Lucas Zeller
PhD Candidate
Department of Geosciences
Colorado State University
About Me
I am a PhD candidate at Colorado State University with Dr. Daniel McGrath in the Cryospheric Sciences Research Group. I use remote sensing, geophysical tools, and free, open-source software to study the Earth's surface across a range of spatial and temporal scales. My current research projects are focused on glaciers and mountain snowpacks in Colorado, Alaska, and High Mountain Asia, with funding support from NASA and the U.S. Geological Survey.
Research
Use the links below to learn more about my ongoing research projects.
Measuring accumulation and ablation on Wolverine Glacier through remote sensing, geophysical surveys, and in-situ observations.
Hydrology of Debris-Covered Glaciers
Using satellite imagery to understand changes in the hydrology of debris-covered glacier systems over seasonal-to-decadal time scales.
Snow Cover Variability in Alaska
Identifying the end of summer snow lines on glaciers across all of Alaska and understanding what controls their changes from year-to-year and glacier-to-glacier.
Snow Hydrology with NASA SnowEx
A collaborative campaign to improve our ability to measure snow-pack properties from space through ground-based observations.
Abbreviated Resume
Education
PhD: Colorado State University, expected 2024 - Geosciences
MS: Colorado State University, 2021 - Geosciences
BA: Amherst College, 2017 - Geology
Applicable Skills
Satellite remote sensing using Planet, Sentinel‑2, Landsat, and MODIS imagery
Python programming and geospatial libraries: NumPy, Matplotlib, Rasterio, GeoPandas, Xarray, GDAL, geemap
Machine learning with a focus on remote sensing applications, using scikit‑learn and TensorFlow
Google Earth Engine via the JavaScript code editor and Python API
Near‑surface geophysical and geodetic observations from GNSS, ground‑penetrating radar, Structure‑from‑Motion, and Lidar
QGIS and ArcGIS Pro experience, including Arcpy scripting
Git version control
Publications (Google Scholar)
Zeller, L., D. McGrath, S.W. McCoy, J. Jacquet. Seasonal to decadal dynamics of supraglacial lakes on debris-covered glaciers in the Khumbu Region, Nepal. The Cryosphere, 2024. https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-18-525-2024
Zeller, L., D. McGrath, S. O'Neel, L. Sass, C. McNeil, E. Baker. Beyond glacier-wide mass balances: parsing seasonal elevation change into spatially-resolved patterns of accumulation and ablation at Wolverine Glacier, Alaska. Journal of Glaciology, 2022. https://doi.org/10.1017/jog.2022.46
Zeller, L., D. McGrath, L. Sass, C. Florentine, J. Downs. An assessment of modern-day accumulation areas and implications for vulnerability of glaciers in Alaska. Journal of Glaciology (in prep)
McGrath, D., L. Zeller, R. Bonnell, W. Reis, S. Kampf, K. Williams, M. Okal, A. Olsen-Mikitowicz, E. Bump, M. Sears, K. Rittger. Declines in peak snow water equivalent and elevated snowmelt rates following the 2020 Cameron Peak wildfire in northern Colorado. Geophysical Research Letters, 2023. https://doi.org/10.1029/2022GL101294
McGrath, D., R. Bonnell, L. Zeller, A. Olsen‑Mikitowicz, E. Bump, R. Webb, HP. Marshall. A Time Series of Snow Density and Snow Water Equivalent Observations Derived From the Integration of GPR and UAV SfM Observations. Frontiers in Remote Sensing, 2022. https://doi.org/10.3389/frsen.2022.886747
Anderson, L., D. Scherler, S. McCoy, D. McGrath, M. Kirkbride, L. Zeller, R. Anderson. Debris cover controls glacial thinning, lakes, and hazards in High Mountain Asia. Nature Portfolio (in review). https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-3389408/v1
Marshall, A., E. Wohl, E. Iskin, L. Zeller. Interactions of wood accumulations, channel dynamics, and geomorphic heterogeneity within a river corridor. Water Resources Research (in review)
Research Experience
Research Assistant (PhD) ‑ Colorado State University
Proposed, designed, and implemented research projects using satellite remote sensing products, open-source geospatial software, time-series analysis, climate reanalysis products and projections, and statistical machine learning techniques
Performed land-cover change analyses at the continental scale using Landsat and Sentinel-2 imagery
Quantified seasonal to decadal changes in the hydrology of glacier systems in High Mountain Asia by synthesizing Landsat, Sentinel‑2, and Planet satellite imagery
Assessed the variability of snow cover in Alaska at high spatial and temporal resolution from satellite observations and climate reanalysis products
Research Assistant (MS) ‑ Colorado State University
Collaborated with USGS scientists to develop novel approaches to measuring the patterns of snow accumulation and mass loss on Wolverine Glacier, Alaska
Synthesized geodetic products, ground‑penetrating radar surveys, meteorological records, and in‑situ snow hydrology measurements
Research Assistant ‑ NASA SnowEx
Participated in weekly field campaigns at Cameron Pass, Colorado to collect in situ snow hydrology observations for validation of remote sensing products
Tools used: ground penetrating radar surveys, snow pit analysis, automated weather station deployment, and DEM collection via Structure‑from‑Motion drone flights and terrestrial LiDAR
Relevant Coursework
Machine Learning for the Atmospheric Sciences
Statistical Machine Learning
Remote Sensing for Geoscientists
Environmental Geophysics
Advanced Snow Hydrology
Snow Hydrology Field Methods
Atmospheric Dynamics
Teaching Experience
Graduate Teaching Assistant: Department of Geosciences, Colorado State University
Field Camp Teaching Assistant: Department of Geosciences, Colorado State University
Teaching Assistant & Field Assistant: Frontiers Abroad Study Abroad Program, New Zealand
