Example of thawing landscapes and thermokarst at our field sites
Joshua C Koch, Ph.D.
Surface water / groundwater interactions; hyporheic zone hydrology and biogeochemistry; carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus cycling; flow above / through frozen ground; preferential flow and soil pipe formation and transport.
Professional Experience
2011 - Present Research Hydrologist, U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), Anchorage, AK
2006 - 2011 Student Hydrologist, Branch of Regional Research, USGS, Boulder, CO
2005 - 2006 Research Assistant, Institute of Alpine and Arctic Research, University of Colorado, Boulder
2003 - 2005 Research Assistant, Semi-Arid Hydrology and Riparian Areas, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ
2002 - 2003 Hydrologist Intern, Branch of Regional Research, USGS, Lakewood, CO
2001 - 2002 Hydrologist Intern, MA-RI Water District, USGS, Northborough, MA
Education and Certifications
PhD 2010 University of Colorado, Boulder, CO Civil, Environmental, and Architectural Engineering
MS 2005 University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ Department of Hydrology
BA 2001 Wesleyan University, Middletown, CT Earth and Environmental Sciences
Affiliations and Memberships*
American Geophysical Union, Hydrology and Cryosphere Sections
American Water Resources Association - Alaska Chapter
Association of Polar Early Career Scientists
Science and Products
Arctic – Boreal Catchment Studies
Arctic Boreal Vulnerability Experiment (ABoVE)
Nome Creek Experimental Watershed
Nome Creek Boreal, Fire and Permafrost Hydrology investigations
Monitoring Thermokarst on the Landscapes of Northern Alaska
Meteorological Data from Two Locations in the Agashashok River Watershed, Northwestern Alaska, 2015 to 2017
Water quality and gas fluxes of Interior Alaska (2014-2018)
Descriptions, Depth to Refusal, and Field-Saturated Hydraulic Conductivity of Soils on the Arctic Coastal Plain of Alaska, 2012-2016
Physical, Hydraulic, and Thermal Properties of Soils in the Noatak River Basin, Alaska, 2016
Water Level, Temperature, and Discharge of Headwater Streams in the Yukon River Basin, Alaska, 2016 and 2017
Nitrogen biogeochemistry in a boreal headwater stream network in Interior Alaska, 2008 to 2011
Water Level, Temperature, and Discharge of Headwater Streams in the Noatak and Kobuk River Basins, Northwest Alaska, 2015 - 2017
Physical, Chemical, and Invertebrate Data from Chipp North Pond Manipulations, North Slope, Alaska, 2013
Influenza A Virus Persistence Data from an Urban Wetland in Anchorage, Alaska, 2018-2019
Carbon Isotope Concentrations in Stream Food Webs of the Arctic Network National Parks, Alaska, 2014-2016
West Twin Creek Alaska Subsurface Bromide Tracer Experiment, 2015
Arctic Coastal Plain Seasonal Lake Drainage, Water Temperature, and Solute and Nutrient Concentrations, 2011 - 2014
Example of thawing landscapes and thermokarst at our field sites
Brian Ebel pours a dye tracer into a pit to observe how water moves through soils on a burned hillslope.
Brian Ebel pours a dye tracer into a pit to observe how water moves through soils on a burned hillslope.
The north fork of the Agashashok River
The north fork of the Agashashok River
The majestic Brooks Range in Gates of the Arctic National Park, Alaska. This work is part of the Hydro-Ecology of Arctic Thawing (HEAT): Hydrology project that takes place in the Arctic Network Parks.
The majestic Brooks Range in Gates of the Arctic National Park, Alaska. This work is part of the Hydro-Ecology of Arctic Thawing (HEAT): Hydrology project that takes place in the Arctic Network Parks.
A high alpine tributary of the Agashashok River.
A high alpine tributary of the Agashashok River.
Ryan collects water chemistry samples during a subsurface tracer experiment while Matt observes.
Ryan collects water chemistry samples during a subsurface tracer experiment while Matt observes.
Meanders on the Agashashok River
A tributary at the arctic-boreal transition in the Agashashok River Watershed
A tributary at the arctic-boreal transition in the Agashashok River Watershed
Wetlands in the Goose Creek watershed.
Wetlands in the Goose Creek watershed.
The open black spruce forest of the West Twin Creek catchment with Table Top Mountain in the background
The open black spruce forest of the West Twin Creek catchment with Table Top Mountain in the background
Historically, the coastal plain of Alaska has been characterized by cloudy or foggy conditions, with only limited summer rain. However, with increasing air temperatures, convective storms are becoming increasingly common.
