Hydrology research in the Imnavait Creek and Upper Kuparuk River provides opportunity for fieldwork in Arctic Alaska in the northern foothills of the Brooks Range.

Professor Emeritus Douglas Kane initiated streamflow gauging in this remote and pristine location in the 1980s. Dr. Kane inspired and mentored many UAF graduates who now work in academia and in state, federal, and private agencies throughout Alaska, the continental United States, Canada, and several foreign countries. Career opportunities for graduate students include hydrology, water resources engineering, water supply, administration of environmental programs, and regulatory compliance.

Visit WERC for more information on graduate student opportunities in hydrology.

Spring Fieldwork May 2022 - by Finn Mackinaw

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• Dean, K. (2019). Snowmelt hydrology in the upper Kuparuk watershed, Alaska: observations and modeling. Masters of Science, Water and Environmental Science (Concentration Hydrology), University of Alaska Fairbanks. August 2019.
• Hinzman, A. (2017). Climatic and physiographic drivers of peak flows in watersheds in the North Slope of Alaska. Master of Science, Civil Engineering. University of Alaska Fairbanks. August 2017.
• Mumm, J. (2017). Long term evaporation pan data to estimate potential evaporation during the warm season on the Alaskan North Slope: Imnavait Creek basin. Master of Science, Hydrology-Interdisciplinary. University of Alaska Fairbanks. December 2017.
• Overbeck, L. (2015). Determination of lateral inflows in the Kuparuk River watershed, a study in the Alaskan Arctic. Master of Science, Civil Engineering. University of Alaska Fairbanks. May 2015.
• Homan, J. (2015). Precipitation in the Alaska central Arctic. Doctor of Philosophy. University of Alaska Fairbanks. December 2015.
• Kitover, D. (2005). A comparison of northern research basins and their landscape characteristics. Master of Science, Hydrology-Interdisciplinary. University of Alaska Fairbanks. May 2005.
• Oatley, J. (2002). Ice, bedload transport, and channel morphology on the upper Kuparuk River. Master of Science, Water Resources Engineering - Interdisciplinary. University of Alaska Fairbanks. December 2002.
• Overduin, P. (2005). The Physical Dynamics of patterned ground in the northern foothills of the Brooks Range, Alaska. Doctor of Philosophy. University of Alaska Fairbanks. December 2005.
• McNamara, J.P. (1997). A nested watershed study in the Kuparuk River basin, arctic Alaska: Streamflow, scaling, and drainage basin structure. Doctor of Philosophy. University of Alaska Fairbanks. May 1997.
• Hinzman, L. (1990). The interdependence of the thermal and hydrologic processes of an Arctic watershed and their response to climatic change. Doctor of Philosophy. University of Alaska Fairbanks. May 1990. 

Student Author*

• Stuefer, S. L., Kane, D. L., and K.M. Dean* (2020). Snow Water Equivalent Measurements in Remote Arctic Alaska Watersheds. Water Resources Research 56.
• Betts, E.D.*, and D.L. Kane (2015). Linking North Slope of Alaska climate, hydrology, and fish migration. Hydrology Research 46(4).
• Homan, J.W.*, and D.L. Kane (2015). Arctic snow distribution patterns at the watershed scale. Hydrology Research. 46(4).
• Kane, D.L., Youcha, E.K., Stuefer, S.L., Myerchin-Tape, G., Lamb, E.*, Homan, J.W.*, Gieck, R.E., Schnabel, W. E., and H. Toniolo (2014). Hydrology and Meteorology of the Central Alaskan Arctic: Data Collection and Analysis.
• Stuefer, S., Homan, J.*, Gieck, R.,and E. Youcha (2014). Snow Survey Results for the Central Alaskan Arctic, Arctic Circle to Arctic Ocean: Spring 2013.
• Kane, D.L., Hinzman, L.D., Gieck, R.E., McNamara, J.P., Youcha, E.K., and , J.A. Oatley* (2008). Contrasting extreme runoff events in areas of continuous permafrost, Arctic Alaska. Hydrology Research 39(4).
• McNamara, J.P., Oatley*, J.A., Kane, D.L., and L.D. Hinzman (2008). Case study of a large summer flood on the North Slope of Alaska: bedload transport. Hydrology Research, 39(4).
• Kane. D. L., Gieck, R. E., Kitover, D. C.*, Hinzman, L. D., McNamara, J. P., and D. Yang (2004). Hydrological Cycle on the North Slope of Alaska. Northern Research Basins Water Balance (Proceedings of a workshop held at Victoria, Canada, March 2004). IAHS Publication 290, pp. 224–236.
• Kane, D.L., Hinzman, L.D., McNamara, J.P., Zhang, Z., and C.S. Benson (2000). An Overview of a Nested Watershed Study in Arctic Alaska. Nordic Hydrology, Vol. 31(4/5).
• McNamara, J.P.*, Kane, D.L., and L.D. Hinzman (1998). An analysis of streamflow hydrology in the Kuparuk River Basin, Arctic Alaska: a nested watershed approach. Journal of Hydrology, Vol. 206(1-2).
• McNamara, J.P.*, Kane, D.L., and L.D. Hinzman (1997). Hydrograph separations in an Arctic watershed using mixing model and graphical techniques. Water Resources Research, Vol. 33(7).