Breadcrumb
Organic Matter Spectroscopy Lab
Breadcrumb
Image: Boulder Reservoir by Richard Saxon
We measure the amount and character of dissolved organic matter from diverse ecosystems, especially aquatic ones. We often combine our lab data with field-scale experiments and modeling to understand of the interactions between hydrologic, chemical and biological processes in controlling the dynamics of these systems.
- Nayoung Hur, MS 2022
- Garrett Rue, PhD 2019
- Alia Lauren Khan, NSF Graduate Research Fellow
- Maggie Burns, MA 2014 in Geography; now Hydrologist
- Rachel Gabor, PhD 2013 in Environmental Studies
- Jessica Ebert, MS 2012
Contact & services
Major equipment includes
- Shimadzu TOC analyzer
- Antec 9000 DON analyzer
- Agilent 8453 spectrophotometer
- FluroMax2 fluorometer
- fractionation columns
- Ulter-filtration
Josh Darling kneels to sample algal mats from a rocky meltwater stream near Canada Glacier in the Dry Valleys of Antarctica
Researcher on the grassy shoreline of an alpine lake in the Rocky Mountains.
Publications
Publications for McKnight are shown below
Effect of instrument-specific response on the analysis of fulvic acid fluorescence spectra
CU Boulder Authors:
McKnight, Diane Marie
All Authors:
Cory RM; Miller MP; McKnight DM; Guerard JJ; Miller PL
Published in: Limnology and Oceanography: MethodsPublication Date: 2010-01-01
Type: Journal Article
RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN INVERTEBRATE HABITAT PREFERENCE, STREAM FLOW AND DIEL TEMPERATURE FLUCTUATION IN AN ANTARCTIC MELTWATER STREAM.
CU Boulder Authors:
McKnight, Diane Marie
All Authors:
Simmons BL; Adams BJ; McKnight DM; Wall DH
Published in: Journal of NematologyPublication Date: 2009-12-01
Type: Journal Article
A model of degradation and production of three pools of dissolved organic matter in an alpine lake
CU Boulder Authors:
McKnight, Diane Marie; Williams, Mark W
All Authors:
Miller MP; McKnight DM; Chapra SC; Williams MW
Published in: Limnology and OceanographyPublication Date: 2009-11-01
Type: Journal Article
Alpine lake optical properties as sentinels of dust deposition and global change
CU Boulder Authors:
McKnight, Diane Marie
All Authors:
Mladenov N; Lopez-Ramos J; McKnight DM; Reche I
Published in: Limnology and OceanographyPublication Date: 2009-11-01
Type: Journal Article
Lakes and reservoirs as regulators of carbon cycling and climate
CU Boulder Authors:
McKnight, Diane Marie
All Authors:
Published in: Limnology and OceanographyTranvik LJ; Downing JA; Cotner JB; Loiselle SA; Striegl RG; Ballatore TJ; Dillon P; Finlay K; Fortino K; Knoll LB...
- Tranvik LJ
- Downing JA
- Cotner JB
- Loiselle SA
- Striegl RG
- Ballatore TJ
- Dillon P
- Finlay K
- Fortino K
- Knoll LB
Publication Date: 2009-11-01
Type: Journal Article
Characterizing chlorine oxidation of dissolved organic matter and disinfection by-product formation with fluorescence spectroscopy and parallel factor analysis
CU Boulder Authors:
Summers, R Scott; McKnight, Diane Marie
All Authors:
Beggs KMH; Summers RS; McKnight DM
Published in: Journal of Geophysical Research: BiogeosciencesPublication Date: 2009-10-08
Type: Journal Article
Factors controlling streambed coverage of Didymosphenia geminata in two regulated streams in the Colorado Front Range
CU Boulder Authors:
McKnight, Diane Marie
All Authors:
Miller MP; McKnight DM; Cullis JD; Greene A; Vietti K; Liptzin D
Published in: Hydrobiologia: the international journal on limnology and marine sciencesPublication Date: 2009-09-01
Type: Journal Article
Life in the ice cover and underlying cold brines of Lake Vida, Antarctica
CU Boulder Authors:
McKnight, Diane Marie
All Authors:
Murray AE; Fritsen CH; Kenig F; McKay CM; McKnight DM; Cawley K; Doran PT
Published in: Geochimica et Cosmochimica ActaPublication Date: 2009-06-01
Type: Journal Article
Production of microbially-derived fulvic acid from photolysis of quinone-containing extracellular products of phytoplankton
CU Boulder Authors:
McKnight, Diane Marie
All Authors:
Miller MP; McKnight DM; Chapra SC
Published in: Aquatic Sciences: research across boundariesPublication Date: 2009-06-01
Type: Journal Article
Response of the Phytoplankton Community in an Alpine Lake to Drought Conditions: Colorado Rocky Mountain Front Range, USA
CU Boulder Authors:
McKnight, Diane Marie; Williams, Mark W
All Authors:
Flanagan CM; McKnight DM; Liptzin D; Williams MW; Miller MP
Published in: Arctic, Antarctic, and Alpine ResearchPublication Date: 2009-05-01
Type: Journal Article