Historically, the coastal plain of Alaska has been characterized by cloudy or foggy conditions, with only limited summer rain. However, with increasing air temperatures, convective storms are becoming increasingly common.
A degrading trough network on the Arctic Coastal Plain.
A degrading trough network on the Arctic Coastal Plain.
Thawing ice wedges create ponds on the Arctic Coastal Plain. The shape of these ponds influences how their water levels and nutrient concentrations change over the year. These variables in turn influence pond ecosystems and use by waterbirds.
Thawing ice wedges create ponds on the Arctic Coastal Plain. The shape of these ponds influences how their water levels and nutrient concentrations change over the year. These variables in turn influence pond ecosystems and use by waterbirds.
Table Top Mountain and the West Twin Creek catchment.
Table Top Mountain and the West Twin Creek catchment.
Colin and Colby use ground penetrating radar to measure the depth to ground ice in the watershed
Colin and Colby use ground penetrating radar to measure the depth to ground ice in the watershed
A stream winding through polygonal ground on the Arctic Coastal Plain
A stream winding through polygonal ground on the Arctic Coastal Plain
Researchers collect water chemistry and invertebrates from a degrading trough pond.
Researchers collect water chemistry and invertebrates from a degrading trough pond.
Heterogeneous patterns of aged organic carbon export driven by hydrologic flow paths, soil texture, fire, and thaw in discontinuous permafrost headwaters
Multi-year, spatially extensive, watershed-scale synoptic stream chemistry and water quality conditions for six permafrost-underlain Arctic watersheds
Seasonality of solute flux and water source chemistry in a coastal glacierized watershed undergoing rapid change: Wolverine Glacier watershed, Alaska
Storm-scale and seasonal dynamics of carbon export from a nested subarctic watershed underlain by permafrost
Arctic insect emergence timing and composition differs across thaw ponds of varying morphology
Nitrogen biogeochemistry in a boreal headwater stream network in interior Alaska
USGS permafrost research determines the risks of permafrost thaw to biologic and hydrologic resources
Permafrost promotes shallow groundwater flow and warmer headwater streams
Carbon dioxide and methane flux in a dynamic Arctic tundra landscape: Decadal‐scale impacts of ice wedge degradation and stabilization
Fish growth rates and lake sulphate explain variation in mercury levels in ninespine stickleback (Pungitius pungitius) on the Arctic Coastal Plain of Alaska
Field-based method for assessing duration of infectivity for influenza A viruses in the environment
Permafrost hydrology drives the assimilation of old carbon by stream food webs in the Arctic
Science and Products
Arctic – Boreal Catchment Studies
Arctic Boreal Vulnerability Experiment (ABoVE)
Nome Creek Experimental Watershed
Nome Creek Boreal, Fire and Permafrost Hydrology investigations
Monitoring Thermokarst on the Landscapes of Northern Alaska
Meteorological Data from Two Locations in the Agashashok River Watershed, Northwestern Alaska, 2015 to 2017
Water quality and gas fluxes of Interior Alaska (2014-2018)
Descriptions, Depth to Refusal, and Field-Saturated Hydraulic Conductivity of Soils on the Arctic Coastal Plain of Alaska, 2012-2016
Physical, Hydraulic, and Thermal Properties of Soils in the Noatak River Basin, Alaska, 2016
Water Level, Temperature, and Discharge of Headwater Streams in the Yukon River Basin, Alaska, 2016 and 2017
Nitrogen biogeochemistry in a boreal headwater stream network in Interior Alaska, 2008 to 2011
Water Level, Temperature, and Discharge of Headwater Streams in the Noatak and Kobuk River Basins, Northwest Alaska, 2015 - 2017
Physical, Chemical, and Invertebrate Data from Chipp North Pond Manipulations, North Slope, Alaska, 2013
Influenza A Virus Persistence Data from an Urban Wetland in Anchorage, Alaska, 2018-2019
Carbon Isotope Concentrations in Stream Food Webs of the Arctic Network National Parks, Alaska, 2014-2016
West Twin Creek Alaska Subsurface Bromide Tracer Experiment, 2015
Arctic Coastal Plain Seasonal Lake Drainage, Water Temperature, and Solute and Nutrient Concentrations, 2011 - 2014
Example of thawing landscapes and thermokarst at our field sites
Example of thawing landscapes and thermokarst at our field sites
Brian Ebel pours a dye tracer into a pit to observe how water moves through soils on a burned hillslope.
