Vanderhoof, M.K., Alexander, L.C. (2016) The role of lake expansion in altering the wetland landscape of the Prairie Pothole Region. Wetlands, 36(2):309-321, DOI:10.1007/s13157-015-0728-1.
Melanie Vanderhoof
Biography
Melanie Vanderhoof received her B.S. degree in Biology and Society from Cornell University in 2004 and a M.S. degree in Geography from San Francisco State University in 2007. After working as a biologist for several years, she pursued graduate school and received a PhD in Geography from Clark University in 2014. Following an ORISE Post-Doctoral Fellowship at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, she joined the U.S. Geological Survey as a research geographer in 2015. She is currently with the USGS, Geosciences and Environmental Change Science Center in Denver, CO. Her research focuses on using satellite imagery to understand how ecosystems change over time. She is particularly interested in surface water dynamics and disturbance events, such as fire and insect outbreaks.
Science and Products
Date published: May 31, 2019
Status: Active Remote Sensing of Ecosystem Condition and Resilience
Ecosystem condition tends to be highly dynamic in response to natural variability in climate, extreme climate events, disturbance events, and human land use activities. Satellite imagery provides a powerful tool to enhance our understanding of ecosystem change at a landscape scale. This research integrates diverse sources of satellite imagery with ancillary datasets to explore how ecosystems...
Contacts: Melanie Vanderhoof
Date published: October 6, 2014
Status: Active North American Analysis and Synthesis on the Connectivity of "Geographically Isolated Wetlands" to Downstream Waters
Geographically Isolated Wetlands (GIWs) occur along gradients of hydrologic and ecological connectivity and isolation, even within wetland types (e.g., forested, emergent marshes) and functional classes (e.g., ephemeral systems, permanent systems, etc.). Within a given watershed, the relative positions of wetlands and open-waters along these gradients influence the type and magnitude of their...
Attribution: John Wesley Powell Center for Analysis and Synthesis
Year Published: 2019
The potential role of very high-resolution imagery to characterise lake, wetland and stream systems across the Prairie Pothole Region, United States
Aquatic features critical to watershed hydrology range widely in size from narrow, shallow streams to large, deep lakes. In this study we evaluated wetland, lake, and river systems across the Prairie Pothole Region to explore where pan-sharpened high-resolution (PSHR) imagery, relative to Landsat imagery, could provide additional data on surface...
Vanderhoof, Melanie K.; Lane, Charles R.Attribution: Geosciences and Environmental Change Science Center
Year Published: 2018
Estimating soil respiration in a subalpine landscape using point, terrain, climate and greenness data
Landscape carbon (C) flux estimates are necessary for assessing the ability of terrestrial ecosystems to buffer further increases in anthropogenic carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. Advances in remote sensing have allowed for coarse-scale estimates of gross primary productivity (GPP) (e.g., MODIS 17), yet efforts to assess spatial patterns in...
Berryman, Erin Michele; Vanderhoof, Melanie K.; Bradford, John B.; Hawbaker, Todd J.; Henne, Paul D.; Burns, Sean P.; Frank, John M.; Birdsey, Richard A.; Ryan, Michael G.
Year Published: 2018
It matters when you measure it: Using snow-cover Normalised Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) to isolate post-fire conifer regeneration
Landsat Normalised Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) is commonly used to monitor post-fire green-up; however, most studies do not distinguish new growth of conifer from deciduous or herbaceous species, despite potential consequences for local climate, carbon and wildlife. We found that dual season (growing and snow cover) NDVI improved our...
Vanderhoof, Melanie K.; Hawbaker, Todd J.
Year Published: 2018
Time series of high-resolution images enhances efforts to monitor post-fire condition and recovery, Waldo Canyon fire, Colorado, USA
Interpretations of post-fire condition and rates of vegetation recovery can influence management priorities, actions and perception of latent risks from landslides and floods. In this study, we used the Waldo Canyon fire (2012, Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA) as a case study to explore how a time series (2011–2016) of high-resolution images can...
