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
Rare earth elements and old mines spell trouble for Western water supplies
Acid rock and mine drainage into Western streams is a problem. Climate change is making it worse. Read more
Publications
Publications for McKnight are shown below
Determining long time-scale hyporheic zone flow paths in Antarctic streams
All Authors:
Gooseff MN; McKnight DM; Runke RL; Vaughn BH
Published in: Hydrological ProcessesPublication Date: 2003-06-30
Type: Journal Article
Direct and indirect effects of mine drainage on bacterial processes in mountain streams
CU Boulder Authors:
McKnight, Diane Marie; Lewis, William M, Jr.
All Authors:
Niyogi DK; Lewis WM; McKnight DM
Published in: Journal of the North American Benthological SocietyPublication Date: 2003-06-01
Type: Journal Article
Surface glaciochemistry of Taylor Valley, southern Victoria Land, Antarctica and its relationship to stream chemistry
All Authors:
Lyons WB; Welch KA; Fountain AG; Dana GL; Vaughn BH; McKnight DM
Published in: Hydrological ProcessesPublication Date: 2003-01-01
Type: Journal Article
Climate and hydrologic variations and implications for lake and stream ecological response in the McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica
CU Boulder Authors:
McKnight, Diane Marie
All Authors:
Welch KA; Lyons BW; McKnight DM; JAROS CL; Fountain AG; Nylen TH; Doran PT; Howard-Williams C
Publication Date: 2003-01-01Type: Chapter
Trace organic moieties of dissolved organic material in natural waters
CU Boulder Authors:
McKnight, Diane Marie
All Authors:
MCKNIGHT DM
Publication Date: 2003-01-01Type: Chapter
Climate and hydrologic variations and implications for lake and stream ecological response in the McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica
CU Boulder Authors:
McKnight, Diane Marie
All Authors:
Welch KA; Lyons BW; MCKNIGHT DM; Jaros C; Fountain AG; Nylen TH; Doran PT; Howard-Williams C
Publication Date: 2003-01-01Type: Chapter
Weathering reactions and hyporheic exchange controls on stream water chemistry in a glacial meltwater stream in the McMurdo Dry Valleys
CU Boulder Authors:
McKnight, Diane Marie; Gooseff, Mike
All Authors:
Gooseff MN; McKnight DM; Lyons WB; Blum AE
Published in: Water Resources ResearchPublication Date: 2002-12-07
Type: Journal Article
Fungal communities and biomass in mountain streams affected by mine drainage
CU Boulder Authors:
McKnight, Diane Marie; Lewis, William M, Jr.
All Authors:
Niyogi DK; McKnight DM; Lewis WM
Published in: Fundamental and Applied Limnology: Official jounal of the International Association of Theoretical and Applied LimnologyPublication Date: 2002-09-01
Type: Journal Article
Seasonal variability of metals transport through a wetland impacted by mine drainage in the Rocky Mountains
CU Boulder Authors:
McKnight, Diane Marie
All Authors:
August EE; McKnight DM; Hrncir DC; Garhart KS
Published in: Environmental Science and Technology (Washington)Publication Date: 2002-09-01
Type: Journal Article
Effects of stress from mine drainage on diversity, biomass, and function of primary producers in mountain streams
CU Boulder Authors:
Lewis, William M, Jr.; McKnight, Diane Marie
All Authors:
Niyogi DK; Lewis WM; McKnight DM
Published in: EcosystemsPublication Date: 2002-09-01
Type: Journal Article
Spectrofluorescence of sediment humic substances and historical changes of lacustrine organic matter provenance in response to atmospheric nutrient enrichment
CU Boulder Authors:
McKnight, Diane Marie
All Authors:
Wolfe AP; Kaushal SS; Fulton JR; McKnight DM
Published in: Environmental Science and Technology (Washington)Publication Date: 2002-08-01
Type: Journal Article
Climate change - Recent temperature trends in the Antarctic
CU Boulder Authors:
McKnight, Diane Marie
All Authors:
Turner J; King JC; Lachlan-Cope TA; Jones PD
Published in: NaturePublication Date: 2002-07-18
Type: Journal Article
Fulvic acid oxidation state detection using fluorescence spectroscopy
