DenisMuthike

  • Assistant Research Professor | Associate Faculty Director
Man smiles in dark sweater

Dr. Denis Muthike research interests are in advancing knowledge on the impact of hydro-climatological events on society. He combines expertise in climate science, remote sensing & geospatial analytics, hydrology, data science, stakeholder engagement, and technology transfer. His innovations in developing tools that integrate, analyze, and extract information from many large and often diverse data sets have enabled decisions that required the inclusion of multiple data sets. His research contributions have been instrumental in targeting climate resilience interventions in climate-vulnerable and marginalized rural communities, resulting in improved capacity to adapt to climate impacts.

Dr. Muthike currently leads Mortenson Center’s climate resilience projects in East Africa, primarily focused on improving food and security programming. He is also an Associate Faculty Director providing leadership for the Global Engineering Residential Academic Program. He was on the NASA SERVIR Eastern and Southern Africa hub team in Kenya for over a decade, leading research on weather and climate resilience in the region prior to joining the Mortenson Center. He has trained over 500 professionals in various climate topics and mentored more than a dozen young climate scientists starting their careers in the field. He is a recipient of the Global Engineering and Resilience Professional Award, SERVIR Individual Excellence Award and a Hult Prize recognition for mentorship.

Education

  • PhD, Environmental Studies,
  • MSc, Climate Change,Dept of Meteorology,University of Nairobi, Kenya
  • BSc, Environmental Science,Environmental Dept,Kenyatta University, Kenya

Recent Publications

  • Macharia, D., Mugabo, L., Kasiti, F., Noriega, A., MacDonald, L., & Thomas, E. (Accepted). Streamflow and flood prediction in Rwanda using machine learning and remote sensing in support of rural first-mile transport connectivity. Frontiers in Climate Risk Management.
  • Macharia, D., Ouma, G., Oludhe, C., Misiani, H., Wahome, A., & Mugo, R (2023). Projected rainfall and temperature anomalies expected to worsen social vulnerability in Kenya. Authorea (Preprint).
  • Macharia, D., Fankhauser, K., Selker, J. S., Neff, J. C., & Thomas, E. A. (2022). Validation and Intercomparison of Satellite-Based Rainfall Products over Africa with TAHMO In Situ Rainfall Observations. Journal of Hydrometeorology, 23(7), 1131-1154.
  • Fankhauser, K., Macharia, D., Coyle, J., Kathuni, S., McNally, A., Slinski, K., & Thomas, E. (2022). Estimating groundwater use and demand in arid Kenya through assimilation of satellite data and in-situ sensors with machine learning toward drought early action. Science of the Total Environment, 831, 154453.
  • Macharia, D., MacDonald, L., Mugabo, L., Donovan, K., Brooks, W., Gudissa, S., ... & Thomas, E. (2022). Mixed methods study design, pre-analysis plan, process evaluation and baseline results of trailbridges in rural Rwanda. Science of the Total Environment, 838, 156546.
  • Petiteville, I., Eddy, A., Towashiraporn, P., Wang, K., & Macharia, D. (2022). The GEO‐DARMA Framework as a Mechanism for Future Increased Use of Satellite Data in Pursuit of Global Domestic Resource Mobilization Goals. Earth Observation Applications and Global Policy Frameworks, 197-207.
  • Shukla, S., Macharia, D., Husak, G. J., Landsfeld, M., Nakalembe, C. L., Blakeley, S. L., ... & Way-Henthorne, J. (2021). Enhancing access and usage of earth observations in environmental decision-making in Eastern and Southern Africa through capacity building. Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems, 5, 504063.
  • Shukla, S., McEvoy, D., Hobbins, M., Husak, G., Huntington, J., Funk, C., ... & Verdin, J. (2017). Examining the value of global seasonal reference evapotranspiration forecasts to support FEWS NET’s food insecurity outlooks. Journal of Applied Meteorology and Climatology, 56(11), 2941-2949.
  • Macharia, D.,Kaijage, E.,Kindberg, L.,Koech, G.,Ndungu, L.,Wahome, A.,Mugo, R.(2020). Mapping Climate Vulnerability of River Basin Communities in Tanzania to Inform Resilience Interventions.Sustainability. 12. 10.3390/su12104102.
  • Voigt, Stefan, Fabio Giulio-Tonolo, Josh Lyons, Jan Kučera, Brenda Jones, Tobias Schneiderhan, Gabriel Platzeck et al. "Global trends in satellite-based emergency mapping." Science 353, no. 6296 (2016): 247-252.
  • de Sherbinin, A.,Bukvic, A.,Rohat, G.,Gall, M., McCusker, B.,Preston, B.,Apotsos, A.,Fish, C.,Kienberger, S.,Muhonda, P.,Wilhelmi, O.,Macharia, D.,Shubert, W.,Sliuzas, R., Tomaszewski, B.,Zhang, S.(2019). Climate vulnerability mapping: A systematic review and future prospects.Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews: Climate Change. 10. 10.1002/wcc.600.
  • Funk, C.,Davenport, F., Galu, L.,Pomposi, C.,Macharia, D.,Husak, G.,Faka, D.(2018). Anthropogenic Enhancement of Moderate-to-Strong El Niño Events Likely Contributed to Drought and Poor Harvests in Southern Africa During 2016.Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society. 99. 10.1175/BAMS-D-17-0112.1.
  • Thomas, E.,Needoba, J., Kaberia, D.,Butterworth, J.,Adams, E.,Oduor, P.,Macharia, D.,Mitheu, F.,Mugo, R.,Nagel, C.(2019). Quantifying increased groundwater demand from prolonged drought in the East African Rift Valley.Science of The Total Environment. 666. 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.02.206.