Breadcrumb
Organic Matter Spectroscopy Lab
Breadcrumb
Image: Boulder Reservoir by Richard Saxon
We measure the amount and character of dissolved organic matter from diverse ecosystems, especially aquatic ones. We often combine our lab data with field-scale experiments and modeling to understand of the interactions between hydrologic, chemical and biological processes in controlling the dynamics of these systems.
Diane McKnight
Director
Lane Allen
PhD student
Natalie Aranda
Grad student
Jared Collins
Grad student
Lauren Magliozzi
Grad student
Mia Vanderwilt
Grad student
- Nayoung Hur, MS 2022
- Garrett Rue, PhD 2019
- Alia Lauren Khan, NSF Graduate Research Fellow
- Maggie Burns, MA 2014 in Geography; now Hydrologist
- Rachel Gabor, PhD 2013 in Environmental Studies
- Jessica Ebert, MS 2012
Contact & services
Major equipment includes
- Shimadzu TOC analyzer
- Antec 9000 DON analyzer
- Agilent 8453 spectrophotometer
- FluroMax2 fluorometer
- fractionation columns
- Ulter-filtration
News
Climate change is eroding work to clean up the Snake River. Is snowmaking making it worse? (Colorado Sun)
A warmer, drier alpine is impeding water quality for streams and rivers used for snowmaking, like the Snake River that runs through Keystone. Diane McKnight is interviewed in this Colorado Sun story. Read more
New class of CU Distinguished Professors: Leaders in research, education, service (CU Connections)
University’s highest faculty honor awarded to 11 professors for 2021, including INSTAARs Diane McKnight and... Read more
More metals found in Summit County river due to climate change, scientists say (9NEWS)
A first-of-its-kind study by Garrett Rue and Diane McKnight suggests that warmer weather and less snowpack are causing higher concentrations of rare earth elements in the river. Read more
Publications
Publications for McKnight are shown below
Dissolved organic matter transport reflects hillslope to stream connectivity during snowmelt in a montane catchment
CU Boulder Authors:
Barnard, Holly Rene; McKnight, Diane Marie
All Authors:
Burns MA; Barnard HR; Gabor RS; McKnight DM; Brooks PD
Published in: Water Resources ResearchPublication Date: 2016-06-01
Type: Journal Article
Climate regulates alpine lake ice cover phenology and aquatic ecosystem structure
CU Boulder Authors:
McKnight, Diane Marie; Johnson, Pieter
All Authors:
Preston DL; Caine N; McKnight DM; Williams MW; Hell K; Miller MP; Hart SJ; Johnson PTJ
Published in: Geophysical Research LettersPublication Date: 2016-05-28
Type: Journal Article
Nutrient treatments alter microbial mat colonization in two glacial meltwater streams from the McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica
CU Boulder Authors:
McKnight, Diane Marie
All Authors:
Kohler TJ; Van Horn DJ; Darling JP; Takacs-Vesbach CD; McKnight DM
Published in: FEMS Microbiology EcologyPublication Date: 2016-04-01
Type: Journal Article
Spills of Diluted Bitumen from Pipelines A Comparative Study of Environmental Fate, Effects, and Response Summary
CU Boulder Authors:
McKnight, Diane Marie
All Authors:
McKnight D; Friedman D
Publication Date: 2016-01-01Type: Chapter
Regulations Governing Spill Response Planning
CU Boulder Authors:
McKnight, Diane Marie
All Authors:
McKnight D; Friedman D
Publication Date: 2016-01-01Type: Chapter
Recommendations
CU Boulder Authors:
McKnight, Diane Marie
All Authors:
McKnight D; Friedman D
Publication Date: 2016-01-01Type: Chapter
Environmental Processes, Behavior, and Toxicity of Diluted Bitumen
CU Boulder Authors:
McKnight, Diane Marie
All Authors:
McKnight D; Friedman D
Publication Date: 2016-01-01Type: Chapter
Chemical and Physical Properties of Crude Oils
CU Boulder Authors:
McKnight, Diane Marie
All Authors:
McKnight D; Friedman D
Publication Date: 2016-01-01Type: Chapter
Spill Response Planning and Implementation
CU Boulder Authors:
McKnight, Diane Marie
All Authors:
McKnight D; Friedman D
Publication Date: 2016-01-01Type: Chapter
Stream biogeochemical and suspended sediment responses to permafrost degradation in stream banks in Taylor Valley, Antarctica
All Authors:
Gooseff MN; Van Horn D; Sudman Z; McKnight DM; Welch KA; Lyons WB
Published in: BiogeosciencesPublication Date: 2016-01-01
Type: Journal Article
Solute and sediment fluxes from rivers and streams in the McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica
CU Boulder Authors:
McKnight, Diane Marie; Welch, Kathleen Ann
All Authors:
Lyons WB; Welch KA; Levy JS; Fountain AG; Mcknight DM
Publication Date: 2016-01-01Type: Chapter
Spills of Diluted Bitumen from Pipelines A Comparative Study of Environmental Fate, Effects, and Response Preface
