Dr. Andrew G. Klein

Research

Dr. Klein's current research interests lie in the application of remote sensing and geographic information science (GIScience) techniques to study the cryosphere. He and his students are currently using remote sensing to monitor tropical glacier recession and he has been actively involved in the development of algorithms to measure snow extent and snow albedo from data collected by NASA's MODIS instrument. He also uses GIScience techniques to study human impacts in Antarctica. For the past seven years he has been involved in a long-term environmental monitoring program at McMurdo Station, Antarctica. Dr. Klein also has an interest in how remote sensing/GIS can aid in improving geographic education and has been working with teachers on a number of educational projects.

Projects

• “Long-Term Monitoring of Human Impacts at McMudo Station, Antarctica-Phase 5” US Army Corp of Engineers Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory (CRRL).
• “Inventory and Synthesis of World-wide Environmental and Geotechnical Databases” TDI-Brooks International, Inc. January 2009-January 2010.
• Bednarz, S.,. Bednarz R., Fillipi, A. and Klein, A Advancing Geospatial Skills in Science and Social Science (AGSSS) - Track 1, GK-12. National Science Foundation Division of Graduate Education, 2005-06-01 to 2008-05-30.

Experience

• Associate Professor, Texas A&M University, Department of Geography, 2004-present. Investigating the cryosphere using satellite remote sensing and geographic information systems
• Assistant Professor, Texas A & M University, Department of Geography, 1998-2004.
• Visiting Scientist, Universities Space Research Association (USRA), Hydrological Sciences Branch, NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center, 1997-1998. Algorithm development and validation of a global snow-cover mapping algorithm for the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) instrument.
• Lecturer, Geography Department, University of Maryland, Baltimore County, Spring 1998.
• Graduate Research Assistant, Cornell University, NASA EOS Interdisciplinary Investigation, 1990-1996. Investigated modern and late Pleistocene glacier and snow distribution in the central Andes and Bhutan Himalayas for paleoclimate reconstructions
• Geologist, U.S. Geological Survey, Branch of Eastern Regional Geology, Summer 1990. Performed field mapping and pedological analysis of Holocene and Pleistocene river terraces along the Potomac River, Virginia.
• Hydrologist, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Summer 1988-Spring 1989. Conducted aquifer tests and other groundwater investigations in response to severe drought conditions in Minnesota.

Awards

• 2004 Recipient of the Texas A&M Association of Former Students College Level Distinguished Achievement Award for Excellence in Teaching
• 2003 Recipient of the Texas A&M College of Geoscience Robert C. Runnels Excellence in Advising Award

Selected Publications

• Klein, A.G., Kennicutt, M.C. II, Wolff, G.A., Sweet, S.T., Bloxom, T., Gielstra, D.A. and Cleckley, M. 2008. The Historical Development of McMurdo Station, Antarctica, an Environmental Perspective. Polar Geography 31(3-4):119-144. doi: 10.1080/10889370802579856.
• Wade, T.L., Sweet, S.T. and Klein, A.G. 2008. Assessment of sediment contamination in Casco Bay, Maine, USA. Environmental Pollution 152: 505-521.
• Klein, A.G. and Kincaid, J.L., 2008. On the disappearance of the Puncak Mandala ice cap, Papua. Journal of Glaciology, 54(184): 195-198.
• Klein, A.G. and Kincaid, J.L. 2006. Retreat of glaciers on Mt. Jaya, Irian Jaya determined from 2000 and 2002 IKONOS satellite images. Journal of Glaciology, 52(176):65-79.
• Lee, S., Klein, A.G., and Over, T. 2005. An assessment of the suitability of MODIS snow products for simulating streamflow in the Upper Rio Grande River Basin using the snowmelt runoff model. Hydrological Processes, 19:2951-2972.
• Lee, S., Klein, A.G., and Over, T. 2004. Effects of the El Niño/Southern Oscillation on temperature, precipitation, snow water equivalent and resulting streamflow in the Upper Rio Grande River Basin. Hydrological Processes, 18:1053-1071.
• Klein, A.G. and Barnett, A.C. 2003. Validation of daily MODIS snow cover maps of the Upper Rio Grande River Basin for the 2000-2001 snow year. Remote Sensing of Environment, 86:162-176.
• Klein, A.G. and Stroeve, J. 2002. Development and validation of a snow albedo algorithm for the MODIS instrument. Annals of Glaciology, 34:45-52.

Affiliations

• Professional Affiliations: American Association for the Advancement of Science
• American Geophysical Union
• American Society of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing
• Association of American Geographers
• International Glaciological Society