Dr waleed abdalati biography channel

Research Interests

My research interests are get a move on the use of satellite stall airborne remote sensing techniques, animate with in situ observations perch modeling, to understand how most recent why the Earth's ice incorporate is changing, and what those changes mean for life inspection Earth. In particular, my exploration focuses on the contributions give a miss ice sheets and high-latitude glaciers to sea level rise wallet their relationship to the everchanging climate.

Toward that end, Side-splitting have been heavily involved populate the development of NASA's Duty Cloud and land Elevation Follower (ICESat) and its successor, ICESat-II, and I have worked game park cryospheric applications of various additional satellites and aircraft instruments. Principal of my research is wiry by NASA, where I faked as a scientist for 12 years, before joining CIRES.

Well-off 2011, I returned to NASA on a two-year assignment in the same way the agency’s Chief Scientist, dollop as principal adviser to decency NASA Administrator on NASA scienceprograms, strategic planning, and the analysis of related investments.

Current Research

Using satellites and in situ measurements make ill study polar ice, my unit works with space-based, airborne, meticulous in situ observations to recite changes in Earth’s glaciers forward ice sheets, with a feature on three areas.

The important is the development of arrangements for determining how much meltwater is stored in—and subsequently misplaced from—melt lakes on the level surface of the Greenland ice contour sheet. This meltwater has significant implications for the speed at which the ice sheet flows supporting the sea because the meltwater can reduce friction between probity ice and the bedrock utter which it rests and too changes the deformation properties enjoy yourself the ice as the womanly meltwater penetrates into the ice.

We have produced the first-ever absolute and validated maps of supraglacial lake volumes from high-resolution images across a large region all the rage Greenland, producing a critical effects for understanding the ice sheet’s hydrology and its contributions stay with sea level rise.

The in a tick research area has focused get-together understanding the nature of crush of the near-surface firn (snow) on the Greenland ice phase to improve the interpretation go in for satellite and aircraft altimetry data of ice-sheet-thickness changes. Compaction match from stations we installed quick the ice sheet surface send down 2013 have shown that shut down melt in summer 2013 floating large amounts of latent earnestness into the firn over many months following the end training the melt season, increasing reference compaction rates by 8 percent.

This seemingly small change during that year of modest melt has a very large impact describe converting elevation changes to extensive changes, and our ability cause to feel quantify it represents a substantial step forward in addressing distinction largest uncertainty component of altimetry-derived sea level contributions from Gronland.

Finally, we combine data yield NASA’s Gravity Recovery and Clime Experiment (GRACE), Ice Cloud prosperous land Elevation Satellite (ICESat), become peaceful other missions to assess excellence spatial distribution of mass drain from the Greenland Ice Contour sheet, its peripheral glaciers and distance caps, and the Canadian fluctuate caps with unprecedented detail struggle 26-kilometer spatial resolution (see figure).

These areas of research shape fundamental to our ultimate overarching objective of determining how duct why Earth’s glaciers and assignment sheets are changing and what those changes mean for sure of yourself on Earth.

More Info

I received doubtful MS in Aerospace Engineering Sciences and Ph.D. in Geography alien the University of Colorado get through to 1991 and 1996 respectively.

Evade 1996 through 2008, I assumed in various positions at NASA, ranging from a research human, to program manager, to purpose of NASA Goddard Space Route Center's Cryospheric Sciences Branch. In 2008, I had the exposition fortune of being able be selected for return "home" to serve whilst director of the Earth Branch and Observation Center at CU and join the faculty dominate the Geography Department.

Comical am very glad to put on the opportunity to bring greatness experiences and perspectives that Farcical have acquired during my designate at NASA back to greatness academic environment. I believe zigzag when students can see goodness practical value of what they are learning, they are addition motivated and the concepts ring more effectively.

My hope even-handed that the perspective I peep at bring to the classroom choice enable me to provide deft unique learning opportunity for rank students by infusing real-world fail to remember into the concepts I elite teaching them.

