DRI / DIRECTORY / CHRISTINE ALBANO
Christine Albano Profile Photo
Dr. Christine Albano
Associate Research Professor, Ecohydrology
Phone 
775-673-7689
E-Mail 
Christine.Albano@dri.edu
Campus 
Reno Campus
Full Resume / CV 
Download
Division 
Hydrologic Sciences

Dr. Albano’s work is focused on applied research questions to help decipher the relative roles of climate and natural resource management on water availability and ecological conditions in the southwestern US. More specifically, her current research interests and expertise include studying the influence of atmospheric rivers as drivers of hydrologic and ecological variability in the western US, quantifying sensitivities of meadow and riparian vegetation to climate variability in the Sierra Nevada and Great Basin, characterizing the effects of flow alterations in aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems, and landscape-scale conservation and climate adaptation planning. She uses field observations, remote sensing, gridded atmospheric reanalysis and climatic datasets, and statistical modeling techniques to understand spatial patterns and potential drivers of hydrological and ecological responses, often at ecoregional to west-wide scales.

Christine holds a PhD in Hydrologic Sciences from University of Nevada, Reno, an MS in Ecology from Colorado State University, and a BS in Biology (Minors: Chemistry and Environmental Studies) from Westminster College. Prior to earning her PhD in 2019, Christine worked as a field ecologist with the U.S. Geological Survey’s National Water Quality Assessment Program, was the program manager for a boots on the ground conservation science and land stewardship program focused on a nearly 1-million acre public lands ranch near the Grand Canyon’s North Rim, and led several applied research projects with the Southwest Climate Adaptation Science Center and Conservation Science Partners.

PhD Dissertation Title: Atmospheric Rivers and Climate Stresses: Retrospective and Prospective Assessments of the Impacts of Storm Variability, Climate Changes, and Extremes in the Western US

MS Thesis Title: Structural and Functional Responses of Aquatic Macroinvertebrate Communities to Streamflow Diversion in Rocky Mountain Streams

Keywords

Hydrologic and ecological impacts of atmospheric rivers in the western US, climate change, groundwater dependent ecosystems, ecohydroclimatology, conservation and climate adaptation planning

 

Publications
2024
Gordon, B., Boisramé, G., Carroll, R. W., Ajami, N. K., Leonard, B., Albano, C. M., Mizukami, N., Andrade, M. A., Koebele, E. A., Taylor, M., Harpold, A. A. (2024). The Essential Role of Local Context in Shaping Risk and Risk Reduction Strategies for Snowmelt-Dependent Irrigated Agriculture, Earth’s Future. AGU, June 11, 2024, 10.1029/2024EF004577

Rohde, M., Albano, C. M., Huggins, X., Klausmeyer, K., Morton, C. G., Sharman, A., Zaveri, E., Saito, L., Freed, Z., Howard, J., Job, N., Richter, H., Toderich, K., Rodella, A., Gleeson, T., Huntington, J. L., Chandanpurkar, H., Purdy, A., Famiglietti, J., Singer, M., Roberts, D., Caylor, K., Stella, J. (2024). Groundwater-dependent ecosystem map exposes global dryland protection needs, Nature, 10.1038/s41586-024-07702-8

2023
LeRoy, C., Claeson, S., Garthwaite, I., Thompson, M., Thompson, L., Kamakawiwo’ole, B., Froedin-Morgensen, A., McConathy, V., Ramstack Hobbs, J., Stancheva, R., Albano, C. M., Finn, D. (2023). Canopy development influences early successional stream ecosystem function but not biotic assemblages, Aquatic Sciences, 85 (3), 77, 10.1007/s00027-023-00972-w

Albano, C. M., Rajagopal, S., Imgarten, M. (2023). Atmospheric Rivers, Reservoir Storage, and Streamflow Forecast Skill: Assessing the Potential for Forecast-Informed Reservoir Operations in the Truckee River Basin, 41295. DRI Technical Report
https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/webfiles.dri.edu/Projects/41295-Truckee_Forecast_Skill_Final_Report.pdf

