About

Michael Gooseff is a Professor and Associate Dean for Research in the Department of Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering at the University of Colorado Boulder. His research interests include stream-groundwater interactions, contaminant transport and fate, polar earth system responses to climate change, ecosystem processes in polar landscapes, aquatic biogeochemical cycling, and water quality modeling. He has contributed to understanding hydrologic processes in polar environments, particularly in Antarctica, and has been involved in long-term ecological research projects such as the McMurdo Dry Valleys and the Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research (INSTAAR). Dr. Gooseff holds a PhD and MS from the University of Colorado Boulder and a BCE from Georgia Institute of Technology. He has received numerous awards and distinctions, including the Robert L. Stearns Award, Fellow of the Geological Society of America, and the Penn State Engineering Alumni Association Outstanding Teaching Award. His work integrates hydrology, ecology, and environmental science to address complex questions related to water systems and climate change.

Research topics

• Environmental science
• Biology
• Ecology
• Geography
• Geology
• Environmental engineering
• Geomorphology
• Oceanography
• Geophysics
• Chemistry

Selected publications

• Long-Term Regional Hydroclimate Modeling for Communities and Decision-Makers across Alaska and Northwestern Canada

  Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society · 2026-03-16

  article

  Abstract A novel, high-resolution land–atmosphere regional climate model (RCM) configuration for Alaska and northwestern Canada is presented. Key model decisions were informed by Indigenous survey respondents who improved model and data usefulness and usability. First, to enable climate change assessments at Arctic community scales, the Regional Arctic System Model (RASM) was modified from its 50-km grid spacing to 4 km. Next, to advance RASM land modeling, the Community Terrestrial Systems Model (CTSM) was coupled to RASM with hydrology-specific optimization; this was a novel effort for coupled land–atmosphere RCM streamflow performance. The resultant configuration, forced by ERA5 reanalysis, has resulted in high-quality simulations of the historical hydroclimate [water year (WY1990-2021)]. An ensemble of six future simulations for the mid-twenty-first century, WY2035-2065, was then developed using two approaches that address community needs for a range of plausible futures to inform decision-making. The two future climate simulation approaches were 1) the pseudo–global warming (PGW) method, using two deltas applied to historical weather, and 2) direct downscaling of four CESM2 Large Ensemble members. Overall, the unique RASM model was used to produce 330 simulation years intended for use within interdisciplinary climate change research and which serve Arctic community needs. Highlighted features include the codesign process, model developments, dataset characteristics, and examples of projected future regional hydrometeorological change across the future ensemble including contrasts between the PGW and direct downscaled futures. Significance Statement Codesign and integrated community involvement are critical to reduce barriers to use and improve the usefulness and usability of highly technical climate models and data. Here, we synthesize our process to codesign a regional climate model configuration and subsequent dataset development, along with our evaluation processes. Our simulations cover the recent historical hydroclimate along with experiments of mid-twenty-first century change based on codesign. Our results show that significant mid-twenty-first century changes are likely to occur across a range of temperature, precipitation, and river conditions and will include substantial increases in the maximum annual daily air temperature, precipitation, and streamflow.

  PublisherDOI

• Ground temperature profiles from DVDP borehole 11 at Explorers Cove, McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica (2020-2025, ongoing)

  Environmental Data Initiative · 2026-01-01

  datasetOpen access1st authorCorresponding

  The Dry Valley Drilling Project (DVDP) drilled multiple boreholes throughout Antarctica’s McMurdo Dry Valleys in the early 1970s, several of which remain open and accessible. DVDP borehole 11, with a total depth of 327.86 m, is located adjacent to the Explorers Cove Meteorological Station (EXEM), operated by the McMurdo Dry Valleys Long Term Ecological Research program (MCM LTER). In January 2020, the MCM LTER instrumented this borehole with a string of thermistors to monitor ground temperatures through the permafrost. Sensors were installed at depths of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 10, 20, and 30 m, providing ongoing measurements of subsurface thermal conditions at Explorers Cove.

  PublisherDOI

• Assessing the long-term impacts of research facilities on soil ecosystems of the McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica

  Antarctic Science · 2026-05-14

  articleOpen access

  Abstract Understanding how human activities affect Antarctic ecosystems is essential for both environmental management and the interpretation of ecological change. This is particularly important in Antarctica’s ice-free areas, which contain most of the continent’s terrestrial biodiversity and host the majority of scientific infrastructure. While work has been done to understand short-term impacts of research stations and scientific activity, little is known about the persistence of these impacts on soil ecosystems. Here, we examine the long-term ecological legacy of historical research infrastructure in the McMurdo Dry Valleys, East Antarctica. We collected soil samples from sites of historical research facilities that have since been removed, extracted and identified soil invertebrates and conducted statistical and geospatial analyses to identify spatiotemporal trends and evaluate patterns of abundance relative to distance from disturbance centres and time since abandonment. Soils closer to former infrastructure consistently had lower nematode abundances than soils further away, indicating long-lasting impacts of human activities on soil ecosystems. We also found evidence of potential recovery in some nematode populations, which appears to depend on the type of disturbance and the surrounding environmental setting. At several sites, surface disturbance from historical infrastructure is no longer readily apparent but biological recovery remains incomplete, demonstrating that visual restoration of the landscape does not necessarily correspond to ecological recovery. Measuring the impacts of human activities in these areas is important because they may confound our ability to interpret the subtle but significant effects of climate change and ecosystem responses more generally. This is particularly pressing as research and tourism are expected to increase in these regions. We offer ecological explanations for these patterns and discuss their implications for environmental management and conservation in the McMurdo Dry Valleys and other ice-free areas of Antarctica.