Vanderhoof, Melanie K.; Burt, Clifton; Hawbaker, Todd J.Attribution: Geosciences and Environmental Change Science Center, Groundwater and Streamflow Information Program, United States of America, Wildland Fire Science
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Vanderhoof, M.K., Burt, C., Hawbaker, T.J. 2018. Time series of high-resolution images enhances efforts to monitor post-fire condition and recovery, Waldo Canyon fire, Colorado, USA. International Journal of Wildland Fire, doi:10.1071/WF17177.
Year Published: 2018
Efficient delineation of nested depression hierarchy in digital elevation models for hydrological analysis using level-set method
In terrain analysis and hydrological modeling, surface depressions (or sinks) in a digital elevation model (DEM) are commonly treated as artifacts and thus filled and removed to create a depressionless DEM. Various algorithms have been developed to identify and fill depressions in DEMs during the past decades. However, few studies have attempted...
Wu, Qiusheng; Lane, Charles R.; Wang, Lei; Vanderhoof, Melanie K.; Christensen, Jay R.; Liu, HongxingAttribution: Geosciences and Environmental Change Science Center, Groundwater and Streamflow Information Program
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Wu, Q., C.R. Lane, L. Wang, M.K. Vanderhoof, J.R. Christensen, and H. Liu. 2018. “Efficient Delineation of Nested Depression Hierarchy in Digital Elevation Models for Hydrological Analysis Using Level-Set Method.” Journal of the American Water Resources Association 1–15. https://doi.org/10.1111/1752-1688.12689.
Year Published: 2018
Applying high-resolution imagery to evaluate restoration-induced changes in stream condition, Missouri River Headwaters Basin, Montana
Degradation of streams and associated riparian habitat across the Missouri River Headwaters Basin has motivated several stream restoration projects across the watershed. Many of these projects install a series of beaver dam analogues (BDAs) to aggrade incised streams, elevate local water tables, and create natural surface water storage by...
Vanderhoof, Melanie K.; Burt, CliftonAttribution: Geosciences and Environmental Change Science Center, Groundwater and Streamflow Information Program
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Vanderhoof, M.K,, Burt, C. (2018) Applying high-resolution imagery to evaluate restoration-induced changes in stream condition, Missouri River Headwaters Basin, Montana. Remote Sensing, 10, 913: doi:10.3390/rs10060913.
Year Published: 2018
Biota connect aquatic habitats throughout freshwater ecosystem mosaics
Freshwater ecosystems are linked at various spatial and temporal scales by movements of biota adapted to life in water. We review the literature on movements of aquatic organisms that connect different types of freshwater habitats, focusing on linkages from streams and wetlands to downstream waters. Here, streams, wetlands, rivers, lakes, ponds,...
Schofield, Kate A.; Alexander, Laurie C.; Ridley, Caroline E.; Vanderhoof, Melanie K.; Fritz, Ken M.; Autrey, Bradley; DeMeester, Julie; Kepner, William G.; Lane, Charles R.; Leibowitz, Scott; Pollard, Amina I.Attribution: Geosciences and Environmental Change Science Center, Groundwater and Streamflow Information Program
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Schofield, K.A., Alexander, L.C., Ridley, C.E., Vanderhoof, M.K., Fritz, K.M., Autrey, B., DeMeester, J., Kepner, W.G., Lane, C.R., Leibowitz, S., Pollard, A.I. (2018) Biota connect aquatic habitats throughout freshwater ecosystem mosaics. Journal of American Water Resources Association. 54(2), 372-399, DOI: 10.1111/1752-1688.12634
Year Published: 2018
Connectivity of streams and wetlands to downstream waters: An integrated systems framework
Interest in connectivity has increased in the aquatic sciences, partly because of its relevance to the Clean Water Act. This paper has two objectives: (1) provide a framework to understand hydrological, chemical, and biological connectivity, focusing on how headwater streams and wetlands connect to and contribute to rivers; and (2) briefly review...