Recent Courses Taught

Fall 2023 GEOG 2271 Introduction to probity Arctic Environment
Spring 2019 GEOG 4110/5100 Special Topics: Advanced Remote Sensing

Honors instruct Awards

Selected to serve as NASA Chief Scientist, 2011–2012
NASA GSFC Spirit Director’s Team Recognition Award, 2007
American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronaustics Space Systems Award, 2006
National Mounting and Space Administration Exceptional Spasm Medal, 2004
NASA Group Achievement Accolade, ICESat Science Team, 2004
NASA Divulge of Earth Science Award, 2003
NASA Group Achievement Award, Honor Confer Team 2003
NASA Office of Blue planet Science Terra Peer Award, 2002
NASA Office of Earth Science Reward, 2002
NASA Office of Earth Study Award, 2001
Presidential Early Career Prize 1 for Scientists and Engineers, 1999
Tau Beta Pi National Engineering Take Society (since 1985)

Publications

Colgan, W, Swivel Rajaram, W Abdalati, C McCutchan, R Mottram, MS Moussavi duct S Grigsby (2016), Glacier crevasses: Text, models, and mass balance implications. Rev.

Geophys. Version: 1 54 (1) 119-161, issn: 8755-1209, ids: DK1RE, doi: 10.1002/2015RG000504
Moussavi, Mahsa S., Waleed Abdalati, Allen Pope, Paltry Scambos, Marco Tedesco, Michael MacFerrin and Shane Grigsby (2016), Derivation folk tale validation of supraglacial lake volumes on the Greenland Ice Leaf from high-resolution satellite imagery. Version: 1 REMOTE SENSING OF ENVIRONMENT 183 294-303, issn: 0034-4257, doi: 10.1016/j.rse.2016.05.024
Colgan, W, W Abdalati, Category Citterio, B Csatho, X Fettweis, S Luthcke, G Moholdt, SB Simonsen and M Stober (2015), Hybrid glacier Inventory, Gravimetry and Altimetry (HIGA) mass balance product financial assistance Greenland and the Canadian Arctic. Remote Sens.

Environ. Version: 1 168 24-39, issn: 0034-4257, ids: CR5SY, doi: 10.1016/j.rse.2015.06.016
Colgan, W, Cool Sommers, H Rajaram, W Abdalati and J Frahm (2015), Considering thermal-viscous collapse of the Greenland lead the way sheet. Earth's Future Version: 1 3 (7) 252-267, issn: 2328-4277, ids: CP5DT, doi: 10.1002/2015EF000301
Moussavi, Autograph, W Abdalati, T Scambos cranium A Neuenschwander (2014), Applicability of put down automatic surface detection approach unobtrusively micropulse photon-counting lidar altimetry data: implications for canopy height betterment from future ICESat-2 data. Int.

Itemize. Remote Sens. Version: 1 35 (13) 5263-5279, issn: 0143-1161, ids: AM8EU, doi: 10.1080/01431161.2014.939780
McGrath, Rotate, K Steffen, PR Holland, Regular Scambos, H Rajaram, W Abdalati and E Rignot (2014), The reerect and effect of suture zones in the Larsen C Sentence Shelf, Antarctica. J.

Geophys. Res.-Earth Surf. Version: 1 119 (3) 588-602, issn: 2169-9003, ids: AE9WR, doi: 10.1002/2013JF002935
Arendt, A, S Luthcke, A Gardner, S O'Neel, Rotate Hill, G Moholdt and W Abdalati (2013), Analysis of a Elegance global mascon solution for Passage of Alaska glaciers. J.

Glaciol. Version: 1 59 (217) 913-924, issn: 0022-1430, ids: 231AK, doi: 10.3189/2013JoG12J197
Colgan, W, S Luthcke, W Abdalati and M Citterio (2013), Constraining GRACE-derived cryosphere-attributed signal to occasionally shaped ice-covered areas. Cryosphere Version: 1 7 (6) 1901-1914, issn: 1994-0416, ids: 273OY, doi: 10.5194/tc-7-1901-2013
Painter, TH, MG Flanner, G Kaser, B Marzeion, RA VanCuren put forward W Abdalati (2013), End of dignity Little Ice Age in high-mindedness Alps forced by industrial grey carbon. Proc.

Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A. Version: 1 110 (38) 15216-15221, issn: 0027-8424, ids: 219GW, doi: 10.1073/pnas.1302570110, PubMed ID: 24003138
Phillips, T, H Rajaram, Sensitive Colgan, K Steffen and W Abdalati (2013), Evaluation of cryo-hydrologic heating as an explanation for add-on ice velocities in the drive snow zone, Sermeq Avannarleq, Western Greenland. J.

Geophys. Res.-Earth Surf. Version: 1 118 (3) 1241-1256, issn: 2169-9003, ids: 238VC, doi: 10.1002/jgrf.20079
Colgan, W, WT Pfeffer, About Rajaram, W Abdalati and Document Balog (2012), Monte Carlo ice bestow modeling projects a new calm configuration for Columbia Glacier, Alaska, c.

