Cole is a Postdoctoral Fellow in the Radar Science Group within the Radar Science and Engineering Section at JPL. As part of the Observational Products for End-Users from Remote Sensing Analysis (OPERA) and Advanced Rapid Imaging and Analysis (ARIA) project science teams, his research focuses on quantifying natural hazard impacts using spaceborne synthetic aperture radar and optical imagery, and on developing automated open-source tools that aid hazard mitigation and disaster response efforts through rapid product delivery to emergency managers and responders.

Cole obtained his Ph.D. in Geological Sciences from the University of Texas at Austin, where his dissertation focused on developing and applying techniques for automated monitoring of river dynamics using time-lapse optical satellite imagery, lidar-derived topography, and numerical modeling. Prior to his Ph.D. studies, he earned his B.Sc. in Geophysics from the University of Texas at Austin, where he conducted research applying active source seismology to image and reconstruct sea level-related coastal landscape dynamics within the shallow subsurface of the Gulf of Mexico. Cole has deep interests in satellite remote sensing and open source geospatial software development, and he has collaborated with organizations including OpenTopography and JPL to develop tools for enhancing access and utilization of cloud-hosted resources.

Ph.D., Geological Sciences, University of Texas at Austin

B.Sc., Geophysics, University of Texas at Austin

• Earth Science  | Oceans, Sea Level Rise, And Coastal Management
• Earth Science  | Natural Hazards, Including Extreme Weather Events, Wildfires, Earthquakes, Etc.
• Earth Science  | Water Cycle, Hydrology, Including Freshwater Availability And Resource Management

• Disaster Response  
• Geomorphology  
• Remote Sensing  
• SAR/InSAR  

Melgar, D., Weldon, R., Wang, Y., Bato, M. G., Aung, L. T., Shi, X., Wiwegwing, W., Khaing, S. N., Min, S., Thant, M., Speed, C., Zinke, R., Fielding, E., Meltzner, A., & Dawson, T. (2025). Supershear source model of the 2025 M7.8 Myanmar earthquake and paleoseismology of the Sagaing Fault: regions of significant overlap with past earthquakes. Seismica, 4(2). https://doi.org/10.26443/seismica.v4i2.1771

Speed, C.M., Sylvester, Z., Durkin, P.R., Flaig, P.P. (2024) Three-dimensional anatomy of a Cretaceous river avulsion. Geology. https://doi.org/10.1130/G52254.1

Speed, C.M., Sylvester, Z., Morris, P.D., Mohrig, D. (2024) The impact of post-cutoff bend curvature on channel kinematics in meandering rivers: An example from the Trinity River, Texas, USA. Geological Society, London, Special Publications, 540(1), SP540-2023-118. https://doi.org/10.1144/sp540-2023-118

Speed, C.M., Swartz, J.M., Gulick, S.P.S., Goff, J.A. (2022) Seismic expression and stratigraphic preservation of a coastal plain fluvial channel belt and floodplain channels on the Gulf of Mexico inner continental shelf. Sedimentology, 70(2), 451-474.https://doi.org/10.1111/sed.13044