Dr. Robin Bond, biogeochemist at a PUI 🧪
@diygeochemist.bsky.social
Ace/autistic biracial biogeochemist. I study life + trace metal cycling + reactive oxygen species & teach analytical chem. Also union gal, bookworm, Youtuber, DV survivor w/ PTSD. She/they. My views are my own and not those of my institution.
I don't have them handy, but I do remember them being pretty low!
Here's a pic of the sediment in the wetland. Sorry, not the best pic, I was balancing on a very narrow strip of solid ground
Here's a pic of the sediment in the wetland. Sorry, not the best pic, I was balancing on a very narrow strip of solid ground
November 17, 2025 at 12:36 AM
I don't have them handy, but I do remember them being pretty low!
Here's a pic of the sediment in the wetland. Sorry, not the best pic, I was balancing on a very narrow strip of solid ground
Here's a pic of the sediment in the wetland. Sorry, not the best pic, I was balancing on a very narrow strip of solid ground
Thanks to Alivia S., Sarah R. (both shown here), and Mara W. for helping me pull samples in the WYL ecosystem!
It was about 42 degrees out, before windchill (which was considerable), so I appreciate their willingness to bundle up and give me a hand!
It was about 42 degrees out, before windchill (which was considerable), so I appreciate their willingness to bundle up and give me a hand!
November 17, 2025 at 12:29 AM
Thanks to Alivia S., Sarah R. (both shown here), and Mara W. for helping me pull samples in the WYL ecosystem!
It was about 42 degrees out, before windchill (which was considerable), so I appreciate their willingness to bundle up and give me a hand!
It was about 42 degrees out, before windchill (which was considerable), so I appreciate their willingness to bundle up and give me a hand!
Getting down to the wetland where you see the rusty red on the satellite photo was a challenge--lots of whacking through underbrush.
Pulling samples from the wetland was even more precarious. I always do anything involving muck/potential quicksand myself.
Pulling samples from the wetland was even more precarious. I always do anything involving muck/potential quicksand myself.
November 17, 2025 at 12:27 AM
Getting down to the wetland where you see the rusty red on the satellite photo was a challenge--lots of whacking through underbrush.
Pulling samples from the wetland was even more precarious. I always do anything involving muck/potential quicksand myself.
Pulling samples from the wetland was even more precarious. I always do anything involving muck/potential quicksand myself.
Following this, we made our way down to the stream leading out of the lake. You probably saw on the satellite photo in post 2 that parts of it are red. So I figured iron oxides might be precipitating out of the water.
I was right.
I was right.
November 17, 2025 at 12:22 AM
Following this, we made our way down to the stream leading out of the lake. You probably saw on the satellite photo in post 2 that parts of it are red. So I figured iron oxides might be precipitating out of the water.
I was right.
I was right.
Next up: the main course, WYL itself. As you can see, it's just starting to freeze over.
November 17, 2025 at 12:20 AM
Next up: the main course, WYL itself. As you can see, it's just starting to freeze over.
To understand a polluted waterway, you need to look at all the points where stuff might enter or leave...so we started by running tests on the stream leading into the lake. Just a wee little stream.
November 17, 2025 at 12:16 AM
To understand a polluted waterway, you need to look at all the points where stuff might enter or leave...so we started by running tests on the stream leading into the lake. Just a wee little stream.
One of the standard tests I run is a colorimetric test for ammonia. The more ammonia there is in solution, the darker yellow the test becomes. I took a picture of the ammonia test I ran in October...it is not yellow.
November 17, 2025 at 12:12 AM
One of the standard tests I run is a colorimetric test for ammonia. The more ammonia there is in solution, the darker yellow the test becomes. I took a picture of the ammonia test I ran in October...it is not yellow.
It took me a while to figure out how to get there. (Thanks to @lizmandeville.bsky.social for directions.)
During my first visit, I didn't have all the stuff I needed to do a proper sampling run, and I also didn't have much time. But I ran enough tests to know that it was weird.
During my first visit, I didn't have all the stuff I needed to do a proper sampling run, and I also didn't have much time. But I ran enough tests to know that it was weird.
November 17, 2025 at 12:08 AM
It took me a while to figure out how to get there. (Thanks to @lizmandeville.bsky.social for directions.)
During my first visit, I didn't have all the stuff I needed to do a proper sampling run, and I also didn't have much time. But I ran enough tests to know that it was weird.
During my first visit, I didn't have all the stuff I needed to do a proper sampling run, and I also didn't have much time. But I ran enough tests to know that it was weird.
This weekend we visited a waterway that isn't part of our normal sampling schedule. It started with this lake that I saw on satellite maps a year or so ago.
November 17, 2025 at 12:06 AM
This weekend we visited a waterway that isn't part of our normal sampling schedule. It started with this lake that I saw on satellite maps a year or so ago.
Trying again with a shorter clip
November 13, 2025 at 4:04 AM
Trying again with a shorter clip
Most of my aurora pics are taken with 3- or 10-second exposures.
The video camera on my phone doesn't capture the light as well, so I usually only get black videos afterwards. Until tonight...