Albano, C. M., Minor, B. A., Smith, G. T., Morton, C. G., Huntington, J. L. (2023). Baseline Assessment of Groundwater Dependent Vegetation in relation to Climate and Groundwater Levels in select Hydrographic Basins of Nevada: Oasis Valley, 41293. DRI Technical Report
https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/webfiles.dri.edu/Projects/GroundwaterDependentEcosystems/BaselineAssessment/41293-Oasis_Valley_GDE_Final_Report.pdf

2022
Albano, C. M., Abatzoglou, J. T., McEvoy, D. J., Huntington, J. L., Morton, C. G., Dettinger, M. D., Ott, T. (2022). A multi-dataset assessment of climatic drivers and uncertainties of recent trends in evaporative demand across the continental US, Journal of Hydrometeorology, 10.1175/JHM-D-21-0163.1

Garreaud, R., Ralph, M., Wilson, A., Eiras-Barca, J., Steen-Larsen, H., Rutz, J., Albano, C. M., Tillinina, N., Warner, M., Viale, M., Rondenelli, R., McPhee, J., Valenzuela, R., Gorodetskaya, I. (2022). Running a Scientific Conference During Pandemic Times, Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society, 103 (7), E1650-E1657

2021
Albano, C. M., McCarthy, M. I., Dettinger, M. D., McAfee, S. (2021). Techniques for constructing climate scenarios for stress test applications, Climatic Change, 164 (3), 33, 10.1007/s10584-021-02985-6

Albano, C. M., Minor, B. A., Huntington, J. L., Morton, C. G. (2021). Baseline Assessment of Groundwater Dependent Vegetation in Relation to Climate and Groundwater Levels in Select Hydrographic Basins of Nevada. Desert Research Institute: Reno, NV, Desert Research Institute Technical Report 41283.

2020
Albano, C. M., Dettinger, M. D., Harpold, A. A. (2020). Patterns and Drivers of Atmospheric River Precipitation and Hydrologic Impacts in the western United States, Journal of Hydrometeorology, 21 (1), 143-159, 10.1175/JHM-D-19-0119.1

Albano, C. M., Minor, B. A., Freed, Z., Huntington, J. L. (2020). Status and Trends of Groundwater Dependent Vegetation in Relation to Climate and Shallow Groundwater in the Harney Basin, Oregon. Desert Research Institute: Reno, NV, DRI Technical Report 41280.

Albano, C. M., McGwire, K. C., Hausner, M. B., McEvoy, D. J., Morton, C. G., Huntington, J. L. (2020). Drought Sensitivity and Trends in Riparian Vegetation Vigor in Nevada, USA (1985-2018), Remote Sensing, 12, 1362, 10.3390/rs12091362

Sterle, K. M., Singletary, L., Lee, G., Rollins, K., Pohll, G. M., McCarthy, M. I., Rajagopal, S., Albano, C. M., Boyer, W., Huntington, J. L., Dettinger, M. D., Niswonger, R., Morway, E., Kitlasten, W., Gardner, M., Coors, S., Jose, L. (2020). Water Sustainability and Climate in the Truckee-Carson River System, Western United States: 10 Key Takeaways from the Water for the Seasons Collaborative Research Program. University of Nevada, Reno Cooperative Extension, SP-20-02

Albano, C. M., McGwire, K. C., Hausner, M. B., McEvoy, D. J., Morton, C. G., Huntington, J. L. (2020). Drought Sensitivity and Trends in Riparian Vegetation Vigor in Nevada, USA (1985-2018), Remote Sensing, 12, 1362, 10.3390/rs12091362

2019
Dickson, B., Albano, C. M., Anantharaman, R., Beier, P., Fargione, J., Graves, T., Gray, M., Hall, K., Lawler, J., Leonard, P., Littlefield, C., McClure, M., Novembre, J., Schloss, C., Schumaker, N., Shah, V., Theobald, D. (2019). Circuit-theory applications to connectivity science and conservation, Conservation Biology, 33 (2), 239-249, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd (10.1111), 10.1111/cobi.13230

Albano, C. M., McClure, M., Gross, S., Kitlasten, W., Soulard, C., Morton, C. G., Huntington, J. L. (2019). Spatial patterns of meadow sensitivities to interannual climate variability in the Sierra Nevada, Ecohydrology, 0 (ja), e2128, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd, 10.1002/eco.2128

