We are primarily focused on the processes controlling hydrologic fluxes in cold regions and within the greater Earth system. Improved understanding of these processes is essential for sustainable management of natural resources and for making informed environmental policy decisions. Our research projects use ground-based observations, remote sensing, and computational modeling to obtain comprehensive understanding of hydrological processes: in particular the distribution of snow.
Additional projects aim at developing techniques for scaling hydrological processes and for designing ground-based observation networks tailored for integration with remote sensing and modeling. Studies relating fluxes of water, carbon, and nitrogen are also a focus of our current projects: in particular the feedbacks between water availability and carbon cycling in montane forests.
Noah Molotch
Director
Karl Rittger
Leadership
Sebastien Lenard
Research Associate
Leanne Lestak
Research staff
Ross Palomaki
Postdoc
John Knowles
INSTAAR affiliate
Ryan W. Webb
INSTAAR affiliate
Eric Kennedy
Grad student
Patrick Saylor
Grad student
Millie Spencer
Grad student
Emma Tyrrell
Grad student
Contact & services
Noah Molotch Phone: 303 492-6151
Services
Near-real-time spatial estimates of SWE (Snow Water Equivalent)
Our research product provides near-real-time estimates of snow-water equivalent (SWE) at a spatial resolution of 500 m. We create reports for specific regions approximately every two weeks from mid-winter through the end of the melt season. The reports are released within a week of satellite image data acquisition and are distributed to water managers and forecasters. For more information on reporting or to discuss reporting for your area please contact Leanne Lestak.
- Sierra Nevada SWE reports (California)
- Intermountain West SWE reports (Colorado, Utah, Wyoming)
Snow Today website
Snow Today is a website at the National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC) with daily images and monthly scientific analyses (in season) of snow conditions across the Western United States, synthesizing satellite data and surface observations. New regions will be added this year, expanding to global over the next few years. For more info, contact Karl Rittger.
Who we are
Blog headlines
- Noah Molotch awarded an Art+Science fellowship in partnership with artist Hannah Taylor.
- Welcome two new group members: Millie Spencer and Patrick Saylor.
- Congratulations to Dr. Katherine Hale on her PhD defense.
Research
Research components
Join our team!
Want to chat? Reach out to Mountain Hydrology Group members.
Looking for application guidance? Visit INSTAAR's unique and exceptional Graduate Application Assistance Program (GAAP)