Dr. Sturm is responsible for conducting wide-ranging geophysical studies on snow in high latitudes. His work has taken him from the Antarctic to the Arctic, and he has been the leader of more than 30 expeditions in winter in pursuit of his science. He is based at the Alaska Office in Fairbanks, but collaborates with a wide range of scientists both at CRREL and elsewhere. His most recent work focuses on the role of snow cover on climate, with particular attention to snow ecology, and climate change resulting from snow-vegetation interactions.

Areas of Specialization Snow cover Its thermal effects Its effect on the environment, with particular emphasis on polar and subpolar snow covers Spatial distribution of snow covers and ramifications of that distribution on heat and mass transfer Snow and Vegetation Current Projects Project Director of a National Science Foundation-sponsored project investigating the interactions of snow, shrubs, and weather in the Arctic. Principle Investigator on a NASA-sponsored project examing snow and sea ice. Project Leader investigating snow, sea ice leads, and mercury. Notable Contributions or Highlights from Past Projects Detection of convection in snow covers. Extensive measurements of the thermal properties of snow covers. Development of a rational world-wide classification system for seasonal snow covers. Detailed studies of the spatial variability of snow covers on both land and ice . First direct measurements of the thermal conductivity of snow on Arctic sea ice. Detection of increasing shrub density in Arctic Alaska . Developed a snow-soil-shrub feedback hypothesis for land surface change. Education B.S., Geology, New Mexico Tech, 1980 M.S., Geophysics, University of Alaska, 1983 Ph.D., Geophysics, University of Alaska, 1989 Other Professional Information Memberships/Professional Organizations: Board Member, Science Steering Committee, INSTAAR Board Member, Science Steering Committee, IARC Board Member, Arctic Institute of North America Co-Chair, SNOW Research Community of Practice Past Co-Chief Editor, Journal of Glaciology Adjunct Professor in the Geology Department, University of Alaska Chair, Land-Atmosphere Ice Interactions Science Steering Committee, NSF Member, American Geophysical Union, Arctic Institute of North America Additional: Led two 1200km over-snow traverse from Nome to Barrow, Alaska (SnowSTAR-2002 and 2004). In the winter of 1983-1984, Matthew participated in a glaciological expedition to the large ice streams of Antarctica. Matthew developed a science curriculum for grammar-school children based on experiments on snow . Matthew holds two patents for devices designed to measure snow properties efficently. Selected Publications Contact Information Dr. Matthew Sturm USA-CRREL-Alaska (Building 4070) P.O. Box 35170 Ft. Wainwright, Alaska 99703-0170 Phone: 907-353-5183 Fax: 907-353-5142 E-mail: Matthew.Sturm@erdc.usace.army.mil || Snow and Ice Branch || || About CRREL || News || Research & Engineering || Products || Library || Partnering & Business || Support for: || USACE Districts & DPWs || Warfighters || The Nation || Security and Privacy Notice USACE Engineer Research and Development Center Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory 72 Lyme Road, Hanover, New Hampshire, USA 03755-1290 Public Affairs Office: info@crrel.usace.army.mil or 603-646-4292 Page updated: 06 July 2006 (kjc)