Brian Ebel pours a dye tracer into a pit to observe how water moves through soils on a burned hillslope.
The north fork of the Agashashok River
The north fork of the Agashashok River
The majestic Brooks Range in Gates of the Arctic National Park, Alaska. This work is part of the Hydro-Ecology of Arctic Thawing (HEAT): Hydrology project that takes place in the Arctic Network Parks.
The majestic Brooks Range in Gates of the Arctic National Park, Alaska. This work is part of the Hydro-Ecology of Arctic Thawing (HEAT): Hydrology project that takes place in the Arctic Network Parks.
A high alpine tributary of the Agashashok River.
A high alpine tributary of the Agashashok River.
Ryan collects water chemistry samples during a subsurface tracer experiment while Matt observes.
Ryan collects water chemistry samples during a subsurface tracer experiment while Matt observes.
Meanders on the Agashashok River
A tributary at the arctic-boreal transition in the Agashashok River Watershed
A tributary at the arctic-boreal transition in the Agashashok River Watershed
Wetlands in the Goose Creek watershed.
Wetlands in the Goose Creek watershed.
The open black spruce forest of the West Twin Creek catchment with Table Top Mountain in the background
The open black spruce forest of the West Twin Creek catchment with Table Top Mountain in the background
Historically, the coastal plain of Alaska has been characterized by cloudy or foggy conditions, with only limited summer rain. However, with increasing air temperatures, convective storms are becoming increasingly common.
Historically, the coastal plain of Alaska has been characterized by cloudy or foggy conditions, with only limited summer rain. However, with increasing air temperatures, convective storms are becoming increasingly common.
A degrading trough network on the Arctic Coastal Plain.
A degrading trough network on the Arctic Coastal Plain.
Thawing ice wedges create ponds on the Arctic Coastal Plain. The shape of these ponds influences how their water levels and nutrient concentrations change over the year. These variables in turn influence pond ecosystems and use by waterbirds.
Thawing ice wedges create ponds on the Arctic Coastal Plain. The shape of these ponds influences how their water levels and nutrient concentrations change over the year. These variables in turn influence pond ecosystems and use by waterbirds.
Table Top Mountain and the West Twin Creek catchment.
Table Top Mountain and the West Twin Creek catchment.
Colin and Colby use ground penetrating radar to measure the depth to ground ice in the watershed
Colin and Colby use ground penetrating radar to measure the depth to ground ice in the watershed
A stream winding through polygonal ground on the Arctic Coastal Plain
A stream winding through polygonal ground on the Arctic Coastal Plain
Researchers collect water chemistry and invertebrates from a degrading trough pond.
Researchers collect water chemistry and invertebrates from a degrading trough pond.
Heterogeneous patterns of aged organic carbon export driven by hydrologic flow paths, soil texture, fire, and thaw in discontinuous permafrost headwaters
Multi-year, spatially extensive, watershed-scale synoptic stream chemistry and water quality conditions for six permafrost-underlain Arctic watersheds
Seasonality of solute flux and water source chemistry in a coastal glacierized watershed undergoing rapid change: Wolverine Glacier watershed, Alaska
Storm-scale and seasonal dynamics of carbon export from a nested subarctic watershed underlain by permafrost
Arctic insect emergence timing and composition differs across thaw ponds of varying morphology
Nitrogen biogeochemistry in a boreal headwater stream network in interior Alaska
USGS permafrost research determines the risks of permafrost thaw to biologic and hydrologic resources
Permafrost promotes shallow groundwater flow and warmer headwater streams
Carbon dioxide and methane flux in a dynamic Arctic tundra landscape: Decadal‐scale impacts of ice wedge degradation and stabilization
Fish growth rates and lake sulphate explain variation in mercury levels in ninespine stickleback (Pungitius pungitius) on the Arctic Coastal Plain of Alaska
Field-based method for assessing duration of infectivity for influenza A viruses in the environment
Permafrost hydrology drives the assimilation of old carbon by stream food webs in the Arctic
*Disclaimer: Listing outside positions with professional scientific organizations on this Staff Profile are for informational purposes only and do not constitute an endorsement of those professional scientific organizations or their activities by the USGS, Department of the Interior, or U.S. Government