Noah Molotch

Noah Molotch is a Professor of Geography at the University of Colorado Boulder, where he serves as Director of the Mountain Hydrology Group and is a Fellow of INSTAAR (Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research). His research and teaching focus on hydrologic processes in mountainous regions with expertise in snow hydrology, remote sensing, and ecohydrology.

Molotch earned his Ph.D. from The University of Arizona in 2004. His research utilizes ground-based observations, remote sensing, and computational modeling to understand hydrological processes, particularly snow distribution and water-carbon-nitrogen fluxes in mountain ecosystems. His work has significant implications for sustainable resource management and environmental policy.

His recent publications show a strong focus on snow water equivalent estimation, snowmelt timing impacts on forest productivity, and the development of advanced remote sensing techniques for monitoring mountain hydrology. His research increasingly addresses climate change impacts on water resources, with particular attention to the Western United States.

• Fellow of INSTAAR
• Art+Science fellowship in partnership with artist Hannah Taylor

Molotch advises numerous graduate students and leads significant research projects including those funded by NASA and NSF. His Mountain Hydrology Group operates field sites across the Western U.S., including Storm Peak Laboratory and Niwot Ridge Long Term Ecological Research Program. The group produces near-real-time snow water equivalent estimates and contributes to the Snow Today website at the National Snow and Ice Data Center.