Albano, C. M., Sterle, K., Dettinger, M. D., Singletary, L. (2019). Four Climate Scenarios Developed to Explore Adaptation Strategies for the Truckee-Carson River System, 7. University of Nevada, Reno Cooperative Extension, Fact Sheet 19-09

Fleishman, E., Albano, C. M., Bradley, B., Creech, T., Curtis, C., Dickson, B., Epps, C., Hegeman, E., Hoglander, C., Leu, M., Shaw, N., Schwartz, M., VanCuren, A., Zachmann, L. (2019). Natural resource condition assessments for six parks in the Mojave Desert Network, 330. National Park Service: Fort Collins, CO, Natural Resource Report NPS/MOJN/NRR – 2019/1959

2018
Albano, C. M., Stevens, L. (2018). Wildlife: Invertebrates Stortz, S. D., Aslan, C. E., Sisk, T. D., Chaudhry, T. A., Rundall, J. M., Palumbo, J., Zachmann, L., Dickson, B. (Eds.) , Natural resource condition assessment: Greater Grand Canyon landscape assessment. National Park Service: Fort Collins, CO, Natural Resource Report NPS/GRCA/NRR-2018/1645

2017
Dickson, B., Albano, C. M., McRae, B., Anderson, J., Theobald, D., Zachmann, L., Sisk, T., Dombeck, M. (2017). Informing Strategic Efforts to Expand and Connect Protected Areas Using a Model of Ecological Flow, with Application to the Western United States, Conservation Letters, 10 (5), 10.1111/conl.12322

Albano, C. M., Dettinger, M., Soulard, C. (2017). Influence of atmospheric rivers on vegetation productivity and fire patterns in the southwestern US, Journal of Geophysical Research: Biogeosciences, 1-16, 10.1002/2016JG003608

2016
Albano, C. M., Dettinger, M. D., McCarthy, M. I., Welborn, T. L., Cox, D. A. (2016). Application of an extreme winter storm scenario to identify vulnerabilities, mitigation options, and science needs in the Sierra Nevada mountains, USA: Natural Hazards, 80, 879-900, doi:10.1007/s11069-015-2003-4

Soulard, C., Albano, C. M., Villarreal, M., Walker, J. (2016). Continuous 1985-2012 Landsat monitoring to assess fire effects on meadows in Yosemite National Park, California, Remote Sensing, 8 (5), 10.3390/rs8050371

2015
Theobald, D., Harrison-Atlas, D., Monahan, W., Albano, C. M. (2015). Ecologically-relevant maps of landforms and physiographic diversity for climate adaptation planning, PLoS ONE, 10 (12), 10.1371/journal.pone.0143619

Albano, C. M. (2015). Identification of geophysically diverse locations that may facilitate species’ persistence and adaptation to climate change in the southwestern United States, Landscape Ecology, 30 (6), 10.1007/s10980-015-0167-7

Lawler, J., Ackerly, D., Albano, C. M., Anderson, M., Dobrowski, S., Gill, J., Heller, N., Pressey, R., Sanderson, E., Weiss, S. (2015). The theory behind, and the challenges of, conserving nature’s stage in a time of rapid change, Conservation Biology, 29 (3), 10.1111/cobi.12505

Anderson, M., Comer, P., Beier, P., Lawler, J., Schloss, C., Buttrick, S., Albano, C. M., Faith, D. (2015). Case studies of conservation plans that incorporate geodiversity, Conservation Biology, 29 (3), 10.1111/cobi.12503

2014
Mac Nally, R., Albano, C. M., Fleishman, E. (2014). A scrutiny of the evidence for pressure-induced state shifts in estuarine and nearshore ecosystems, Austral Ecology, 39 (8), 10.1111/aec.12162

Bernstein, E., Albano, C. M., Sisk, T., Crews, T., Rosenstock, S. (2014). Establishing cool-season grasses on a degraded arid rangeland of the Colorado Plateau, Restoration Ecology, 22 (1), 10.1111/rec.12023