CU Boulder Authors:
McKnight, Diane Marie
All Authors:
Klapper L; McKnight DM; Fulton JR; Blunt-Harris EL; Nevin KP; Lovley DR; Hatcher PG
Published in: Environmental Science and Technology (Washington)Publication Date: 2002-07-15
Type: Journal Article
Direct observations of aluminosilicate weathering in the hyporheic zone of an Antarctic Dry Valley stream
CU Boulder Authors:
Gooseff, Mike; McKnight, Diane Marie
All Authors:
Maurice PA; McKnight DM; Leff L; Fulghum JE; Gooseff M
Published in: Geochimica et Cosmochimica ActaPublication Date: 2002-04-01
Type: Journal Article
Late fall phytoplankton dynamics in three lakes, Rocky Mountain National Park
CU Boulder Authors:
McKnight, Diane Marie
All Authors:
Kolesar SE; McKnight DM; Waters SB
Published in: Hydrobiologia: the international journal on limnology and marine sciencesPublication Date: 2002-03-01
Type: Journal Article
Redox processes controlling manganese fate and transport in a mountain stream
CU Boulder Authors:
McKnight, Diane Marie
All Authors:
Scott DT; McKnight DM; Voelker BM; Hrncir DC
Published in: Environmental Science and Technology (Washington)Publication Date: 2002-02-01
Type: Journal Article
Antarctic climate cooling and terrestrial ecosystem response
CU Boulder Authors:
McKnight, Diane Marie; Clow, Gary D
All Authors:
Published in: NatureDoran PT; Priscu JC; Lyons WB; Walsh JE; Fountain AG; McKnight DM; Moorhead DL; Virginia RA; Wall DH; Clow GD...
- Doran PT
- Priscu JC
- Lyons WB
- Walsh JE
- Fountain AG
- McKnight DM
- Moorhead DL
- Virginia RA
- Wall DH
- Clow GD
Publication Date: 2002-01-31
Type: Journal Article
In-stream sorption of fulvic acid in an acidic stream: A stream-scale transport experiment
CU Boulder Authors:
McKnight, Diane Marie
All Authors:
McKnight DM; Hornberger GM; Bencala KE; Boyer EW
Published in: Water Resources ResearchPublication Date: 2002-01-01
Type: Journal Article
Annual maxima in Zn concentrations during spring snowmelt in streams impacted by mine drainage
CU Boulder Authors:
McKnight, Diane Marie
All Authors:
Brooks PD; McKnight DM; Bencala KE
Published in: Environmental Geology: international journal of geosciencesPublication Date: 2001-10-01
Type: Journal Article
Water in a changing world
CU Boulder Authors:
McKnight, Diane Marie
All Authors:
Jackson RB; Carpenter SR; Dahm CN; McKnight DM; Naiman RJ; Postel SL; Running SW
Published in: Ecological ApplicationsPublication Date: 2001-08-01
Type: Journal Article
Bacterial dissolved organic carbon demand in McMurdo Dry Valley lakes, Antarctica
CU Boulder Authors:
McKnight, Diane Marie
All Authors:
Takacs CD; Priscu JC; McKnight DM
Published in: Limnology and OceanographyPublication Date: 2001-07-01
Type: Journal Article
pH dependence of iron photoreduction in a rocky mountain stream affected by acid mine drainage
CU Boulder Authors:
McKnight, Diane Marie
All Authors:
McKnight DM; Kimball BA; Runkel RL
Published in: Hydrological ProcessesPublication Date: 2001-07-01
Type: Journal Article
Retrospective simulation of lake-level rise in Lake Bonney based on recent 21-year record: indication of recent climate change in the McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica
CU Boulder Authors:
McKnight, Diane Marie
All Authors:
Bomblies A; McKnight DM; Andrews ED
Published in: Journal of PaleolimnologyPublication Date: 2001-05-01
Type: Journal Article
Litter breakdown in mountain streams affected by mine drainage: Biotic mediation of abiotic controls
CU Boulder Authors:
McKnight, Diane Marie; Lewis, William M, Jr.
All Authors:
Niyogi DK; Lewis WM; McKnight DM
Published in: Ecological ApplicationsPublication Date: 2001-04-01
Type: Journal Article
North America
CU Boulder Authors:
McKnight, Diane Marie
All Authors:
Publication Date: 2001-01-01Cohen S; Miller K; Duncan K; Gregorich E; Groffman P; Kovacs P; Magana V; MCKNIGHT DM; Mills E; Schimel D...
- Cohen S
- Miller K
- Duncan K
- Gregorich E
- Groffman P
- Kovacs P
- Magana V
- MCKNIGHT DM
- Mills E
- Schimel D
Type: Chapter