William James Shuttleworth was an Emeritus Regents Professor of Hydrology and Atmospheric Sciences (HAS) at the University of Arizona. “Jim,” as he was affectionately called by those who knew him, passed away December 20, 2020 at the age of 75.

Jim was a pioneer and leading expert in global hydrology, hydrometeorology, and climatology. Jim joined the Department of Hydrology & Water Resources in 1993, with a joint appointment in Atmospheric Sciences. With his deep interest in Terrestrial Hydrometeorology, he actively pushed for the creation of the degree program in hydrometeorology, and then for the merger of the Hydrologic and Atmospheric Science programs, leading to the formation of HAS. He also served as the second director of the NSF Science and Technology Center for Sustainability of Semi-Arid Hydrology and Riparian Areas (SAHRA), from 2004 to 2008.He was a longtime supporter of the predecessor to the Institute of the Environment (IE), now the Arizona Institutes for Resilience: Solutions for the Environment and Society (AIR). He was a world-renowned hydroclimate expert and universally respected by his colleagues.

Jim’s research focused on how climate change is affected by land surfaces, and he was particularly interested in the effects of global climate change caused by deforestation in the Amazon basin and desert formation in Africa. He received many international recognitions, and notably was awarded the International Hydrology Prize in 2006. Just before retiring, Jim published Terrestrial Hydrometeorology, widely considered to be the definitive textbook on the subject.

Jim was an incredibly warm, kind and compassionate person, and will be deeply missed. He is survived by his beloved wife, lifelong partner and friend, Hazel, three of his four sons, Craig, Nicholas, Jonathan (Matthew predeceased him) and one daughter Amy, three daughters-in-law Emma, Catherine and Kasia, fifteen grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.