Dickson, B., Zachmann, L., Albano, C. M. (2014). Systematic identification of potential conservation priority areas on roadless Bureau of Land Management lands in the western United States, BIOLOGICAL CONSERVATION, 178, 117-127. Elsevier Ltd, 10.1016/j.biocon.2014.08.001

Albano, C. M., Dettinger, M. D., McCarthy, M. I., Schaller, K. D., Welborn, T. L., Cox, D. A. (2014). ARkStorm@Tahoe: Stakeholder perspectives on vulnerabilities and preparedness for an extreme storm event in the greater Lake Tahoe, Reno and Carson City region. University of Nevada Cooperative Extension, Special Publication-14-16

2013
Albano, C. M., Angelo, C., Strauch, R., Thurman, L. (2013). Potential effects of warming climate on visitor use in three Alaskan national parks, Park Science, 30 (1)

2011
Baker, D., Bledsoe, B., Albano, C. M., Poff, N. (2011). Downstream effects of diversion dams on sediment and hydraulic conditions of Rocky Mountain streams, River Research and Applications, 27 (3), 10.1002/rra.1376

Brasher, A. M., Albano, C. M., Close, R. N., Freeman, M. L., Lauver, C. L., Monroe, S. A., Snyder, A. E., Thomas, L. P. (2011). Aquatic macroinvertebrate monitoring protocol for National Parks in the Southern Colorado Plateau Network. National Park Service, Natural Resource Technical Report NPS/SCPN/NRR-2011/460

2010
Brasher, A. M., Albano, C. M., Close, R. N., Cannon, Q. H., Miller, M. P. (2010). Macroinvertebrate communities and habitat characteristics in the northern and southern Colorado Plateau networks: pilot protocol implementation. National Park Service, Natural Resources Technical Report NPS/NCPN/NRTR-2010/320

Conference Proceedings
2023
Albano, C. M., McCarthy, M. I., Webb, M. J., Jensen, E., McAfee, S., Swain, D. (2023). ARkStorm 2.0 Impacts: Engaging diverse communities to improve resilience to extreme storms in Nevada and California. American Geophysical Union: San Francisco, CA, December 11, 2023-December 17, 2023

Albano, C. M., Abatzoglou, J. T., McEvoy, D. J., Huntington, J. L., Morton, C. G., Ott, T., Dettinger, M. D. (2023). Trends of Increasing Evaporative Demand Across the Continental US Over the Past 40 Years. American Geophysical Union: San Francisco, CA

Swain, D., Abatzoglou, J. T., Albano, C. M., Brunner, M., Diffenbaugh, N., Prein, A., Singh, D., Touma, D. (2023). Hydroclimate Volatility on a Warming Earth. American Geophysical Union: San Francisco, CA

Webb, M. J., Albano, C. M., Fennema, S., Imgarten, M. (2023). ARkStorm 2.0 in the Truckee Watershed: Assessing Regional Flooding Impact and Vulnerability After an Atmospheric River Megastorm. American Geophysical Union: San Francisco, CA

McEvoy, D. J., Hobbins, M., Huntington, J. L., Andrade, A. J., Albano, C. M. (2023). Understanding the increasingly important role of evaporative demand as a driver of extreme drought and wildfire danger in the 21st century. American Geophysical Union: San Francisco, CA

Comini de Andrade, B. C., Huntington, J. L., Pearson, C., Morton, C. G., Albano, C. M. (2023). A novel application and intercomparison of the Complementary Relationship for operational global evapotranspiration monitoring. American Geophysical Union: San Francisco, CA

Webb, M. J., Albano, C. M., Harpold, A. (2023). Determining sensitivity and thresholds of antecedent soil moisture amplifying flood response from atmospheric rivers. CUAHSI Biennial Conference: Tahoe City, CA

2022
Albano, C. M., Soulard, C., Walker, J., Waller, E., Minor, B. A. (2022). Quantifying the role of atmospheric rivers as drivers of wintertime flood extents in the Central Valley of California. International Atmospheric Rivers Conference (IARC): Santiago, Chile, October 11, 2022-October 14, 2022

