My areas of research span a wide range of hydrology and environmental fluid dynamics. My group has focused on water, solutes and energy fluxes in the subsurface, as well as their exchange into the atmosphere.  I strive to combine measurements and new measurement techniques with numerical simulations. In the past few years, much of my research has included the use of fiber-optic sensing systems, particularly Raman backscatter distributed temperature sensing (DTS) and Raleigh backscatter Distributed Temperature Sensing. With the ability to  resolve at both temporal and spatial scales, we can investigate hydrologic and environmental phenomenon at much higher granularity. Along with my colleagues at UNR, Adrian Harpold, Chris Kratt and Mark Hausner ,John Selker and Meagan Wengrove from Oregon State University, and Eileen Martin from Colorado School of Mines,  we operate the National Science Foundation supported “Centers for Transformative Environmental Monitoring Programs” or CTEMPs; making DTS systems and training available to our hydrologic and earth science community. And now we have added drones to the fleet of CTEMPs instrumentation!

My team of students and post-doctoral researchers are working on a wide range of projects, from the melt water dynamics of Antarctic ice shelves (see the graph below showing annual melt rate), the  role of groundwater/surface water interactions in aquatic ecology, the development and application of Distributed Temperature and Distributed Acoustic sensing on optical fibers, the design and development of rapid ice drilling methods and the impacts of forest management practices on snow hydrology in the Cascades.

While I did officially retire in 2023, I am fortunate to be continuing research on Antarctic ice shelves, distributed acoustic sensing on optical fibers, and serving on the US Nuclear Waste Technical Review Board.  And of, course enjoying  in our beautiful Sierra Nevada’s skiing, mountain biking, fly fishing and kayaking!