What I Do
I lead the remote sensing and product development efforts at the Polar Geospatial Center. I specialize in designing and automating image processing workflows that transform raw data into usable end products. I’ve spent several seasons at McMurdo Station, Antarctica, providing one-on-one support for researchers and research support personnel as part of the US Antarctic Program.
Education
- Master of Science in Software Engineering, University of Minnesota, 2015
- Master of Geographic Information Science, University of Minnesota, 2010
- B.A. Biological Anthropology, Harvard University, 2005
Interests
I love backpacking, canoeing, kayaking, skiing, and biking. When I’m not off on long camping trips in the Arctic, I’ll often be found working around the house, building or fixing something, or digging in the garden.
Awards
2019 NOAA David Johnson Award for Outstanding Innovative Use of Earth Observation Satellite Data
2019 Mounds Park Academy Alumni Association Award
Selected Publications
Howat I.M., Porter C., Noh M.J., Smith B.E., Jeong S. (2015) “Brief communication: Sudden drainage of a subglacial lake beneath the Greenland Ice Sheet” Cryosphere, 9 (1), pp. 103-108. doi: 10.5194/tc-9-103-2015
Stapleton S., LaRue M., Lecomte N., Atkinson S., Garshelis D., Porter C., Atwood T. (2014) “Polar bears from space: Assessing satellite imagery as a tool to track arctic wildlife” PLoS ONE, 9 (7). doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0101513
LaRue M.A., Rotella J.J., Garrott R.A, Siniff D.B., Ainley D.G., Stauffer G.E., Porter C.C., and Morin P.J. (2011) “Satellite imagery can be used to detect variation in abundance of Weddell seals (Leptonychotes weddellii) in Erebus Bay, Antarctica” Polar Biology, 34 (11), pp. 1727-1737. doi: 10.1007/s00300-011-1023-0
Fretwell P.T., LaRue M.A., Morin P., Kooyman G.L., Wienecke B., Ratcliffe N., Fox A.J., Fleming A.H., Porter C., Trathan P.N. (2012) “An emperor penguin population estimate: The first global, synoptic survey of a species from space” PLoS ONE, 7 (4). doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0033751
Mallol C., Marlowe F.W., Wood B.M., Porter C.C. (2007) “Earth, wind, and fire: ethnoarchaeological signals of Hadza fires” Journal of Archaeological Science, 34 (12), pp. 2035-2052. doi: 10.1016/j.jas.2007.02.002
Porter C.C., Marlowe F.W. (2007) “How marginal are forager habitats?” Journal of Archaeological Science, 34 (1), pp. 59-68. doi: 10.1016/j.jas.2006.03.014