Spatial and temporal variations in DOM composition in ecosystems: The importance of long-term monitoring of optical properties
CU Boulder Authors:
McKnight, Diane Marie
All Authors:
Jaffe R; McKnight D; Maie N; Cory R; McDowell WH; Campbell JL
Published in: Journal of Geophysical Research: BiogeosciencesPublication Date: 2008-12-19
Type: Journal Article
Inland diatoms from the McMurdo Dry Valleys and James Ross Island, Antarctica
All Authors:
Esposito RMM; Spaulding SA; McKnight DM; de Vijver BV; Kopalova K; Lubinski D; Hall B; Whittaker T
Published in: BotanyPublication Date: 2008-12-01
Type: Journal Article
Hydrologic response to extreme warm and cold summers in the McMurdo Dry Valleys, East Antarctica
CU Boulder Authors:
McKnight, Diane Marie
All Authors:
Doran PT; McKay CP; Fountain AG; Nylen T; Mcknight DM; Jaros C; Barrett JE
Published in: Antarctic SciencePublication Date: 2008-10-01
Type: Journal Article
High-latitude rivers and streams
CU Boulder Authors:
McKnight, Diane Marie; Gooseff, Michael N
All Authors:
McKnight DM; Gooseff MN; Vincent WF; Peterson BJ
Publication Date: 2008-09-11Type: Chapter
High Latitude Rivers and Streams
CU Boulder Authors:
McKnight, Diane Marie; Gooseff, Michael N
All Authors:
GOOSEFF MN; McKnight DM; Vincent WF; Peterson BJ
Publication Date: 2008-09-11Type: Chapter
Dissolved organic matter accumulation, reactivity, and redox state in ground water of a recharge wetland
CU Boulder Authors:
McKnight, Diane Marie
All Authors:
Mladenov N; Huntsman-Mapila P; Wolski P; Masarnba WRL; McKnight DM
Published in: Wetlands: the journal of the Society of Wetland ScientistsPublication Date: 2008-09-01
Type: Journal Article
Effects of nutrient enrichment on phytoplankton in an alpine lake, Colorado, USA
CU Boulder Authors:
Lewis, William M, Jr.; McKnight, Diane Marie
All Authors:
Gardner EM; McKnight DM; Lewis WM; Miller MP
Published in: Arctic, Antarctic, and Alpine ResearchPublication Date: 2008-02-01
Type: Journal Article
Chemical characteristics of fulvic acids from Arctic surface waters: Microbial contributions and photochemical transformations
CU Boulder Authors:
McKnight, Diane Marie
All Authors:
Cory RM; McKnight DM; Chin Y-P; Miller P; Jaros CL
Published in: Journal of Geophysical Research: BiogeosciencesPublication Date: 2007-12-07
Type: Journal Article
Reactivation of a cryptobiotic stream ecosystem in the McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica: A long-term geomorphological experiment
CU Boulder Authors:
McKnight, Diane Marie
All Authors:
McKnight DM; Tate CM; Andrews ED; Niyogi DK; Cozzetto K; Welch K; Lyons WB; Capone DG
Published in: GeomorphologyPublication Date: 2007-09-01
Type: Journal Article
Simulation of DOM fluxes in a seasonal floodplain of the Okavango Delta, Botswana
CU Boulder Authors:
McKnight, Diane Marie
All Authors:
Mladenov N; McKnight DM; Wolski P; Murray-Hudson M
Published in: Ecological ModellingPublication Date: 2007-07-10
Type: Journal Article
Effects of acid rock drainage on stocked rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss): An in-situ, caged fish experiment
CU Boulder Authors:
Marchitto, Tom; McKnight, Diane Marie
All Authors:
Todd AS; McKnight DM; Jaros CL; Marchitto TM
Published in: Environmental Monitoring and AssessmentPublication Date: 2007-07-01
Type: Journal Article
Probing the oxidation-reduction properties of terrestrially and microbially derived dissolved organic matter
CU Boulder Authors:
McKnight, Diane Marie
All Authors:
Fimmen RL; Cory RM; Chin Y-P; Trouts TD; McKnight DM
Published in: Geochimica et Cosmochimica ActaPublication Date: 2007-06-15
Type: Journal Article
Sources and fates of dissolved organic carbon in lakes as determined by whole-lake carbon isotope additions
CU Boulder Authors:
McKnight, Diane Marie
All Authors:
Bade DL; Carpenter SR; Cole JJ; Pace ML; Kritzberg E; Van de Bogert MC; Cory RM; McKnight DM
Published in: Biogeochemistry: an international journalPublication Date: 2007-06-01
Type: Journal Article
Photooxidation of wetland and riverine dissolved organic matter: altered copper complexation and organic composition
CU Boulder Authors:
McKnight, Diane Marie
All Authors:
Brooks ML; Meyer JS; McKnight DM
Published in: Hydrobiologia: the international journal on limnology and marine sciencesPublication Date: 2007-03-01
Type: Journal Article
Photochemical control of copper complexation by dissolved organic matter in Rocky Mountain streams, Colorado
CU Boulder Authors:
McKnight, Diane Marie
All Authors:
Brooks ML; McKnight DM; Clements WH
Published in: Limnology and OceanographyPublication Date: 2007-03-01
Type: Journal Article