Kirk K
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knobelsp.bsky.social
Kirk K
@knobelsp.bsky.social
Remote sensing scientist, specializing in the use of light polarization to understand the atmosphere and ocean
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After years of planning, @planktonteuta.bsky.social and I (and many more) spent September in California for a field campaign called PACE-PAX, collecting data to validate #NASA ‘s new #PACE satellite
youtu.be/cCsuck3dJU4?...
PACE Scientists Take to the Sea and Air (and Really High Air)
YouTube video by NASA Goddard
youtu.be
Reposted by Kirk K
Just recently, on linkedin, the former director of NASA GSFC said that more than 32% of the Goddard workforce is gone.
32%
That is insane.
They are destroying us completely.
October 16, 2025 at 8:12 PM
The Potomac was brooding today
September 21, 2025 at 6:14 PM
Reposted by Kirk K
Speaking of fascism, I’m going to hold your hand while I say this:

Based on what we’ve seen the past 7 months, universities are NOT going to protect you. It’s now dangerous to assume they will. Knees have bent, rings have been kissed. Plan accordingly.

www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
UC Berkeley shares 160 names with Trump administration in ‘McCarthy era’ move
Prominent professor Judith Butler among students and faculty investigated for ‘alleged antisemitic incidents’
www.theguardian.com
September 13, 2025 at 3:57 PM
I’m working on earth visualizations with data from the NASA PACE satellite. This is ‘UV aerosol index’ data animated from the OCI instrument. It’s the smoke from the northwest blowing east. Can anybody suggest improvements?
September 7, 2025 at 6:54 PM
Reposted by Kirk K
‼️UPDATE‼️ Stand Up for Science files whistleblower complaint against the Trump Administration for "blatantly illegal" retaliation against the #FEMA36.

STAND WITH #FEMA36. SIGN our letter of support linked in bio. 🔗
September 3, 2025 at 9:28 PM
Reposted by Kirk K
Do you believe that climate facts should remain free from political interference and easily accessible? If so, watch our video and consider supporting our initiative.
Find out how you can support: donorbox.org/climate-us-p...
August 30, 2025 at 8:15 PM
Sometimes the _best_ way to agitate is with the absurd, like when Wavy Gravy would wear a clown costume to peace protests. He said he did it so the police would have to be seen beating up a clown.
This is exactly the point. IMAGINE that.

Mockery, humor, calling out the bullshit when these people take themselves super seriously...it's strategic, because their egos are their soft spots.

It's very intentional, peaceful agitation.
August 24, 2025 at 2:39 AM
Reposted by Kirk K
Liftoff of Ariane 6 flight #VA264 launching Metop-SG-A1 and Copernicus Sentinel-5A to orbit!
August 13, 2025 at 12:42 AM
Reposted by Kirk K
#MetopSGA1 has been busy... After being mated to its flight adaptor & undergoing final preparations, the satellite is now encapsulated & ready for launch! We are one step closer to lift off. 🚀

Find out more about the satellite - also hosting the Copernicus Sentinel-5 mission - here: bit.ly/4lGI0I6
August 5, 2025 at 12:06 PM
Reposted by Kirk K
🧪🛰️🌍

Today's smoke over the Mid-Atlantic highlights a critical gap in our air quality monitoring.

We rely on satellites and surface data to track long-range pollutants, but we are about to lose a vital part of that network.

1/n
August 4, 2025 at 1:01 PM
Reposted by Kirk K
Would some journalist please do an in depth profile of NASA GISS and the history of its soon to be abandoned, recently renovated home of 59 years before it’s left as an abandoned husk?
May 7, 2025 at 2:21 AM
Pleased to announce the opening of a new swimming pool for @henryb28cockroach.bsky.social all it took was a rainstorm
April 18, 2025 at 12:34 PM
Reposted by Kirk K
with the incoming RIF, nobody is safe. Not sure about me..
well, #opentowork in other space agencies.
March 19, 2025 at 2:23 PM
Reposted by Kirk K
I have been around this place for so long that they even gave me a 10 yr medal!
March 17, 2025 at 5:03 PM
Reposted by Kirk K
Hey. I have a friend. She lives on the other side of the door from me... I think i am in love
March 12, 2025 at 2:21 PM
Reposted by Kirk K
Much of the reporting on the DOGE cuts focuses on people going into the civil service because of the stability and benefits, but misses that the main reason for most: belief in public service and in the mission of helping their fellow Americans and the world.
March 3, 2025 at 3:46 AM
Reposted by Kirk K
Applications now open!
February 25, 2025 at 12:47 AM
Reposted by Kirk K
1. Regarding DOGE not permitting NOAA contacts with foreign nationals. As a former NOAA employee for 2+ decades, permit me a for-instance.
February 9, 2025 at 3:35 PM
Reposted by Kirk K
First birthday of our 🌈 satellite... Happy Birthday PACE
February 8, 2025 at 1:31 PM
Reposted by Kirk K
🌊 NASA PACE V3 processing has started. Rejoice!
Highlights:
Vicarous calibration aplied!
New products!
Algorithm refinments!
This process will take some time and also there is still issues with some data so pls check the oceancolor.gsfc.nasa.gov/data/reproce...
NASA Ocean Color
oceancolor.gsfc.nasa.gov
February 6, 2025 at 4:32 PM
Reposted by Kirk K
From. The. Rooftops.

You're not going to find a magic money-printing machine that will give you these types of reliable returns year-after-year. NOAA and NWS don't just keep us safe - they create immense value for the American taxpayer.
All NWS services: data, forecasts, radar, satellite, IT infrastructure, costs each American taxpayer $4/yr. Less than a latte. And each person gets back 73 x $4 = $292 a year in value for that service.

I think that’s a pretty good deal.
73:1 return on investment #ams2025
February 5, 2025 at 4:58 PM
Reposted by Kirk K
Please don't read too much into this...

... but I've created a personal webpage gathering some of our climate change visualization work.
marksubbarao.science/climate-grap...
Climate Graph Series - Mark SubbaRao
A series of data visualizations documenting climate change developed at the NASA Scientific Visualization Studio. These dynamic visualizations are designed to catch the eye utilizing innovative coordi...
marksubbarao.science
February 2, 2025 at 6:09 PM
Reposted by Kirk K
Summer brings intense #phytoplankton productivity to the #RossSea. These #CO2 eaters & #krill feeders highlight the swirls and ribbons of the local current field as do the #icebergs.

Full #Landsat image:
photos.app.goo.gl/GcP6B7AgRC3k... (graticule)
photos.app.goo.gl/m67qABMMjbT3... (no graticule)
February 1, 2025 at 9:10 PM