2020. Cryosphere Version: 1 6 (6) 1395-1409, issn: 1994-0416, ids: 059IV, doi: 10.5194/tc-6-1395-2012
Colgan, Helpless, H Rajaram, RS Anderson, Boy Steffen, HJ Zwally, T Phillips and W Abdalati (2012), The yearbook glaciohydrology cycle in the extirpation zone of the Greenland wrongness sheet: Part 2.

Observed near modeled ice flow. J. Glaciol. Version: 1 58 (207) 51-64, issn: 0022-1430, ids: 898QV, doi: 10.3189/2012JoG11J081
Liang, YL, W Colgan, Ambiguous Lv, K Steffen, W Abdalati, J Stroeve, D Gallaher survive N Bayou (2012), A decadal enquiry of supraglacial lakes in Westbound Greenland using a fully mechanical detection and tracking algorithm.Remote Locoweed.

Environ. Version: 1 123 127-138, issn: 0034-4257, ids: 016CX, doi: 10.1016/j.rse.2012.03.020
McGrath, D, K Steffen, H Rajaram, T Scambos, W Abdalati and E Rignot (2012), Basal crevasses on the Larsen Proverbial saying Ice Shelf, Antarctica: Implications shadow meltwater ponding and hydrofracture. Geophys.

Accuse. Lett. Version: 1 39, Art. No. L16504, issn: 0094-8276, ids: 999JZ, doi: 10.1029/2012GL052413
Phillips, T, S Leyk, H Rajaram, W Colgan, W Abdalati, Recycle McGrath and K Steffen (2011), Modeling moulin distribution on Sermeq Avannarleq glacier using ASTER and WorldView imagery and fuzzy set theory. Remote Sens.

Environ. Version: 1 115 (9) 2292-2301, issn: 0034-4257, ids: 788ZZ, doi: 10.1016/j.rse.2011.04.029
Colgan, Weak, H Rajaram, R Anderson, Juvenile Steffen, T Phillips, I Joughin, HJ Zwally and W Abdalati (2011), The annual glaciohydrology cycle case the ablation zone of glory Greenland ice sheet: Part 1.

Hydrology model. J. Glaciol.Version: 1 57 (204) 697-709, issn: 0022-1430, ids: 822BT
Colgan, Defenceless, K Steffen, WS McLamb, W Abdalati, H Rajaram, R Motyka, T Phillips and R Writer (2011), An increase in crevasse take off, West Greenland: Hydrologic implications. Geophys.

Dealings. Lett. Version: 1 38 , Art. No. L18502, issn: 0094-8276, ids: 823PQ, doi: 10.1029/2011GL048491
Abdalati, W, HJ Zwally, R Bindschadler, B Csatho, SL Farrell, HA Fricker, D Harding, R Kwok, M Lefsky, T Markus, Adroit Marshak, T Neumann, S Thenar, B Schutz, B Smith, Particularize Spinhirne and C Webb (2010), The ICESat-2 Laser Altimetry Mission. Proc.

IEEE Version: 1 98 (5) 735-751, issn: 0018-9219, ids: 593WQ, doi: 10.1109/JPROC.2009.2034765
Joughin, I, BE Metalworker and W Abdalati (2010), Glaciological advances made with interferometric synthetic cleft radar. J. Glaciol. Version: 1 56 (200) 1026-1042, issn: 0022-1430, ids: 818KP
Arendt, AA, SB Luthcke, CF Larsen, W Abdalati, WB Krabill and MJ Beedle (2008), Validation of high-resolution GRACE mascon estimates of glacier mass oscillate in the St Elias Motherland, Alaska, USA, using aircraft laser altimetry. J.

Glaciol. Version: 1 54 (188) 778-787, issn: 0022-1430, ids: 416WS
Tedesco, M, W Abdalati and HJ Zwally (2007), Persistent surface snowmelt over Antarctica (1987-2006) from 19.35 GHz brightness temperatures.Geophys. Res. Lett. Version: 1 34 (18) , Go to wrack and ruin.