Leibowitz, Scott G.; Wigington, Parker J.; Schoefield, Kate A.; Alexander, Laurie C.; Vanderhoof, Melanie K.; Golden, Heather E.Attribution: Geosciences and Environmental Change Science Center, Groundwater and Streamflow Information Program
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Leibowitz, SG, Wigington, PJ, Schofield, KA, Alexander, LC, Vanderhoof, MK, Golden, HE. (2018) Connectivity of streams and wetlands to downstream waters: an integrated systems framework. Journal of American Water Resources Association. 54(2), 298-322, DOI: 10.1111/1752-1688.12631
Year Published: 2018
Featured collection introduction: Connectivity of streams and wetlands to downstream waters
Connectivity is a fundamental but highly dynamic property of watersheds. Variability in the types and degrees of aquatic ecosystem connectivity presents challenges for researchers and managers seeking to accurately quantify its effects on critical hydrologic, biogeochemical, and biological processes. However, protecting natural gradients of...
Alexander, Laurie C.; Fritz, Ken M.; Schofield, Kate; Autrey, Bradley; DeMeester, Julie; Golden, Heather E.; Goodrich, David C.; Kepner, William G.; Kiperwas, Hadas R.; Lane, Charles R.; LeDuc, Stephen D.; Leibowitz, Scott; McManus, Michael G.; Pollard, Amina I.; Ridley, Caroline E.; Vanderhoof, Melanie K.; Wigington, Parker J.Attribution: Geosciences and Environmental Change Science Center, Groundwater and Streamflow Information Program
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Alexander, L.C., Fritz, K.M., Schofield, K., Autrey, B., DeMeester, J., Golden, H.E., Goodrich, D.C., Kepner, W.G., Lane, C.R., LeDuc, S.D., Leibowitz, S. McManus, M.G., Pollard, A.I., Kiperwas, H.R., Ridley, C.E., Vanderhoof, M.K., Wigington, P.J. (2018) Featured Collection Introduction: Connectivity of streams and wetlands to downstream waters: an overview. Journal of American Water Resources Association. 54(2), 287-297, DOI: 10.1111/1752-1688.12630
Year Published: 2018
Wetlands inform how climate extremes influence surface water expansion and contraction
Effective monitoring and prediction of flood and drought events requires an improved understanding of how and why surface water expansion and contraction in response to climate varies across space. This paper sought to (1) quantify how interannual patterns of surface water expansion and contraction vary spatially across the Prairie Pothole...
Vanderhoof, Melanie K.; Lane, Charles R.; McManus, Michael L.; Alexander, Laurie C.; Christensen, Jay R.Attribution: Geosciences and Environmental Change Science Center, Groundwater and Streamflow Information Program
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Vanderhoof, M.K., Lane, C., McManus, M., Alexander, L., Christensen, J. (2018) Wetlands inform how climate extremes influence surface water expansion and contraction. Hydrology and Earth System Science. 22, 1851-1873.
Year Published: 2018
Modelling surface-water depression storage in a Prairie Pothole Region
In this study, the Precipitation-Runoff Modelling System (PRMS) was used to simulate changes in surface-water depression storage in the 1,126-km2 Upper Pipestem Creek basin located within the Prairie Pothole Region of North Dakota, USA. The Prairie Pothole Region is characterized by millions of small water bodies (or surface-water depressions...
Hay, Lauren E.; Norton, Parker A.; Viger, Roland J.; Markstrom, Steven L.; Regan, R. Steven; Vanderhoof, Melanie K.View Citation
Hay L, Norton P, Viger R, Markstrom S, Regan RS, Vanderhoof M. Modelling surface-water depression storage in a Prairie Pothole Region. Hydrological Processes. 2018;32:462–479. https://doi.org/10.1002/hyp.11416
Year Published: 2018
Estimating wetland connectivity to streams in the Prairie Pothole Region: An isotopic and remote sensing approach
Understanding hydrologic connectivity between wetlands and perennial streams is critical to understanding the reliance of stream flow on inputs from wetlands. We used the isotopic evaporation signal in water and remote sensing to examine wetland‐stream hydrologic connectivity within the Pipestem Creek watershed, North Dakota, a watershed dominated...