  PublisherDOI

• Ice thickness regulates heat flux in permanently ice‐covered lakes

  Limnology and Oceanography · 2025-07-24 · 3 citations

  articleOpen access

  Abstract The permanently ice‐covered lakes of Taylor Valley, Antarctica, are rare ecosystems where permanent ice cover and year‐round vertically stable water columns provide critical redox zones for cold‐adapted microorganisms. Using 30 yr of limnological data from the McMurdo Dry Valleys Long‐Term Ecological Research program, we assessed the water column heat flux of four permanently ice‐covered lakes in the context of global lake ice decline and lake warming. Our study reveals that heat flux in Taylor Valley lakes is driven by ice cover dynamics, both annual changes in ice thickness as well as overall ice thickness. During periods of ice thinning, like those observed from 2020 to 2023, the lakes accumulate heat. Lake Fryxell, Lake Hoare, and West Lake Bonney have repeatedly cooled and warmed over our record, with only East Lake Bonney cooling due to lake level rise. Ice thickness is largely synchronous among the four lakes, with periods of asynchronicity likely caused by lake‐specific changes in surface albedo driven by changes in optical properties of the ice covers and in‐ice sediment dynamics.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Higher-Order Learning Through Virtual Laboratories in Fluid Mechanics: Lessons Learned

  2025-01-22

  articleOpen access
  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Remote sensing for species distribution models: An illustration from a sentinel taxon of the world's driest ecosystem

  Ecology · 2025-02-01 · 3 citations

  article

  In situ observed data are commonly used as species occurrence response variables in species distribution models. However, the use of remotely observed data from high-resolution multispectral remote-sensing images as a source of presence/absence data for species distribution models remains under-developed. Here, we describe an ensemble species distribution model of black microbial mats (Nostoc spp.) using presence/absence points derived from the unmixing of 4-m resolution WorldView-2 and WorldView-3 images in the Lake Fryxell basin region of Taylor Valley, Antarctica. Environmental and topographical characteristics such as soil moisture, snow, elevation, slope, and aspect were used as predictor variables in our models. We demonstrate that we can build and run ensemble species distribution models using both dependent and independent variables derived from remote-sensing data to generate spatially explicit habitat suitability maps. Snow and soil moisture were found to be the most important variables accounting for about 80% of the variation in the distribution of black mats throughout the Fryxell basin. This study highlights the potential contribution of high-resolution remote-sensing to species distribution modeling and informs new studies incorporating remotely derived species occurrences in species distribution models, especially in remote areas where access to in situ data is often limited.

  PublisherDOI

• Alaskan Hydrology in Transition: Changing Precipitation and Evapotranspiration Patterns Are Projected to Reshape Seasonal Streamflow and Water Temperature by Midcentury (2035–64)

  Journal of Hydrometeorology · 2025-05-01 · 5 citations

  article

  Abstract High spatial and temporal resolution models are essential for understanding future climate impacts and developing effective climate resilience plans. However, existing regional and global river models often lack the resolution needed to accurately capture local conditions. This study uses a series of high-resolution models, including the Regional Arctic System Model, mizuRoute, and the river basin model, to analyze Arctic and sub-Arctic Alaskan hydrology. We compare a historical baseline (1991–2020) with six midcentury (2035–64) futures: two pseudo–global warming scenarios based on historical meteorology and four direct dynamically downscaled global climate models. The six futures reveal significant uncertainty in future annual discharge and peak flows, although a widespread increase in discharge during April (+63%) and October (+31%) is consistently shown across models. Projected increases in rain and shifting weather patterns lead to a transition from snow to rain in spring and autumn, reducing the fraction of snowmelt contributing to river discharge. Rising evapotranspiration moderates discharge changes, particularly in autumn, by offsetting precipitation increases. Average summer river temperatures are projected to increase by approximately 1.5°C, doubling the number of river segments that experience 18°C days, a critical threshold for salmon survival, and intensifying the heat flux to the ocean adding an average of 3.3 × 10 12 MJ yr −1 . These changes in the hydrologic cycle could profoundly impact riverine and oceanic ecosystems, posing substantial challenges to communities reliant on these environments. Significance Statement The purpose of this study is to enhance our understanding of the midcentury climate change impacts on the Alaskan hydrologic cycle. In all six of the potential future scenarios, river flows in spring and autumn are predicted to increase and river temperatures are projected to be warmer throughout the year. These changes are significant as higher river temperatures could jeopardize fish survival. Additionally, the combined effect of increased river water and higher temperatures during spring and autumn will contribute more heat to the ocean, possibly reducing nearshore sea ice. This is crucial because many communities depend on rivers and sea ice for transportation and subsistence activities.