Gordon, B., Harpold, A., Ajami, N., Albano, C. M., Boisramé, G., Carroll, R. W., Leonard, B. (2022). Headwater Reservoir Management Must Consider Hydrological Supply and Agricultural Demand In a Future With Less Snowpack, American Geophysical Union: Chicago, IL, December 12, 2022-December 16, 2022

Rohde, M., Albano, C. M., Huggins, X., Saito, L., Sharman, A., Klausmeyer, K., Freed, Z., Howard, J., Morton, C. G., Huntington, J., Rodella, A., Zaveri, E., Gleason, T. (2022). Mapping groundwater dependent ecosystems globally to build resilient communities, combat climate change, and mitigate biodiversity loss, American Geophysical Union: Chicago, IL, December 12, 2022-December 16, 2022

Rohde, M. M., Albano, C. M., Huggins, X., Saito, L., Sharman, A., Klausmeyer, K., Howard, J. K., Freed, Z., Richter, H., Morton, C. G., Huntington, J. L. (2022). Mapping groundwater dependent ecosystems globally to build resilient communities, combat climate change, and mitigate biodiversity loss, AGU Fall Meeting

2021
Hatchett, B. J., McGuire, L., Youberg, A., Hoch, O., Oakley, N., McEvoy, D. J., Albano, C. M., Lancasater, J. (2021). The role of drought in the persistence of post-fire hydrologic hazards. AGU Annual Meeting: New Orleans, LA, December 15, 2021-December 15, 2021

Albano, C. M., Imgarten, M., Dettinger, M. D. (2021). Preliminary Assessment of Wintertime Streamflow Ensemble Forecast Skill in the Truckee River basin to Identify Challenges and Opportunities for Forecast-informed Reservoir Operations (FIRO). Nevada Water Resources Association: Las Vegas, NV, January 19, 2021-January 28, 2021

Albano, C. M., Saito, L., Loheide, S. (2021). Quantifying environmental water requirements for groundwater dependent ecosystems. Nevada Water Resources Association: Las Vegas, NV, January 19, 2021-January 28, 2021

2020
Albano, C. M., McGwire, K. C., Hausner, M. B., McEvoy, D. J., Morton, C. G., Minor, B. A., Huntington, J. L. (2020). Using satellite remote sensing and climate data to assess status and trends of groundwater dependent ecosystem vegetation in Nevada. Nevada Water Resources Association: Las Vegas, NV, February 11, 2020-February 13, 2020

Saito, L., Byer, S., Badik, K., Provencher, L., Albano, C. M. (2020). Water Needs for Groundwater Dependent Ecosystems in Nevada. Nevada Water Resources Association: Las Vegas, NV, February 11, 2020-February 13, 2020

Hatchett, B. J., McEvoy, D. J., Albano, C. M. (2020). The Western Regional Climate Center Snow Drought Tracker and other web-based tools for monitoring Sierra Nevada hydroclimate. Sierra Nevada Alliance Biennial Conference, September 10, 2020-September 11, 2020

Albano, C. M., Imgarten, M., Dettinger, M. D. (2020). Assessment of streamflow forecast skill for the Truckee River basin. American Geophysical Union, December 1, 2020-December 17, 2020

Albano, C. M., Imgarten, M., Dettinger, M. D. (2020). Assessment of wintertime streamflow forecast skill in an atmospheric river-influenced river basin on the lee side of the Sierra Nevada. International Atmospheric Rivers Conference Virtual Symposium, October 5, 2020-October 9, 2020

Albano, C. M., Daudert, B., Hausner, M. B., McEvoy, D. J., McGwire, K. C., Minor, B. A., Morton, C. G., Pearson, C., Huntington, J. L. (2020). Assessing the Effects of Climate and Management on Meadow and Riparian Vegetation Using the Landsat Archive and Cloud Computing – Tools and Applications. Society for Ecological Restoration – California Chapter, September 1, 2020-September 24, 2020

2019
Albano, C. M., Dettinger, M. D., McCarthy, M. I., McAfee, S. A. (2019). Techniques for specifying climate extreme stress test scenarios: a case study in the Truckee and Carson River basins. Nevada Water Resources Association Annual Meeting: Reno, NV

