Research

My Research

My research focuses on understanding the impacts of land use/land cover change, global warming and human practices on terrestrail, and afreshwater ecosystems. By integrating remote sensing, machine learning, and process-based modeling, I aim to develop data-driven solutions for sustainable water and land management. My work has broad implications for improving agricultural resilience, guiding conservation policies, and supporting climate adaptation strategies. By bridging scientific research with real-world applications, my goal is to provide actionable insights that benefit both local communities and global sustainability efforts.

Irrigation

Field-Scale Annual Irrigation Mapping

Developing high-resolution irrigation maps across the U.S. to improve water resource management.

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Water Quality Opportunities in the Corn Belt

Field-scale prioritization of conservation practices to enhance water quality outcomes.

conservation Prioritization
LanduseImpact

Hydrologic Response to Land Use and Climate Change

Examining how land use and climate variability impact hydrological processes using advanced modeling techniques.

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Topsoil Loss and Stream Water Quality

Investigating how farm management, grazing, and extreme precipitation influence topsoil loss and water quality in the Mississippi River Basin.

extremePrecipImpact

Publications:

  • 2025, under review, Y. Makhtoumi, Y. Xie, T. Lark, “Field Unit Classification of Irrigated Land across the United States,” Scientific Data - Nature
  • 2025, submitted, Y. Makhtoumi, T. Lark, “Field-level Conservation Prioritization in the Corn Belt,” Journal of Environmental Management.
  • 2023, A. Abbasi, Y. Makhtoumi, Y. Wu, and G. Chen, “Characterization of cellulose nanocrystal extracted from household waste and its application for seed germination,” Carbohydr. Technol. Appl., vol. 7, no. December 2023, p. 100409, 2024.
  • 2023, Y. Makhtoumi, Abbasi, A., Seyedmakhtoom, B., Ibeanusi, V. & Chen,G. (2023). Evaluating soil loss under land use management and extreme rainfall. Journal of Contaminant Hydrology 256, 104181.
  • 2022, Y. Makhtoumi, "Combined Effects of Land use Change and Climate Change on Soil Loss and Water Balance Variables." Order No. 29399297 The Florida State University, 2022. United States -- Florida: ProQuest.
  • 2020, Y. Makhtoumi, Simeng, L., Chen, G., Ibeanusi, V., “Evaluating Water Balance Variables under Land Use and Climate Projections in the Upper Choctawhatchee River Watershed, in Southeast US”, Water.
  • 2018, Y. Makhtoumi, Zarrati, A.; Ardeshir A.; Karami, H.; “Flow Field around a Vertical Abutment”, 16th National hydraulic Conference, Ardebil, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili.