Yuhuan Zhao

Education

• Ph.D., Electrical  Engineering, University of Southern California (USA), 2019 – Present
• M.S., Electrical Engineering, Fudan University (China), 2016 – 2019
• B.S., Electrical Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China (China), 2012 – 2016.

Biography

Yuhuan Zhao is currently a Ph.D. student in the Ming Hsieh Department of Electrical Engineering at the University of Southern California (USC). Before that, she received her B.S. in Electrical Engineering from the UESTC (University of Electronic Science and Technology of China) in 2016 and her M.S. from Fudan University in 2019. Her research lies in the interdisciplinary area of geophysics and machine learning, focusing on microwave remote sensing using long-wavelength radar to characterize surface and subsurface properties such as soil moisture and vegetation dynamics across diverse ecosystems. She works at USC as a Research Assistant at Mixil under the guidance of Prof. Moghaddam.

Publications

2025

Journal

• K Bakian-Dogaheh, Y Zhao, JS Kimball, M Moghaddam, “Coupled hydrologic-electromagnetic framework to model permafrost active layer organic soil dielectric properties,” Remote Sensing of Environment 318, 114560, 2025 [link]
• E Wig, K Schaefer, R Michaelides, R Chen, LK Clayton, B Fager, L Huang, AD Parsekian, H Zebker, Y Zhang, Y Zhao, “Permafrost Dynamics Observatory: 3. remote sensing big data for the active layer, soil moisture, and greening and browning,” Earth and Space Science 12 (1), e2024EA003725, 2025 [link]
• J Du, KA Endsley, KB Dogaheh, J Kimball, M Moghaddam, T Douglas, A Melebari, S Esk, ari, J Kim, J Whitcomb, Y Zhao, S Henze, “Assessing spatial heterogeneity of active layer thickness over Arctic-foothills tundra through intensive field sampling and multi-source remote sensing,” EGUsphere 2025, 1-19, 2025 [link]
• M Moore, K Schaefer, E Hoy, M Auclair, K Bakian-Dogaheh, M Battaglia, K Bennett, W Bolton, L Bourgeau-Chavez, A Bredder, D Chen, R Chen, A Chen, J Chen, D Chiasson, R Chitra-tarak, L Clayton, A Collins, L Cornette, J Dann, E Devoie, M Dominico, T Douglas, S Gagnon, S Grelick, P Griffith, J He, E Jafarov, G Iwahana, L Jenkins, E Kasischke, S Kim, P Kirchner, B Lecavalier, J Ledman, S Liben, L Liu, T Loboda, S Ludwig, M Mac, er, N Matsui, R Michaelides, M Moghaddam, S Natali, S P, a, A Parsekian, M Pearce, W Quinton, A Rocha, H Rodenhizer, R Roy-léveillée, N Saravanan, Z Sauve, S Schaefer, E Schuur, O Sonnentag, T Sullivan, A Tabatabaeenejad, L Thomas, B Thorne, K Turner, K Wang, C Wilson, H Zebker, T Zhang, Y Zhao, S Zwieback, “Arctic-Boreal Vulnerability Experiment (ABoVE),” ORNL Distributed Active Archive Center (DAAC) dataset 10.3334/ORNLDAAC/2369 …, 2025 [link]

Other Publications

• M Moore, K Schaefer, L Clayton, E Hoy, M Auclair, K Bakian-Dogaheh, M Battaglia, K Bennett, W Bolton, L Bourgeau-Chavez, A Bredder, D Chen, R Chen, A Chen, J Chen, D Chiasson, R Chitra-tarak, A Collins, L Cornette, J Dann, E Devoie, M Dominico, T Douglas, S Gagnon, S Grelick, P Griffith, J He, G Iwahana, E Jafarov, L Jenkins, E Kasischke, S Kim, P Kirchner, B Lecavalier, J Ledman, S Liben, L Liu, T Loboda, S Ludwig, M Mac, er, N Matsui, R Michaelides, M Moghaddam, S Natali, S P, a, A Parsekian, M Pearce, W Quinton, A Rocha, H Rodenhizer, P Roy-Léveillée, N Saravanan, Z Sauve, S Schaefer, E Schuur, O Sonnentag, T Sullivan, A Tabatabaeenejad, L Thomas, B Thorne, K Turner, K Wang, C Wilson, H Zebker, T Zhang, Y Zhao, S Zwieback, “ABoVE: Soil Moisture and Active Layer Thickness in Alaska, USA and Canada, 2005-2022. ORNL DAAC, Oak Ridge, Tennessee, USA,” 2025 [link]

2024

Journal

• CE Miller, PC Griffith, E Hoy, NS Pinto, Y Lou, S Hensley, BD Chapman, J Baltzer, K Bakian-Dogaheh, WR Bolton, L Bourgeau-Chavez, RH Chen, B Choe, LK Clayton, TA Douglas, N French, JE Holloway, G Hong, L Huang, G Iwahana, L Jenkins, JS Kimball, T Loboda, M Mack, P Marsh, RJ Michaelides, M Moghaddam, A Parsekian, K Schaefer, PR Siqueira, D Singh, A Tabatabaeenejad, M Turetsky, R Touzi, E Wig, CJ Wilson, P Wilson, SD Wullschleger, Y Yi, HA Zebker, Y Zhang, Y Zhao, SJ Goetz, “The ABoVE L-band and P-band airborne synthetic aperture radar surveys,” Earth System Science Data 16 (6), 2605-2624, 2024 [link]
• KB Dogaheh, Y Zhao, J Whitcomb, J Du, J Kimball, M Moghaddam, “Local scale Mapping of Soil Organic Carbon in the Permafrost Active Layer Using Polarimetric Radar and a Physics-Based Computational Algorithm,” AGU24, 2024 [link]
• KB Dogaheh, Y Zhao, J Whitcomb, J Du, J Kimball, M Moghaddam, “Local scale Mapping of Soil Organic Carbon in the Permafrost Active Layer Using Polarimetric Radar and a Physics-Based Computational Algorithm,” AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts 2024, B22E-02, 2024 [link]
• J Whitcomb, KB Dogaheh, Y Zhao, Y Yi, J Du, JS Kimball, M Moghaddam, “Large-scale Mapping of Soil Organic Carbon in the Northern Alaskan Tundra by Upscaling High-Resolution Swaths of SOC from P-Band PolSAR Imagery,” AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts 2024 (165), B33H-165, 2024 [link]
• Y Zhao, D Moller, D Meason, M Moghaddam, “Multifrequency Subsurface Soil Moisture Retrieval for Forest Flows: A Case Study in Te Hiku, New Zealand,” IEEE Journal of Selected Topics in Applied Earth Observations and Remote Sensing, 2024 [link]
• Y Zhao, K Bakian-Dogaheh, J Whitcomb, RH Chen, Y Yi, JS Kimball, M Moghaddam, “Integrating multi-source remote sensing data for mapping boreal forest canopy height and species in interior Alaska in support of radar modeling,” Environmental Research Letters 19 (7), 074025, 2024 [link]

2023

Conference

• A Melebari, AR Silva, R Akbar, E Hodges, Y Zhao, P Nergis, DS McKague, C Ruf, M Moghaddam, “CYGNSS soilscape sites: sensor calibration and data analysis,” IGARSS 2023-2023 IEEE International Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium …, 2023 [link]
• K Bakian-Dogaheh, Y Zhao, JS Kimball, M Moghaddam, “Retrieving Soil Organic Matter and Soil Moisture Profiles of the Arctic Foothills Tundra Using P-band Polarimetric SAR Imagery,” IGARSS 2023-2023 IEEE International Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium …, 2023 [link]

Journal

• C Miller, P Griffith, E Hoy, N Pinto, Y Lou, S Hensley, B CHAPMAN, J BALTZER, K BAKIAN-DOGAHEH, W BOLTON, L BOURGEAU-CHAVEZ, R CHEN, B CHOE, L CLAYTON, T DOUGLAS, N FRENCH, J HOLLOWAY, G HONG, L HUANG, G IWAHANA, L JENKINS, J KIMBALL, T LOBODA, M MACK, P MARSH, R MICHAELIDES, M MOGHADDAM, A PARSEKIAN, K SCHAEFER, P SIQUEIRA, D SINGH, A TABATABAEENEJAD, M TURETSKY, R TOUZI, E WIG, P WILSON, C WILSON, S WULLSCHLEGER, Y YI, H ZEBKER, Y ZHANG, Y ZHAO, S GOETZ, “Summary of the ABoVE L-band and P-band Airborne SAR Surveys, 2012-2022,” ORNL DAAC, 2023 [link]
• C Miller, PC Griffith, E Hoy, NS Pinto, Y Lou, S Hensley, BD Chapman, J Baltzer, K Bakian-Dogaheh, WR Bolton, L Bourgeau-Chavez, RH Chen, B Choe, LK Clayton, TA Douglas, N French, JE Holloway, G Hong, L Huang, G Iwahana, L Jenkins, JS Kimball, T Loboda, M Mack, P Marsh, RJ Michaelides, M Moghaddam, A Parsekian, K Schaefer, PR Siqueira, D Singh, A Tabatabaeenejad, M Turetsky, R Touzi, E Wig, C Wilson, P Wilson, SD Wullschleger, Y Yi, HA Zebker, Y Zhang, Y Zhao, SJ Goetz, “The ABoVE L-band and P-band Airborne SAR Surveys,” Earth System Science Data Discussions 2023, 1-37, 2023 [link]
• KB Dogaheh, Y Zhao, J Du, JS Kimball, M Moghaddam, “Organic Soil Dielectric Models for Capturing Freeze/Thaw Dynamics in the Permafrost Active-Layer Using P-Band PolSAR Imagery,” AGU23, 2023 [link]
• KB Dogaheh, Y Zhao, J Du, J Kimball, M Moghaddam, “Computational Radar and Ecological Models to Map Soil Organic Carbon Profile in Permafrost Active Layer Soil,” AGU23, 2023 [link]
• KB Dogaheh, Y Zhao, J Du, J Kimball, M Moghaddam, “Computational Radar and Ecological Models to Map Soil Organic Carbon Profile in Permafrost Active Layer Soil,” AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts 2023 (2), B54E-02, 2023 [link]
• KB Dogaheh, Y Zhao, J Du, JS Kimball, M Moghaddam, “Organic Soil Dielectric Models for Capturing Freeze/Thaw Dynamics in the Permafrost Active-Layer Using P-Band PolSAR Imagery,” AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts 2023 (1059), C53C-1059, 2023 [link]
• Y Zhao, D Moller, D Meason, M Moghaddam, “Retrieval of subsurface soil moisture under vegetation canopied using multi-frequency radar data in Forest Flows in New Zealand,” AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts 2023 (1399), H11I-1399, 2023 [link]

Other Publications

• , “Permafrost dynamics observatory (PDO): 2. Joint retrieval of permafrost active layer thickness and soil moisture from L‐band InSAR and P‐band PolSAR,” Earth and Space Science 10 (1), e2022EA002453, 2023

2022

Conference

• Y Zhao, RH Chen, K Bakian-Dogaheh, J Whitcomb, Y Yi, JS Kimball, M Moghaddam, “Mapping boreal forest species and canopy height using airborne SAR and lidar data in interior Alaska,” IGARSS 2022-2022 IEEE International Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium …, 2022 [link]
• K Bakian-Dogaheh, Y Zhao, M Moghaddam, “Coupled hydrologic-electromagnetic approach for mapping water and carbon characteristics of permafrost active layer,” IGARSS 2022-2022 IEEE International Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium …, 2022 [link]

Journal

• R Chen, R Michaelides, J Chen, A Chen, L Clayton, K Bakian-Dogaheh, L Huang, E Jafarov, L Liu, M Moghaddam, A Parsekian, T Sullivan, A Tabatabaeenejad, E Wig, H Zebker, Y Zhao, “ABoVE: active layer thickness from airborne L-and P-band SAR, Alaska, 2017, Ver. 3,” ORNL DAAC, 2022 [link]
• KB Dogaheh, Y Zhao, JS Kimball, M Moghaddam, “Physics-based Algorithm for Radar Retrieval of Subsurface Geophysical Parameters in Permafrost Active Layer Soil,” Fall Meeting 2022, 2022 [link]
• KB Dogaheh, Y Zhao, JS Kimball, M Moghaddam, “Physics-based Algorithm for Radar Retrieval of Subsurface Geophysical Parameters in Permafrost Active Layer Soil,” AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts 2022, B52I-0968, 2022 [link]
• Y Zhao, X Lin, D Moller, M Moghaddam, D Meason, “Low-Altitude Airborne SAR Radiometric Calibration for Soil Moisture Retrieval in Forest Flows,” AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts 2022, H42G-1381, 2022 [link]

Other Publications

• R Chen, R Michaelides, J Chen, A Chen, L Clayton, K Bakian-Dogaheh, L Huang, E Jafarov, L Liu, M Moghaddam, A Parsekian, T Sullivan, A Tabatabaeenejad, E Wig, H Zebker, Y Zhao, “ABoVE: Active Layer Thickness from Airborne L-and P-band SAR, Alaska, 2017, Ver. 3. ORNL DAAC, Oak Ridge, Tennessee, USA,” 2022 [link]

2021

Conference

• RH Chen, RJ Michaelides, Y Zhao, L Huang, E Wig, TD Sullivan, AD Parsekian, HA Zebker, M Moghaddam, KM Schaefer, “Permafrost Dynamics Observatory: Retrieval of Active Layer Thickness and Soil Moisture from Airborne Insar and Polsar Data,” 2021 IEEE International Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium IGARSS, 1444 …, 2021 [link]

Journal

• LK Clayton, K Schaefer, MJ Battaglia, L Bourgeau-Chavez, J Chen, RH Chen, A Chen, K Bakian-Dogaheh, S Grelik, E Jafarov, L Liu, RJ Michaelides, M Moghaddam, AD Parsekian, AV Rocha, SR Schaefer, T Sullivan, A Tabatabaeenejad, K Wang, CJ Wilson, HA Zebker, T Zhang, Y Zhao, “Active layer thickness as a function of soil water content,” Environmental Research Letters 16 (5), 055028, 2021 [link]
• K Schaefer, L Clayton, M Battaglia, L Bourgeau-Chavez, R Chen, A Chen, J Chen, K Bakian-Dogaheh, T Douglas, S Grelick, G Iwahana, E Jafarov, L Liu, S Ludwig, R Michaelides, M Moghaddam, S Natali, S P, a, A Parsekian, A Rocha, S Schaefer, T Sullivan, A Tabatabaeenejad, K Wang, C Wilson, H Zebker, T Zhang, Y Zhao, “ABoVE: Soil moisture and active layer thickness in Alaska and NWT, Canada, 2008-2020,” ORNL DAAC, 2021 [link]
• K Schaefer, R Michaelides, R Chen, T Sullivan, A Parsekian, Y Zhao, K Bakian-Dogaheh, A Tabatabaeenejad, M Moghaddam, J Chen, A Chen, L Liu, H Zebker, “Arctic-Boreal Vulnerability Experiment (ABoVE),” ORNL Distributed Active Archive Center (DAAC) dataset 10.3334/ORNLDAAC/1796 …, 2021 [link]
• Y Zhao, R Chen, J Whitcomb, KB Dogaheh, Y Yi, J Kimball, M Moghaddam, “Forest classification using airborne SAR and Lidar data in interior Alaska,” AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts 2021, B32B-05, 2021 [link]
• L Clayton, K Schaefer, R Chen, E Hoy, R Michaelides, A Parsekian, Y Zhao, “Active Layer Thickness as a Function of Soil Water Content in Alaska and Canada,” AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts 2021, EP55A-1057, 2021 [link]