Brooks, J. R.; Mushet, David M.; Vanderhoof, Melanie K.; Leibowitz, Scott G.; Neff, Brian; Christensen, J. R.; Rosenberry, Donald O.; Rugh, W. D.; Alexander, L.C.Attribution: Geosciences and Environmental Change Science Center, Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center, Ecosystems, United States of America
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Brooks, J. R., Mushet, D. M., Alexander, L. C., Christensen, J. R., Leibowitz, S. G., Neff, B. P., Rosenberry, D. O., Rugh, W. D., and Vanderhoof, M. K., 2017, Estimating wetland connectivity to streams in the Prairie Pothole Region—an isotopic and remote sensing approach: Water Resources Research v. 54, p. 955–977.
Pre-USGS Publications
U.S. EPA (2015) Connectivity of Streams and Wetlands to Downstream Waters: A Review and Synthesis of the Scientific Evidence (Final Report). U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC, EPA/600/R-14/475F. (co-author on report)
Vanderhoof, M., Williams, C. (2015) Persistence of evapotranspiration impacts from mountain pine beetle outbreaks in lodgepole pine forests, south-central Rocky Mountains. Agricultural and Forest Meteorology, 200:78-91.
Ghimire, B., Williams, C.A., Collatz, G.J., Vanderhoof, M., Rogan, J., Kulaowski, D., Masek, J.G. (2015) Large carbon release legacy from bark beetle outbreaks across the Western United States. Global Change Biology, 21(8):3087-3101.
Vanderhoof, M., Williams, C.A., Shuai, Y., Jarvis, D., Kulakowski, D., Masek, J. (2014) Albedo-induced radiative forcing from mountain pine beetle outbreaks in forests, south-central Rocky Mountains: magnitude, persistence, and relation to outbreak severity. Biogeosciences, 11:563-575.
Williams, C., Vanderhoof, M., Khomik, M., Ghimire, B. (2014). Post-clearcut dynamics of carbon, water and energy changes in a mid-latitude temperate, deciduous broadleaf forest environment. Global Change Biology, 20(3):992-1007.
Khomik, M., Williams, C.A., Vanderhoof, M.K., MacLean, R., Dillen, S.Y. (2014). On the causes of rising gross ecosystem productivity in a regenerating clearcut environment: leaf area, species composition, or environmental conditions. Tree Physiology, 34:686-700.
Vanderhoof, M., Williams, C.A., Ghimire, B., & Rogan, J. (2013) Impact of mountain pine beetle outbreaks on forest albedo and TOA radiative forcing , as derived from MODIS, Rocky Mountains, USA. Journal of Geophysical Research-Biogeosciences, 118:1461-1471.
Vanderhoof, M., Williams, C.A., Pasay, M., & Ghimire, B. (2013) Controls on the rate of CO2 emission from woody debris in clearcut and coniferous forest environments of central Massachusetts. Biogeochemistry, 114:299-311.
Ghimire, B., Williams, C.A, Collatz, G.J., & Vanderhoof, M. (2012) Fire induced regional carbon emissions and fluxes derived by parameterizing post-fire carbon flux trajectories for western United States forests: Accounting for variation across forest types, fire severity, and carbon pools. Journal of Geophysical Research-Biogeosciences, 117:1-29.
Vanderhoof, M. , B. Holzman & C. Rogers. (2009) Predicting the distribution of perennial pepperweed, Lepidium latifolium, San Francisco Bay Area, California. Invasive Plant Science and Management, 2(3):260-269.