Nicole Mölders, Atmospheric Sciences, University of Alaska Fairbanks

 

Nicole Mölders

B.S. 1983 Meteorology University of Cologne

M.S. 1988 Meteorology University of Cologne

Ph.D. 1992 Geophysics University of Cologne

Habilitation (Dr. habil.) 1999 Meteorology University Leipzig

 

About me

Since 1994, I have been engaged in the field of hydrometeorology with special focus on modeling biosphere-soil-atmosphere processes. In close cooperation with hydrologists and geologists I coupled a hydrologic and meteorological model and developed an integrative hydrometeorological model. I led several projects to study ground water recharge, dry deposition of reactive atmospheric trace gases, water availability under changed climate conditions, and the impact of land-use changes on evapotranspiration, cloud and precipitation formation. From 1999 to 2001 I was honored as a Heisenberg Fellow for Physical Hydrology, a prestigious award conferred by the DFG. My scientific career in America dates back to 1989, when I worked as a guest scientist at State University of New York (SUNY) at Albany . In 2000, I worked at the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) at Boulder, Colorado. In 2001, I joined the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF). At UAF, I continue my research direction with special focus on the Arctic and continue my teaching activities. Since 1995, in Germany and the United States, I have taught cloud physics, satellite meteorology, physical hydrometeorology, paleoclimatology, parameterization of hydrometerological processes, numerical modeling and parameterization methods, and introduction to atmospheric science.

Mission statement I want to contribute to improving numerical models in order to simulate the water, energy and trace gas cycles appropriately. Doing so will allow policy makers to use model outcomes to assess future water resources and air quality and to make reasonable decisions to meet the challenges of the future

High-lights I teamed up with scientists from hydrology, climatology, soil sciences and environmental engineering to write a book entitled "Coupled Models for the Hydrological Cycle - Integrating Atmosphere, Biosphere and Pedosphere" .  The book addresses scientists, and graduate students who are interested in coupling models for integrative or interdisciplinary research questions.

Why I studied meteorology My father used to listen to radio broadcasts from all over the world. One day, he talked about a broadcast at dinner. It dealt with expected local climate change due to irrigation. Since he could not answer why irrigation altered local climate, I decided to become a meteorologist.

Studien an UAF Typischerweise werden Studiengebühren für Studenten nach dem Vordiplom oder BS aus Projektgeldern bezahlt. MS-Studenten bekommen in der Regel einen Arbeitsvertrag als Forschungs- oder Lehrassistent, der ein ausreichendes Einkommen erlaubt, ohne dass man von den Eltern Unterhalt braucht. Anders als in Europa muss man jedoch, wie bei allen Amerikanischen Universitäten, bei der Bewerbung um einen Studienplatz eine Bearbeitungsgebühr zahlen ($50 im Falle von UAF).

My lab philosophy There is enough competion out there, so let's work as a team in the lab.

Outside interests Cats and ballroom dancing. I have two cats, Celestina and Kasimir.