CU Boulder Authors:
McKnight, Diane Marie
All Authors:
McKnight D; Friedman D
Publication Date: 2016-01-01Type: Chapter
Spills of Diluted Bitumen from Pipelines A Comparative Study of Environmental Fate, Effects, and Response Introduction
CU Boulder Authors:
McKnight, Diane Marie
All Authors:
McKnight D; Friedman D
Publication Date: 2016-01-01Type: Chapter
Comparing Properties Affecting Transport, Fate, Effects, and Response
CU Boulder Authors:
McKnight, Diane Marie
All Authors:
McKnight D; Friedman D
Publication Date: 2016-01-01Type: Chapter
Ancient low-molecular-weight organic acids in permafrost fuel rapid carbon dioxide production upon thaw
CU Boulder Authors:
McKnight, Diane Marie
All Authors:
Drake TW; Wickland KP; Spencer RGM; McKnight DM; Striegl RG
Published in: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of USAPublication Date: 2015-11-10
Type: Journal Article
An overview of research from a high elevation landscape: the Niwot Ridge, Colorado Long Term Ecological Research programme
All Authors:
Williams MW; Seastedt TR; Bowman WD; McKnight DM; Suding KN
Published in: Plant Ecology and DiversityPublication Date: 2015-11-02
Type: Journal Article
Children's book series and associated curricula support elementary education and outreach in water resources
CU Boulder Authors:
McKnight, Diane Marie; Ray, Chris
All Authors:
Ray C; McKnight DM; Bidwell MD; Fourment T; Pritz CF; Rinehart AH
Published in: Plant Ecology and DiversityPublication Date: 2015-11-02
Type: Journal Article
A slide down a slippery slope - alpine ecosystem responses to nitrogen deposition
CU Boulder Authors:
McKnight, Diane Marie; Bowman, Bill
All Authors:
Bowman WD; Nemergut DR; McKnight DM; Miller MP; Williams MW
Published in: Plant Ecology and DiversityPublication Date: 2015-11-02
Type: Journal Article
Limnology of the Green Lakes Valley: phytoplankton ecology and dissolved organic matter biogeochemistry at a long-term ecological research site
CU Boulder Authors:
McKnight, Diane Marie
All Authors:
Miller MP; McKnight DM
Published in: Plant Ecology and DiversityPublication Date: 2015-11-02
Type: Journal Article
Antarctic streams as a potential source of iron for the Southern Ocean
CU Boulder Authors:
Welch, Kathleen Ann; McKnight, Diane Marie
All Authors:
Lyons WB; Dailey KR; Welch KA; Deuerling KM; Welch SA; McKnight DM
Published in: Geology (Boulder)Publication Date: 2015-11-01
Type: Journal Article
Dissolved Organic Matter Quality in a Shallow Aquifer of Bangladesh: Implications for Arsenic Mobility
CU Boulder Authors:
McKnight, Diane Marie; Bilinski, Teresa
All Authors:
Published in: Environmental Science and Technology (Washington)Mladenov N; Zheng Y; Simone B; Bilinski TM; McKnight DM; Nemergut D; Radloff KA; Rahman MM; Ahmed KM...
- Mladenov N
- Zheng Y
- Simone B
- Bilinski TM
- McKnight DM
- Nemergut D
- Radloff KA
- Rahman MM
- Ahmed KM
Publication Date: 2015-09-15
Type: Journal Article
The river as a chemostat: fresh perspectives on dissolved organic matter flowing down the river continuum
CU Boulder Authors:
McKnight, Diane Marie
All Authors:
Published in: Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic SciencesCreed IF; McKnight DM; Pellerin BA; Green MB; Bergamaschi BA; Aiken GR; Burns DA; Findlay SEG; Shanley JB; Striegl RG...
- Creed IF
- McKnight DM
- Pellerin BA
- Green MB
- Bergamaschi BA
- Aiken GR
- Burns DA
- Findlay SEG
- Shanley JB
- Striegl RG
Publication Date: 2015-08-01
Type: Journal Article
Recovery of Antarctic stream epilithon from simulated scouring events
CU Boulder Authors:
Gooseff, Mike; McKnight, Diane Marie
All Authors:
Kohler TJ; Chatfield E; Gooseff MN; Barrett JE; Mcknight DM
Published in: Antarctic SciencePublication Date: 2015-08-01
Type: Journal Article
Potential for real-time understanding of coupled hydrologic and biogeochemical processes in stream ecosystems: Future integration of telemetered data with process models for glacial meltwater streams
All Authors:
Published in: Water Resources ResearchMcKnight DM; Cozzetto K; Cullis JDS; Gooseff MN; Jaros C; Koch JC; Lyons WB; Neupauer R; Wlostowski A...
- McKnight DM
- Cozzetto K
- Cullis JDS
- Gooseff MN
- Jaros C
- Koch JC
- Lyons WB
- Neupauer R
- Wlostowski A
Publication Date: 2015-08-01
Type: Journal Article
Hydrodynamic control of benthic mats of Didymosphenia geminata at the reach scale
CU Boulder Authors:
McKnight, Diane Marie; Spaulding, Sarah A
All Authors:
Cullis JDS; McKnight DM; Spaulding SA
Published in: Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic SciencesPublication Date: 2015-06-01
Type: Journal Article