PeterBlanken

  • Professor of Geography
  • Climatology; Biometeorology
  • Faculty of Hydrologic Sciences
  • Ph.D. University of British Columbia, 1997
  • PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY
Peter Blanken
Address

Grad Students

Bella Kamplain

Maddy Rich

Holly Roth

Nic Tarasewicz

Research Interests

My overall research objective is to understand how the physical processes regulating water and carbon cycling at the Earth's surface are affected by environmental changes. I study a variety of ecosystems including lakes, wetlands, alpine tundra, forest, and grasslands. My research is based on observations made at each location using a variety of instruments, and I often use models and remote sensing to help interpret the measurements.

More Info

In addition to process-based field studies, I am also interested in how and why people recall and perceive past meteorological events. For example, how do people's recollection of climate compare to the actual observations, and what affects the accuracy and reliability of their climate memory? I'm also interested in how class size (enrollment) affects both teaching quality and students' inclass performance. I investigate this through statistical analysis of class evaluations, and surveys/interviews with faculty and students.

Recent Courses Taught

  • Spring 2025 GEOG/ATOC/ENVS 3601 Principles of Climate
  • Fall 2024 GEOG/ENVS 4201 Biometeorology
  • Spring 2024 GEOG/ATOC/ENVS 3601 Principles of Climate
  • Fall 2023 GEOG/ENVS 4201 Biometeorology
  • Spring 2023 GEOG/ATOC/ENVS 3601 Principles of Climate
  • Fall 2022 GEOG 3251 Mountain Geography
  • Fall 2022 GEOG/ENVS 4201 Biometeorology
  • Summer 2022 GEOG 3251 Mountain Geography
  • Spring 2022 GEOG 3601 ATOC/ENVS 3600 Principles of Climate
  • Fall 2021 GEOG 3251 Mountain Geography
  • Fall 2021 GEOG/ENVS 4201 Biometeorology
  • Fall 2020 GEOG 3251 Mountain Geography
  • Fall 2020 GEOG/ENVS 4201 Biometeorology
  • Spring 2020 GEOG 3601 ATOC/ENVS 3600 Principles of Climate
  • Fall 2019 GEOG/ENVS 4201 Biometeorology

  • Fall 2019 GEOG 3251 Mountain Geography

2 men on dock posing in front of large ship

Installing instrumentation on Canada Steamship Lines vessel “M/V Whitefish Bay” for research on Great Lakes evaporation, 28-February, 2017

Keynote Speakers from Thailand, Japan, France, and the US with the Deputy Director of GISTDA at the “Satellite’s capability for managing the change of climate” meeting in Bangkok, January 26, 2017

Group of 8 people standing in front of meteorological tower

Visit to former student Parkorn Petchprayoon’s (second from left) new meteorological sires in Thailand, 24-January, 2017

Large auditorium full of people with overhead displays

Attending the United Nation’s Climate meetings in Paris, 8-December, 2015

4 men on deck of boat in front of a lighthouse posing for photo

Field work on Northern Lake Michigan at the White Shoal Lighthouse, 30-September, 2014