Summary
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 U.S. 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 U.S., 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 Ph.D. in Hydrologic Sciences from University of Nevada, Reno, an M.S. in Ecology from Colorado State University, and a B.S. in Biology (Minors: Chemistry and Environmental Studies) from Westminster College. Prior to earning her Ph.D. 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.