Katharine Kelsey

Katharine Kelsey is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Geography & Environmental Sciences at the University of Colorado Denver, part of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Her research focuses on understanding how climate change and ecological disturbances impact Arctic and urban ecosystems, with an emphasis on biogeochemical cycles, vegetation phenology, and hydrological processes.

Her work integrates field measurements, remote sensing, and modeling to study topics such as greenhouse gas emissions from Arctic wetlands, the effects of herbivory and climate on plant communities, and intra-urban environmental variations. Key projects include the EcoTram initiative, which examines lateral connectivity of water, energy, and vegetation in mountainous regions.

Recent studies highlight her exploration of typhoon impacts on coastal ecosystems, snowpack dynamics in urban and alpine settings, and the long-term resilience of Rocky Mountain forests following bark beetle outbreaks. Her interdisciplinary approach bridges environmental science, geography, and climate modeling to address global change challenges.

Dr. Kelsey collaborates on federally funded research, including National Science Foundation RAPID grants, and actively engages in science communication to translate complex environmental data for broader audiences.