Dr. Theodore B. Barnhart studies the connection between the mountain snowpack and streamflow.
Dr. Barnhart is interested in furthering the understanding of how changes in the mountain snowpack translate into changes in streamflow and how that process varies across landscapes, land cover types, and climate systems. He is also interested in understanding the water resources implications of the changing mountain snowpack and streamflow and the effects on downstream stakeholders. He uses numerical snowpack and hydrologic models for his research along with observational and remote sensing data sets.
Professional Experience
Research Physical Scientist, United States Geological Survey, Wyoming – Montana Water Science Center, Helena, MT: 2020-present.
Physical Scientist, United States Geological Survey, Wyoming – Montana Water Science Center, Helena, MT: 2017-2020.
Research Assistant, Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO: 2013-2018.
Research Assistant, Department of Geology, Idaho State University, Pocatello, ID: 2011-2013.
Education and Certifications
PhD Geography, University of Colorado Boulder, 2018.
MS Geology, Idaho State University, 2013.
BA Geology-Environmental Studies with Honors, Whitman College, 2010, Cum Laude.
Affiliations and Memberships*
Present: American Geophysical Union
Science and Products
Future Streamflow Estimates for Tongue River to Enable Northern Cheyenne Data Driven Water Management and Planning
Future Streamflow Estimates for Tongue River to Enable Northern Cheyenne Data Driven Water Management and Planning
State of the Science in Streamflow Modeling in the North Central Region to Address Partner Needs for Water Availability Under Drought Conditions
Flow-Conditioned Parameter Grids
Building a framework to compute continuous grids of basin characteristics for the conterminous United States
Geospatial Research and Development to Understand Hydrologic Processes
Science and Products
- Publications
- Science
Future Streamflow Estimates for Tongue River to Enable Northern Cheyenne Data Driven Water Management and Planning
Atmospheric warming is driving: - a shift in precipitation from snow to rain - changing precipitation intensity and seasonality - increasing atmospheric demand for moisture in mountain river watersheds across the western United States (Seager and others, 2015). These changes will likely alter the timing and quantity of streamflow in rivers draining mountains. The Tongue River flows from the...Future Streamflow Estimates for Tongue River to Enable Northern Cheyenne Data Driven Water Management and Planning
Atmospheric warming is driving a shift in precipitation from snow to rain, changing precipitation intensity and seasonality, and increasing atmospheric demand for moisture in mountain river watersheds across the western United States. These changes will likely alter the timing and quantity of streamflow in rivers draining from the mountains. The Tongue River flows from the Bighorn mountains in norState of the Science in Streamflow Modeling in the North Central Region to Address Partner Needs for Water Availability Under Drought Conditions
Land and water managers often rely on hydrological models to make informed management decisions. Understanding water availability in streams, rivers, and reservoirs during high demand periods that coincide with seasonal low flows can affect how water managers plan for its distribution for human consumption while sustaining aquatic ecosystems. Substantial advancement in hydrological modeling has ocFlow-Conditioned Parameter Grids
Flow-Conditioned Parameter Grids (FCPGs) are a way of storing the upstream average of datasets, such as precipitation or land cover type, for all points on the landscape.Building a framework to compute continuous grids of basin characteristics for the conterminous United States
The proposed work will create a seamless pilot dataset of continuous basin characteristics (for example upstream average precipitation, elevation, or dominant land cover type) for the conterminous United States. Basin characteristic data are necessary for training or parameterizing statistical, machine learning, and physical models, and for making predictions across the landscape, particularly inGeospatial Research and Development to Understand Hydrologic Processes
All natural phenomena have a spatial component. Remote sensing, GIS, and geostatistical methods can be used to evaluate the spatial components of hydrologic phenomena and understand characteristics, such as water quality, streamflow, and hydraulics. - Data
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*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