Dr. Michael Keables

Michael Keables

Associate Professor

Director, Graduate Program, Geography & the Environment

  • Faculty

What I do

As department chair, I am responsible for the administration of the department, ensuring that faculty and students receive the support and resources they require to succeed.

Professional Biography

For more than 30 years Dr. Keables has taught a variety of physical geography and technical courses: introductory, intermediate, advanced and graduate level atmospheric science courses; graduate seminars in climatology; environmental issues; introductory physical geography; photointerpretation; remote sensing; darkroom cartography. Classes he presently teaches:
GEOG 1201 - Environmental Systems: Weather and Climate; GEOG 2020 - Computer Cartography; GEOG 3600 – Meteorology; GEOG 3610 – Climatology.

Degree(s)

  • Ph.D., University of Wisconsin- Madison, 1986
  • MS, University of Wisconsin- Madison, 1982
  • BA, University of Colorado- Boulder, 1978

Professional Affiliations

  • Association of American Geographers
  • Colorado Geographic Alliance
  • National Geographic Society
  • American Association for the Advancement of Science
  • Sigma Xi Scientific Research Society

Research

Dr. Keables' research interests center around climatology and water resources. Current projects underway:

* Associations between teleconnection patterns and soil water balance parameters 

* Impact of climate change on local and regional water budgets

Featured Publications

Keables, M. J., & Mehta, S. (2010). A Soil Water Climatology for Kansas. Great Plains Research, 20, 229-248.
Suzanne, H., & Keables, M. J. (1998). Synoptic associations of winter climate and snowfall variability in New England, USA, 1950-1992. International Journal of Climatology, 18(3), 281-298.
Keables, M. J. (1988). Spatial associations of midtropospheric circulation and Upper Mississippi River Basin hydrology. Annals of the Association of American Geographers, 78, 74-92.
Keables, M. J. (1992). Spatial variability of midtropospheric circulation patterns and associated surface climate during ENSO winters. Physical Geography, 13, 331-348.

Awards

  • Distinguished Teaching Achievement Award, National Council for Geographic Education
  • Leadership Excellence Award, Ritchie School of Engineering and Computer Science
  • Blackboard Catalyst Award for Exemplary Courses, Blackboard Learn
  • Exceptional Service Award, Natural Sciences Division, University of Denver