It's not great, but it at least gives you an idea of what things look like live.
The video camera on my phone doesn't capture the light as well, so I usually only get black videos afterwards. Until tonight...
It's not great, but it at least gives you an idea of what things look like live.
November 13, 2025 at 3:54 AM
Most of my aurora pics are taken with 3- or 10-second exposures.
The video camera on my phone doesn't capture the light as well, so I usually only get black videos afterwards. Until tonight...
It's not great, but it at least gives you an idea of what things look like live.
The video camera on my phone doesn't capture the light as well, so I usually only get black videos afterwards. Until tonight...
It's not great, but it at least gives you an idea of what things look like live.
I intentionally waited to go outside until the weather app said that the clouds were mostly gone. I probably waited too long.
By the time I got to my dark sky site, the other aurora watchers said it was kinda wrapping up. Nonetheless....
By the time I got to my dark sky site, the other aurora watchers said it was kinda wrapping up. Nonetheless....
November 13, 2025 at 3:49 AM
I intentionally waited to go outside until the weather app said that the clouds were mostly gone. I probably waited too long.
By the time I got to my dark sky site, the other aurora watchers said it was kinda wrapping up. Nonetheless....
By the time I got to my dark sky site, the other aurora watchers said it was kinda wrapping up. Nonetheless....
Aurora acquired...now the real question, do I drive to my dark sky site?
November 13, 2025 at 2:55 AM
Aurora acquired...now the real question, do I drive to my dark sky site?
But this time, all 14 of my calibration graphs looked like this.
October 31, 2025 at 3:03 AM
But this time, all 14 of my calibration graphs looked like this.
About half a mile. The lava fountains weren't going in Halemaumau (this was in 2012), so best I could do was get a faint red glow at night.
October 20, 2025 at 11:38 PM
About half a mile. The lava fountains weren't going in Halemaumau (this was in 2012), so best I could do was get a faint red glow at night.
Probably Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park.
I wish I'd had the money to take a helicopter closer in to the lava flow near Pu'u O'o.
I wish I'd had the money to take a helicopter closer in to the lava flow near Pu'u O'o.
October 20, 2025 at 4:46 PM
Probably Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park.
I wish I'd had the money to take a helicopter closer in to the lava flow near Pu'u O'o.
I wish I'd had the money to take a helicopter closer in to the lava flow near Pu'u O'o.
I have yet to match the brilliance of my 2023 autumnal dog photo
October 10, 2025 at 3:32 PM
I have yet to match the brilliance of my 2023 autumnal dog photo
Autumnal dog photos, 2025 version
October 10, 2025 at 3:27 PM
Autumnal dog photos, 2025 version
Jeez.
I only went to travel.state.gov during my tour, which had a more normal banner
I only went to travel.state.gov during my tour, which had a more normal banner
October 3, 2025 at 11:25 AM
Jeez.
I only went to travel.state.gov during my tour, which had a more normal banner
I only went to travel.state.gov during my tour, which had a more normal banner
After this shocking discovery last night, I decided to see if other government websites had this propaganda. Not the state department. Not social security. Not BLM, which had this relatively normal notification.
Only the USDA sites had the propaganda.
Only the USDA sites had the propaganda.
October 3, 2025 at 11:03 AM
After this shocking discovery last night, I decided to see if other government websites had this propaganda. Not the state department. Not social security. Not BLM, which had this relatively normal notification.
Only the USDA sites had the propaganda.
Only the USDA sites had the propaganda.
I was looking at the Forest Service website, trying to plan a trip next year... There have been many government shutdowns over the years. I've never seen *anything* like this before.
October 3, 2025 at 2:54 AM
I was looking at the Forest Service website, trying to plan a trip next year... There have been many government shutdowns over the years. I've never seen *anything* like this before.
Guess who turned 5 over the weekend?
THIS GOOD BOI!
THIS GOOD BOI!
September 22, 2025 at 1:21 PM
Guess who turned 5 over the weekend?
THIS GOOD BOI!
THIS GOOD BOI!
I was supposed to be working on the narrative for my promotion portfolio tonight. Got sidetracked by the aurora instead. Sorry not sorry.
Probably should go to bed now though instead of going through the pictures for the tenth time.
Probably should go to bed now though instead of going through the pictures for the tenth time.
September 15, 2025 at 4:12 AM
I was supposed to be working on the narrative for my promotion portfolio tonight. Got sidetracked by the aurora instead. Sorry not sorry.
Probably should go to bed now though instead of going through the pictures for the tenth time.
Probably should go to bed now though instead of going through the pictures for the tenth time.
I think this picture managed to capture more of what it looks like to the naked eye.
September 15, 2025 at 3:21 AM
I think this picture managed to capture more of what it looks like to the naked eye.
Probably should have stayed at the boat launch longer. Pulled into my driveway and it was so bright that I could see it despite the super-bright streetlight.
September 15, 2025 at 3:10 AM
Probably should have stayed at the boat launch longer. Pulled into my driveway and it was so bright that I could see it despite the super-bright streetlight.