Other Publications

• , “Permafrost dynamics observatory—Part I: Postprocessing and calibration methods of UAVSAR L‐band InSAR data for seasonal subsidence estimation,” Earth and Space Science 8 (7), e2020EA001630, 2021
• , “Validation of permafrost active layer estimates from airborne SAR observations,” Remote Sensing 13 (15), 2876, 2021
• K Schaefer, L Clayton, M Battaglia, L Bourgeau-Chavez, R Chen, A Chen, J Chen, K Bakian-Dogaheh, T Douglas, S Grelick, G Iwahana, E Jafarov, L Liu, S Ludwig, R Michaelides, M Moghaddam, S Natali, S P, a, A Parsekian, A Rocha, S Schaefer, T Sullivan, A Tabatabaeenejad, K Wang, C Wilson, H Zebker, T Zhang, Y Zhao, “ABoVE: Soil Moisture and Active Layer Thickness in Alaska and NWT, Canada, 2008–2020, ORNL DAAC, Oak Ridge, Tennessee, USA,” 2021 [link]
• K Schaefer, R Michaelides, R Chen, T Sullivan, A Parsekian, Y Zhao, K Bakian-Dogaheh, A Tabatabaeenejad, M Moghaddam, J Chen, A Chen, L Liu, H Zebker, “ABoVE: Active Layer Thickness Derived from Airborne L-and P-band SAR, Alaska, 2017, ORNL DAAC, Oak Ridge, Tennessee, USA,” 2021 [link]

2020

Journal

• KB Dogaheh, Y Yi, RH Chen, Y Zhao, M Moghaddam, A Tabatabaeenejad, “Empirical model for estimating hydraulic properties of the organic-rich arctic permafrost soils,” AGU Fall Meeting 2020, 2020 [link]
• Y Zhao, RH Chen, RJ Michaelides, T Sullivan, A Parsekian, HA Zebker, KM Schaefer, M Moghaddam, “Improved calibration of absolute InSAR deformation estimates in support of permafrost active layer retrievals,” AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts 2020, B063-0006, 2020 [link]

2018

Conference

• Y Zhao, X Han, P Liu, “A RPCA and RANSAC based algorithm for ship wake detection in SAR images,” 2018 12th International Symposium on Antennas, Propagation and EM Theory …, 2018 [link]

Journal

• Y Zhao, P Liu, “Adaptive ship detection for single-look complex SAR images based on SVWIE-noncircularity decomposition,” Sensors 18 (10), 3293, 2018 [link]

2017

Journal

• R Chen, R Michaelides, J Chen, A Chen, L Clayton, K Bakian-Dogaheh, Y Zhao, “ABoVE: active layer thickness from airborne L-and P-band SAR,” Alaska, 2017, Ver. 3. ORNL DAAC, 2017 [link]

Other Articles

Other Publications

• J Whitcomb, Y Fang, J Campbell, J Fayne, K Bakian-Dogaheh, A Melebari, A Melebari, E Hodges, Y Zhao, P Nergis, S Esk, ari, A Kannan, S Prager, A Azemati, N Golestani, A Etminan, R Chen, M Albahkali, G Chen, P Shah, R Akbar, AR Silva, M Bürgin, X Duan, M Haynes, U Khankhoje, K Savci, D Clewley, A Tabatabaeenejad, J Stang, L Yang, G Reflectometry, “Targeted Treatment of Disease with Heat,” [link]
• RJ Michaelides, RH Chen, Y Zhao, K Schaefer, LL Zebker, X Xu, J Chen, “This article has been accepted for publication and undergone full peer review but has not been through the copyediting, typesetting, pagination and proofreading process, which may lead to differences between this version and the Version of Record. Please cite this article as doi: 10.1029/2020EA001630. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.,” [link]