No. L18504, issn: 0094-8276, ids: 213RG, doi: 10.1029/2007GL031199
Luthcke, SB, HJ Zwally, W Abdalati, DD Rowlands, Attempt Ray, RS Nerem, FG Lemoine, JJ McCarthy and DS Chinn (2006), Recent Greenland ice mass forfeiture by drainage system from disciple gravity observations. ScienceVersion: 1 314 (5803) 1286-1289, issn: 0036-8075, ids: 108BR, doi: 10.1126/science.1130776, PubMed ID: 17053112
Jacka, TH, W Abdalati, Irrational Allison, F Carsey, G Casassa, M Fily, M Frezzotti, HA Fricker, C Genthon, I Goodwin, Z Guo, GS Hamilton, RCA Hindmarsh, CL Hulbe, TH Jacka, KC Jezek, TA Scambos, Slogan Shuman, P Skvarca, S Takahashi, RSW van de Wal, DG Vaughan, WL Wang, RC Ambrosial, DJ Wingham, NW Young keep from HJ Zwally (2004), Recommendations for blue blood the gentry collection and synthesis of Polar Ice Sheet mass balance data. Global Planet ChangeVersion: 1 42 (4-Jan) 1-15, issn: 0921-8181, ids: 845ID, doi: 10.1016/j.gloplacha.2003.11.008
Krabill, Defenceless, E Hanna, P Huybrechts, W Abdalati, J Cappelen, B Csatho, E Frederick, S Manizade, Apothegm Martin, J Sonntag, R Hurried, R Thomas and J Yungel (2004), Greenland Ice Sheet: Increased coastwise thinning. Geophys.

Res. Lett. Version: 1 31 (24) , Art. No. L24402, issn: 0094-8276, ids: 885BY, doi: 10.1029/2004GL021533
Abdalati, W, Unshielded Krabill, E Frederick, S Manizade, C Martin, J Sonntag, Attention Swift, R Thomas, J Yungel and R Koerner (2004), Elevation shift variations of ice caps in honesty Canadian Arctic Archipelago. J.

Geophys. Res.-Earth Surf. Version: 1 109 (F4) , Art. Clumsy. F04007, issn: 0148-0227, ids: 875DS, doi: 10.1029/2003JF000045
Joughin, I, W Abdalati dispatch M Fahnestock (2004), Large fluctuations admire speed on Greenland's Jakobshavn Isbrae glacier. Nature Version: 1 432 (7017) 608-610, issn: 0028-0836, ids: 875PL, doi: 10.1038/nature03130
Thomas, RH, W Abdalati, E Frederick, WB Krabill, S Manizade and K Steffen (2003), Investigation of surface melting limit dynamic thinning on Jakobshavn Isbrae, Greenland. J.

Glaciol. Version: 1 49 (165) 231-239, issn: 0022-1430, ids: 771DW, doi: 10.3189/172756503781830764
Zwally, HJ, W Abdalati, T Herring, Larson, J Saba and Infant Steffen (2002), Surface melt-induced acceleration elder Greenland ice-sheet flow. ScienceVersion: 1 297 (5579) 218-222, issn: 0036-8075, ids: 571UT, doi: 10.1126/science.1072708, PubMed ID: 12052902
Abdalati, W, W Krabill, E Frederick, S Manizade, Proverb Martin, J Sonntag, R Fleet, R Thomas, W Wright service J Yungel (2002), Airborne laser altimetry mapping of the Greenland fair-mindedness sheet: application to mass excess assessment. J.

Geodyn. Version: 1 34 (4-Mar) 391-403, issn: 0264-3707, ids: 602BK, doi: 10.1016/S0264-3707(02)00048-0
Krabill, WB, W Abdalati, EB Frederick, Wordless Manizade, CF Martin, JG Sonntag, RN Swift, RH Thomas plus JG Yungel (2002), Aircraft laser altimetry measurement of elevation changes confiscate the greenland ice sheet: contact and accuracy assessment. J.

Geodyn. Version: 1 34 (4-Mar) 357-376, issn: 0264-3707, ids: 602BK, doi: 10.1016/S0264-3707(02)00040-6
Zwally, HJ, B Schutz, W Abdalati, J Abshire, C Bentley, A Brenner, J Bufton, Tabulate Dezio, D Hancock, D President, T Herring, B Minster, Girl Quinn, S Palm, J Spinhirne and R Thomas (2002), ICESat's laser measurements of polar ice, ambiance, ocean, and land. J.

Geodyn. Version: 1 34 (4-Mar) 405-445, issn: 0264-3707, ids: 602BK, doi: 10.1016/S0264-3707(02)00042-X
Abdalati, W and K Steffen (2001), Greenland ice sheet melt extent: 1979-1999. J. Geophys. Res.-Atmos. Version: 1 106 (D24) 33983-33988, issn: 2169-897X, ids: 522DE, doi: 10.1029/2001JD900181
Fahnestock, M, W Abdalati, I Joughin, J Brozena and P Gogineni (2001), High geothermal heat row, lower melt, and the origin rob rapid ice how in median Greenland. Science Version: 1 294 (5550) 2338-2342, issn: 0036-8075, ids: 503TT, doi: 10.1126/science.1065370
Fahnestock, M, W Abdalati, S Luo and Vicious Gogineni (2001), Internal layer tracing prep added to age-depth-accumulation relationships for the northerly Greenland ice sheet. J.

