Shelley MacDonell

PhD University of Otago
BSc (Hons. I) University of Otago

I am a mountain hydrologist who focuses on understanding the impact of climate change on mountain and polar catchment systems. I use a mixed methods approach (field, laboratory, and modelling) to reduce uncertainties in the estimation of water production and delivery from catchment headwaters. My research aims to address:

• What is driving cryosphere change in mountain systems?

• How does the cryosphere impact the hydrological system?

• How will mountain catchments respond to future change?

I also maintain links with the Centro de Estudios Avanzados en Zonas Áridas (CEAZA), La Serena, Chile, as an Adjunct Researcher.

Selected Recent Publications

• Navarro, G., MacDonell, S., Valois, R. (2023) A conceptual hydrological model of semiarid Andean headwater systems in Chile. Progress in Physical Geography. doi: 10.1177/03091333221147

• Schauwecker, S., Palma, G., MacDonell, S., Ayala, A., Viale, M. (2022) The snowline and 0°C isotherm altitudes during precipitation events in the dry subtropical Chilean Andes as seen by citizen science, surface stations and ERA5 reanalysis data. Frontiers in Earth Science doi: 10.3389/feart.2022.875795.

• Schaffer, N. MacDonell, S. (2022) Brief communication: A framework to classify glaciers for water resource evaluation and management in the Southern Andes. The Cryosphere doi: 10.5194/tc-16-1779-2022.

• De Pasquale, G., Valois, R., Schaffer, N. MacDonell, S. (2022) Contrasting geophysical signature of a relict and an intact Andean rock glacier. The Cryosphere doi: 10.5194/tc-16-1579-2022.

• Robson, B.A., MacDonell, S., Ayala, A., Bolch, T., Nielsen, PR., Vivero, S. (2022) Glacier and rock glacier changes since the 1950s in the La Laguna catchment, Chile. The Cryosphere, 16: 647-665. doi: 10.5194/tc-16-647-202
  

External Links

Google scholar profile
University of Canterbury
Lincoln University

My research is both collaborative and interdisciplinary in nature, and sits at the interface between glaciology and hydrology. It has direct connection with diverse stakeholders within catchments, involves participatory science and has produced demonstrated impacts for water and environmental planning, management and policy. Key themes and related selected publications (last 5 years) include:

• Meltwater generation of snow and ice in cryosphere fed regions (Conway et al., 2022; Marambio et al., 2022; Voordendag et al., 2021; Cordero et al., 2021; Réveillet et al., 2020; Kinnard et al., 2020).

• Role of rock glaciers in arid regions (De Pasquale et al., 2022; Robson et al., 2022; Vivero et al., 2021; Robson et al., 2020; Schaffer et al., 2019);

• Semiarid catchment hydrological connectivity (Schauwecker et al., 2022; Schaffer and MacDonell, 2022; Valois et al., 2021; Mendoza et al., 2020; Valois et al., 2020a, 2020b; Masiokas et al., 2020; Burger et al., 2019; );

• Polar glaciology (MacDonell et al., 2021; Fernandoy et al., 2018).

Selected Current Research Projects

• Snow Water Equivalent Estimation – a new operational Tool for water resources decision-making in the Coquimbo Region (SWEET-Coquimbo). ANID – Chilean Science Agency, 2022-2024.

• Hydrological projections in mountain headwater systems. LU Research Support Fund, 2022.

• Compound and cascading climate extremes in Chile. ANID – Chilean Science Agency, 2022-2025. (Co-PI)

• Research Programme for Climate Action Planning (CLAP) – Mountain landscapes leader. ANID – Chilean Science Agency, 2020-2025.

• The hydrology of ice shelves: processes and implications for dynamics. ANID – Chilean Science Agency, 2018-2023.

Publication Record

Google scholar profile
University of Canterbury, School of Earth and Environment Faculty webpage
Lincoln University Research Page

I have principally taught hydrological and glaciological sciences for the past 15 years. In my teaching roles, I use innovative modes of delivery and case studies to encourage students to become self-motivated, critical learners. I have taught in both Chile and NZ, and led short professional courses in Chile. At the Waterways Centre I currently coordinate and/or contribute to the following courses:

• WATR201 Freshwater Resources

• WATR410 Catchment Systems

• WATR412 Hydrological Extremes

• WATR691 Water Science and Management Project

I also regularly give invited lectures to programmes at the University of Canterbury, University of La Serena and the University of Chile, Chile.

I have supervised eight postdoctoral fellows, two doctoral students and several masters’ and undergraduate students in Chile and Aotearoa New Zealand. I maintain strong links with the Centro de Estudios Avanzados en Zonas Áridas (CEAZA) in Chile, where I still lead projects, where positions are often available. I am often looking for graduate students and postdoctoral researchers who have strong academic backgrounds in Earth and/or environmental sciences who are curious, passionate and creative thinkers, generally with an interest in field-based research.

My current lab group is working across a wide range of glaciological and hydrological science projects, including:

Postdoctoral Researchers

Álvaro Ayala (CEAZA): Snow Water Equivalent Estimation – a new operational Tool for water resources decision-making in the Coquimbo Region (SWEET-Coquimbo), Chile

Simone Schauwecker (CEAZA): Snow Water Equivalent Estimation – a new operational Tool for water resources decision-making in the Coquimbo Region (SWEET-Coquimbo), Chile

Nicole Schaffer (CEAZA): Snow Water Equivalent Estimation – a new operational Tool for water resources decision-making in the Coquimbo Region (SWEET-Coquimbo), Chile

Gonzalo Cortés (CEAZA): Snow Water Equivalent Estimation – a new operational Tool for water resources decision-making in the Coquimbo Region (SWEET-Coquimbo), Chile

Vacant (CEAZA): Research Programme for Climate Action Planning (CLAP)

Vacant (CEAZA): Compound and cascading climate extremes in Chile

Graduate Students

Zane Shadbolt (Waterways, Senior Supervisor): Splitting streamflow in the Broken River Basin

Aimee Calkin (Waterways, Co-supervisor): National Survey of Encroachment into the Forgotten Land of Braided Rivers

Gonzalo Navarro (University of La Serena, Chile): The effect of the internal structure of a glacier on hydrological routing

Marcelo Marrambio (University of La Serena): Prediction of mass and energy flows inside an ice shelf using local numerical models

Eduardo Yáñez (University of Magallanes, Chile): Modeling of High Mountain Glacio-Hydrological Processes in the Semiarid Andes of Chile (30°S)

Camilo Guzmán (University of La Serena): Ruonff characterisation in a semiarid Andean basin during drought years