Albano, C. M., Hausner, M. B., McEvoy, D. J., McGwire, K. C., Huntington, J. L. (2019). Assessing multi-decadal changes in riparian areas across Nevada using the Landsat archive. Geological Society of America Annual Meeting: Phoenix, AZ, September 22, 2019-September 25, 2019, 179-11

Hausner, M. B., Albano, C. M., Pearson, C., Huntington, J. L. (2019). Assessing changes in mountain meadow condition using the Landsat archive. Geological Society of America Annual Meeting: Phoenix, AZ, September 22, 2019-September 25, 2019, 17-12

Huntington, J. L., McGwire, K. C., Pearson, C., Hausner, M. B., Albano, C. M., Minor, B. A., McEvoy, D. J., Morton, C. G. (2019). Assessing the role of climate and resource management on groundwater dependent ecosystem changes in arid environments with the Landsat archive and cloud computing. American Fisheries Society/The Wildlife Society Joint Meeting: Reno, NV, September 30, 2019-October 3, 2019, 8014-3

Hausner, M. B., Albano, C. M., Huntington, J. L., Pearson, C. (2019). Using the Landsat Archive to Understand and Assess Changes in Mountain Meadow Vegetation. AGU Fall Meeting: San Francisco, CA, December 9, 2019-December 13, 2019, Presentation No. EP51E-2173

Albano, C. M., Hausner, M. B., Huntington, J. L., McEvoy, D. J., McGwire, K. C. (2019). Using the Landsat Archive to Assess Multi-Decadal Changes in Riparian Vegetation in Western U.S. Drylands. AGU Fall Meeting: San Francisco, CA, December 9, 2019-December 13, 2019, Presentation No. H43A-08

Dettinger, M. D., Cox, D., McCarthy, M. I., Albano, C. M. (2019). ARkStorm Retrospective — Making Sense of the Extreme Events of Winter 2017 in California By Comparisons to a Well-Explored Extreme-Storms Scenario. American Meteorological Society: Phoenix, AZ, January 6, 2019-January 10, 2019

2018
Albano, C. M., Dettinger, M., Harpold, A. (2018). Spatial and temporal variability of atmospheric river hydrologic impacts across the Western U.S.. American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting: Washington DC

McCarthy, M. I., Bocinsky, R. K., Albano, C. M., Dettinger, M. (2018). Native Waters on Arid Lands: enhancing climate resilience on tribal lands. American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting: Washington DC

Albano, C. M., Dettinger, M., McCarthy, M. I. (2018). Using climate extremes scenarios for climate adaptation planning: rationale and methods for scenario specification and design. Nevada Water Resources Association Fall Water Event: Reno, NV

McClure, M., Albano, C. M., Gross, S., Kitlasten, W., Morton, C. G., Huntington, J. L. (2018). Assessing climate vulnerabilities of Sierra Nevada meadows. Sierra Nevada Meadows Partnership Annual Meeting: Tahoe City, CA

Albano, C. M., Dettinger, M., Harpold, A. (2018). Influences of atmospheric rivers on terrestrial water storage and fluxes in the Western US. 2nd International Atmospheric Rivers Conference: La Jolla, CA

2016
Albano, C. M., Soulard, C. (2016). Understanding climate sensitivities of Sierra Nevada meadows as a foundation for prioritizing adaptation actions. Natural Areas Conference: Davis, CA

Albano, C. M., Dettinger, M., Soulard, C. (2016). Linking Atmospheric River Landfalls to Vegetation Responses in the Southwestern United States. 1st International Atmospheric Rivers Conference: La Jolla, CA

2014
Albano, C. M., Dettinger, M. D., McCarthy, M. M., Cox, D. A., Brown, T. J. (2014). ARkStorm@Tahoe: Addressing social and ecological resiliency to extreme winter storm events in the Sierra Nevadas. Ecological Society of America Annual Meeting: Sacramento, CA, August 10, 2014

Other
2019
Gross, S., McClure, M., Albano, C. M., Estes, B. (2019). A spatially explicit meadow vulnerability decision framework to prioritize meadows for restoration and conservation in the context of climate change Version 1, 62. U.S. Forest Service White Paper