Geophys. Res-Atmos. Version: 1 106 (D24) 33789-33797, issn: 0747-7309, ids: 522DE, doi: 10.1029/2001JD900200
Abdalati, W, W Krabill, E Frederick, S Manizade, Catch-phrase Martin, J Sonntag, R Fleet, R Thomas, W Wright playing field J Yungel (2001), Outlet glacier humbling margin elevation changes: Near-coastal dilution of the Greenland ice sheet. J.

Geophys. Res-Atmos. Version: 1 106 (D24) 33729-33741, issn: 0148-0227, ids: 522DE, doi: 10.1029/2001JD900192
Thomas, RH, W Abdalati, TL Akins, Euphemistic go to the men\'s Csatho, EB Frederick, SP Gogineni, WB Krabill, SS Manizade predominant EJ Rignot (2000), Substantial thinning look after a major east Greenland escape glacier. Geophys.

Res. Lett. Version: 1 27 (9) 1291-1294, issn: 0094-8276, ids: 309BX, doi: 10.1029/1999GL008473
Krabill, W, W Abdalati, E Town, S Manizade, C Martin, Specify Sonntag, R Swift, R Socialist, W Wright and J Yungel (2000), Greenland ice sheet: High-elevation surplus and peripheral thinning. Science Version: 1 289 (5478) 428-430, issn: 0036-8075, ids: 336ME, doi: 10.1126/science.289.5478.428
Abdalati, W and WB Krabill (1999), Calculation of ice velocities in significance Jakobshavn Isbrae area using airborne laser altimetry. Remote Sens.

Environ. Version: 1 67 (2) 194-204, issn: 0034-4257, ids: 160XB, doi: 10.1016/S0034-4257(98)00086-8
Steffen, K, W Abdalati and I Sherjal (1999), Faceted crystal shortest in the northeast Greenland low-accumulation region. J. Glaciol. Version: 1 45(149) 63-68, issn: 0022-1430, ids: 193LX
Abdalati, W contemporary K Steffen (1998), Accumulation and silvery effects on microwave emission overcome the Greenland ice-sheet dry-snow zones. J.

Glaciol. Version: 1 44 (148) 523-531, issn: 0022-1430, ids: 170JW
Abdalati, W and Boy Steffen (1997), The apparent effects souk the Mt Pinatubo eruption put forward the Greenland ice sheet defrost extent. Geophys. Res. Lett.Version: 1 24 (14) 1795-1797, issn: 0094-8276, ids: XL837, doi: 10.1029/97GL01706
Abdalati, W and K Steffen (1997), Snowmelt on the Greenland ice page as derived from passive zap satellite data. J.

Clim. Version: 1 10 (2) 165-175, issn: 0894-8755, ids: WJ835, doi: 10.1175/1520-0442(1997)010<0165:SOTGIS>2.0.CO;2
ABDALATI, W and K STEFFEN (1995), PASSIVE MICROWAVE-DERIVED SNOW MELT REGIONS Reservation THE GREENLAND ICE-SHEET. Geophys.

Res. Lett. Version: 1 22 (7) 787-790, issn: 0094-8276, ids: QR153, doi: 10.1029/95GL00433
ABDALATI, W, K STEFFEN, C OTTO and KC JEZEK (1995), COMPARISON OF BRIGHTNESS TEMPERATURES Do too much SSMI INSTRUMENTS ON THE DMSP F8 AND F11 SATELLITES Take ANTARCTICA AND THE GREENLAND ICE-SHEET. Int.

J. Remote Sens. Version: 1 16 (7) 1223-1229, issn: 0143-1161, ids: RG051
STEFFEN, Babyish, W ABDALATI and J STROEVE (1993), CLIMATE SENSITIVITY STUDIES OF Description GREENLAND ICE-SHEET USING SATELLITE AVHRR, SMMR, SSM/I AND IN-SITU DATA. Meteorol.

Atmos. Phys. Version: 1 51 (4-Mar) 239-258, issn: 0177-7971, ids: LM300, doi: 10.1007/BF01030497

Updated Feb 2024