Dr. Colin Kretz Bloom

From geomorphic change following tsunami to the influence of earthquakes on landslide distributions to drought and post-wildfire ecological response, I am interested in a wide range of geospatial problems facing resource managers. My research draws from a variety of disciplines and almost always incorporates large empirical datasets and spatial analysis.

In my current role at WSL, I am using 1) field observations and remote sensing to identify drought effects on Swiss forests and 2) spatial modeling to predict future drought risk under a changing climate. I am interested in collaboration and I encourage you to reach out if you think our interests may align well.

Please see my LinkedIn page for a complete list of previous experience.

Recent positions:

2023 to Present: Postdoc in Spatial Modelling of Drought Effects on Forests at WSL

2022 to 2023: Postdoctoral Research Associate at the University of Canterbury, New Zealand

2019 to 2022: PhD in Geology at the University of Canterbury, New Zealand

2017 to 2019: Staff Geologist at Golder Associates (now WSP), United States

Please see this link for a complete publication list.

Select publications:

Bloom, C.K., Koch T.L., Meusburger, K., Zweifel, R., Walthert, L., Etzold, S., Scherrer, D., Wilhelm, M., Kahmen, A., Baltensweiler, A., 2025, Towards near real-time drought stress assessment in Europe’s temperate forests – comparing remote sensing time series with continuous in-situ tree-level measurements: Ecological Indicators. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2025.113757

Singeisen, C., Wolter, A., Massey, C., Stahl, T., Bloom, C., 2025, Unravelling coseismic rock slope failures in closely jointed Torlesse greywacke: Insights from numerical modelling: Engineering Geology. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enggeo.2025.108215

Singeisen, C., Massey, C., Wolter, A., Stahl, T., Kellett R., Bruce, Z., Bloom, C., Mason, D., 2024, Evolution of an earthquake-induced landslide complex in South Island, New Zealand: how fault damage zones and seismicity contribute to slope failures: Geosphere. https://doi.org/10.1130/GES02668.1

Bloom, C.K., Singeisen, C., Stahl, T., Howell, A., and Massey, C., 2023, Earthquake Contributions to Coastal Cliff Retreat: Earth Surface Dynamics. https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-11-757-2023

Bloom, C.K., Singeisen, C., Stahl, T., Massey, C., Howell, A., and Mason D., 2023, Coastal earthquake induced landslide susceptibility during the 2016 Mw 7.8 Kaikōura earthquake, New Zealand: Natural Hazards and Earth Systems Sciences. https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-23-2987-2023

Bloom, C.K., Howell, A., Stahl, T., Massey, C., and Singeisen, C., 2022, The influence of off-fault deformation zones on the near-fault distribution of coseismic landslides: Geology. https://doi.org/10.1130/G49429.1

Singeisen, C., Massey, C., Wolter, A., Kellet, R., Bloom, C., Stahl, T., Gasston, C., and Jones, K., 2022, Mechanisms of rock slope failures triggered by the 2016 Mw 7.8 Kaikōura earthquake and implications for landslide susceptibility: Geomorphology. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geomorph.2022.108386

Bloom, C., Stahl, T., and Howell, A., 2021, Distributed displacement on the Papatea fault from the 2016 Mw 7.8 Kaikōura earthquake and implications for hazard planning: New Zealand Journal of Geology and Geophysics. https://doi.org/10.1080/00288306.2021.1975777

Bloom, C.K., MacInnes, B., Higman, B., Shugar, D.H., Venditti, J.G., Richmond, B., and Bilderback, E.L., 2020, Catastrophic landscape modification from a massive landslide tsunami in Taan Fiord, Alaska: Geomorphology. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geomorph.2019.107029

Higman, B., et al., 2018, The 2015 landslide and tsunami in Taan Fiord, Alaska: Scientific Reports. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-018-30475-w

Golombek, M., et al., 2017, Selection of the InSight landing site: Space Science Reviews. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11214-016-0321-9