  • CEE 799H: Senior Honors Thesis
  • CEE 951: Statistical Hydrology

Education

  • Ph.D., Civil Engineering, Cornell University
  • M.S., Civil Engineering, Tufts University
  • B.S., Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Brown University

Selected Publications

  • Cho, E., Verfaillie, M., Jacobs, J. M., Hunsaker, A. G., Sullivan, F. B., Palace, M., & Wagner, C. (2025). Characterizing the spatial distribution of field-scale snowpack using unpiloted aerial system (UAS) lidar and structure-from-motion (SfM) photogrammetry. Hydrology and Earth System Sciences, 29(18), 4539-4556. doi:10.5194/hess-29-4539-2025

  • Sias, J. E., Dave, E. V., Underwood, B. S., Bowers, B. F., Harvey, J. T., Henning, T. F. P., . . . Hendrick, P. (2025). Climate change impacts on roadways. Nature Reviews Earth & Environment, 6(9), 555-573. doi:10.1038/s43017-025-00711-9

  • Ge, Y., Iman, S., Martín, Y., Lim, S. H., Jacobs, J. M., & Jia, X. (2025). Residents’ Perception of Flood Prediction Products: The Study of NASA’s Satellite Enhanced Snowmelt Flood Prediction. Sustainability, 17(14), 6328. doi:10.3390/su17146328

  • Johnston, J. M., Jacobs, J. M., Hunsaker, A., Wagner, C., & Vardaman, M. (2025). Applications of Snow-Covered Areas from Unoccupied Aerial Systems (UAS) Visible Imagery: A Demonstration in Southeastern New Hampshire. Remote Sensing, 17(11), 1885. doi:10.3390/rs17111885

  • Moradi, M., Kraatz, S., Johnston, J., & Jacobs, J. M. (2024). Comparing Three Freeze-Thaw Schemes Using C-Band Radar Data in Southeastern New Hampshire, USA. Remote Sensing, 16(15), 2784. doi:10.3390/rs16152784

  • Choi, M., Jacobs, J. M., Anderson, M. C., & Bosch, D. D. (2013). Evaluation of drought indices via remotely sensed data with hydrological variables. JOURNAL OF HYDROLOGY, 476, 265-273. doi:10.1016/j.jhydrol.2012.10.042

  • Douglas, E. M., Jacobs, J. M., Sumner, D. M., & Ray, R. L. (2009). A comparison of models for estimating potential evapotranspiration for Florida land cover types. JOURNAL OF HYDROLOGY, 373(3-4), 366-376. doi:10.1016/j.jhydrol.2009.04.029

  • Choi, M., & Jacobs, J. M. (2007). Soil moisture variability of root zone profiles within SMEX02 remote sensing footprints. ADVANCES IN WATER RESOURCES, 30(4), 883-896. doi:10.1016/j.advwatres.2006.07.007

  • Sumner, D. M., & Jacobs, J. M. (2005). Utility of Penman-Monteith, Priestley-Taylor, reference evapotranspiration, and pan evaporation methods to estimate pasture evapotranspiration. JOURNAL OF HYDROLOGY, 308(1-4), 81-104. doi:10.1016/j.jhydrol.2004.10.023

  • Jacobs, J. M., Mohanty, B. P., Hsu, E. C., & Miller, D. (2004). SMEX02: Field scale variability, time stability and similarity of soil moisture. REMOTE SENSING OF ENVIRONMENT, 92(4), 436-446. doi:10.1016/j.rse.2004.02.017

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  • Most Cited Publications