  PublisherDOI

• Higher-Order Learning Through Virtual Laboratories in Fluid Mechanics: Lessons Learned

  2025-04-01

  articleOpen access
  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• High resolution identification and quantification of diffuse deep groundwater discharge in mountain rivers using continuous boat-mounted helium measurements

  Journal of Hydrology · 2024-07-25 · 5 citations

  articleOpen access

  Discharge of deeply sourced groundwater to streams is difficult to locate and quantify, particularly where both discrete and diffuse discharge points exist, but diffuse discharge is one of the primary controls on solute budgets in mountainous watersheds. The noble gas helium is a unique identifier of deep groundwater discharge because groundwater with long residence times is commonly enriched in helium. In this study, a portable mass spectrometer was used to measure longitudinal variation in dissolved helium concentrations in two mountainous rivers at high spatial resolution not feasible with traditional sampling techniques. Helium profiles were then simulated using a mass-balance model to quantify longitudinal variation in groundwater discharge to the receiving rivers. Results indicate helium concentrations were enriched by multiple orders of magnitude above atmospheric equilibrium in both rivers and that this persisted for up to 18 km below observed pulse inputs in the Colorado River. Helium mass-balance models match observed longitudinal patterns with the exception of sharp initial increases in helium observed in the rivers. Increased longitudinal groundwater discharge rates correspond to mapped geologic structures in both watersheds that likely transport deep geothermal water. Models show variable sensitivity to spatial assignment of input variables representing the groundwater source, illustrating the importance of collecting data from discrete groundwater discharges where possible. The methodology shows promise for field experiments designed to assess air–water exchange rates and to quantify total groundwater discharge from a combination of discrete and diffuse sources.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• The Canadian Permafrost Electrical Resistivity Survey (CPERS) database: 15 years of permafrost resistivity data

  Arctic Science · 2024-06-21 · 2 citations

  articleOpen access

  Permafrost landscapes are becoming increasingly susceptible to widespread thaw due to climate change. Collating historical and ongoing data are critical for assessing permafrost conditions and spatiotemporal changes. Electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) is a geophysical technique that has become standard practice for characterizing permafrost. However, resistivity data—particularly raw measurements—often go unpublished and unshared, resulting in missed opportunities for knowledge exchange and collaboration. To fill this gap, we created the Canadian Permafrost Electrical Resistivity Survey database and established clear guidelines for data archival and reuse. Here, we present the first release of the database, which currently houses 280 ERT datasets, including standardized metadata, collected between 2008 and 2022 in British Columbia, Labrador, Northwest Territories, Québec, Yukon, and Alaska. These data present unique opportunities to better understand spatial and temporal variability of permafrost conditions across North America.

  PublisherDOI

Recent grants

• Collaborative Research: How do interactions of transport and stoichiometry maximize stream nutrient retention?

  NSF · $309k · 2017–2022

• LTER: Ecosystem Response to Amplified Landscape Connectivity in the McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica

  NSF · $7.0M · 2017–2025

• Collaborative Research: Spatial and Temporal Influences of Thermokarst Features on Surface Processes in Arctic Landscapes

  NSF · $416k · 2008–2013

• Collaborative Research: Understanding the Scaling of N Cycle Controls Throughout a River Network

  NSF · $122k · 2006–2010

• LTER: MCM6 - The Roles of Legacy and Ecological Connectivity in a Polar Desert Ecosystem

  NSF · $4.0M · 2023–2029

Frequent coauthors

• Diane M. McKnight

  University of Colorado Boulder

  129 shared

• Peter T. Doran

  Louisiana State University

  106 shared

• John C. Priscu

  Montana State University

  88 shared

• Maciej K. Obryk

  87 shared

• Sharon Stammerjohn

  University of Colorado Boulder

  73 shared

• A. N. Wlostowski

  University of Colorado Boulder

  70 shared

• Rachael M. Morgan‐Kiss

  Miami University

  67 shared

• Oscar Schofield

  Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey

  64 shared

Labs

• Civil, Environmental and Architectural EngineeringPI

Education

• Ph.D.

  University of Colorado Boulder

  2001

• M.S.

  University of Colorado Boulder

  1998

• Other

  Georgia Institute of Technology

  1996

Awards & honors

• Robert L. Stearns Award, CU Boulder Alumni Association, 2022
• Research Development Award, Department of Civil, Environment…
• Fellow of the Geological Society of America, 2017
• Penn State Engineering Alumni Association Outstanding Teachi…
• National Academy of Engineering Frontiers in Engineering Edu…