I joined the Watershed Science and Modelling Laboratory (WSML) as a master’s student and research assistant in August 2020 with the goal of increasing my understanding of glacier dynamics and my skills in hydrological modelling. This came after a time as an undergraduate research assistant, where I developed an interest in the atmospheric and hydrologic dynamics of polar regions. My interests span from cloud dynamics to atmosphere-surface interactions of glaciers, and my research aim is to use models to supply new data for fellow researchers and policymakers.
My current work for the WSML uses a model of the glaciers of the Canadian Rocky Mountains to study the response of the glaciers under various climate change scenarios. The goal of this study is to calculate the runoff of the glaciers under each scenario in order to study the effects of this runoff to regional water systems. This information will better equip water resource managers in the region.
B.Sc. Geosciences, University of Montana, 2020
Email: kotila@ualberta.ca