Jackie Caplan-Auerbach
@geophysichick.bsky.social
Seismologist, volcanologist, professor, and hazards junkie. Soapbox stander. Opinions are my own but I'm happy to share. She/her.
Did the Daily Mail ask a single seismologist about these data? Did they interview a volcanologist? Did they talk with anyone who studies this volcano for a living?
No. Here's their data source: "volcano watchers on social media". 15/n
No. Here's their data source: "volcano watchers on social media". 15/n
November 19, 2025 at 9:49 PM
Did the Daily Mail ask a single seismologist about these data? Did they interview a volcanologist? Did they talk with anyone who studies this volcano for a living?
No. Here's their data source: "volcano watchers on social media". 15/n
No. Here's their data source: "volcano watchers on social media". 15/n
Let's compare the last day at station STAR to another nearby station (RCS). STAR is maxed out, whereas RCS shows lots of tiny little blips--these are likely creaks and pops from within Rainier's zillions of glaciers. 11/n
November 19, 2025 at 9:49 PM
Let's compare the last day at station STAR to another nearby station (RCS). STAR is maxed out, whereas RCS shows lots of tiny little blips--these are likely creaks and pops from within Rainier's zillions of glaciers. 11/n
Faulty instruments often generate wonky electrical signals. That's what is currently going on with station STAR on Mount Rainier. 8/n
November 19, 2025 at 9:49 PM
Faulty instruments often generate wonky electrical signals. That's what is currently going on with station STAR on Mount Rainier. 8/n
Speaking of bad science in media (and I am using the term "media" pretty loosely here), allow me to use The Daily Mail as evidence of why you should get your science information from reputable agencies rather than crap websites. I'm not going to link the article, but it looks like this:
1/n
1/n
November 19, 2025 at 9:49 PM
Speaking of bad science in media (and I am using the term "media" pretty loosely here), allow me to use The Daily Mail as evidence of why you should get your science information from reputable agencies rather than crap websites. I'm not going to link the article, but it looks like this:
1/n
1/n
Fox News has interpreted Amelia Earhart's final transmission as her being "near 157 degrees east longitude and 337 degrees south latitude."
Join me, friends, at 337 degrees south where we will party with the Loch Ness monster, Sasquatch, and a variety of other things that do not exist.
Join me, friends, at 337 degrees south where we will party with the Loch Ness monster, Sasquatch, and a variety of other things that do not exist.
November 19, 2025 at 5:51 PM
Fox News has interpreted Amelia Earhart's final transmission as her being "near 157 degrees east longitude and 337 degrees south latitude."
Join me, friends, at 337 degrees south where we will party with the Loch Ness monster, Sasquatch, and a variety of other things that do not exist.
Join me, friends, at 337 degrees south where we will party with the Loch Ness monster, Sasquatch, and a variety of other things that do not exist.
Job alert!!! My department (Geology at @wwu.edu ) is searching for a hydrogeologist at the assistant professor level (tenure track). Fabulous colleagues and students (undergrad and master's level), spectacular setting. Ping me with questions.
hr.wwu.edu/careers-facu...
hr.wwu.edu/careers-facu...
November 13, 2025 at 8:25 PM
Job alert!!! My department (Geology at @wwu.edu ) is searching for a hydrogeologist at the assistant professor level (tenure track). Fabulous colleagues and students (undergrad and master's level), spectacular setting. Ping me with questions.
hr.wwu.edu/careers-facu...
hr.wwu.edu/careers-facu...
Never realized how much excellent life advice is available in the comments to the New York Times cooking section.
October 25, 2025 at 10:11 PM
Never realized how much excellent life advice is available in the comments to the New York Times cooking section.
Intrigued by this extraordinarily inclusive list of languages one can select at a local doctors office. They apparently welcome time travelers and aliens as well as global citizens.
October 9, 2025 at 2:32 PM
Intrigued by this extraordinarily inclusive list of languages one can select at a local doctors office. They apparently welcome time travelers and aliens as well as global citizens.
Bit of fieldwork nostalgia--these photos of an amazing cave in columnar jointed rocks on Tanaga Island. Back in the day when my hair was still brown (almost all grey now).
September 29, 2025 at 8:29 PM
Bit of fieldwork nostalgia--these photos of an amazing cave in columnar jointed rocks on Tanaga Island. Back in the day when my hair was still brown (almost all grey now).
Someone just brought me a scrapbook that was found under the floorboards of my attic before I lived here. Includes some interesting news articles from 1927 and apparently the cure for diphtheria. Don't tell RFK.
September 27, 2025 at 11:42 PM
Someone just brought me a scrapbook that was found under the floorboards of my attic before I lived here. Includes some interesting news articles from 1927 and apparently the cure for diphtheria. Don't tell RFK.
Honestly, you can't make this stuff up.
September 26, 2025 at 8:53 PM
Honestly, you can't make this stuff up.
Adventures in algebra. Had to get a new oven knob. Temps on the old knob run from 275 to 500. New knob runs 220 to 440. The old knob conveniently marked temperatures at 25 degree intervals, whereas the new one has (no joke) marks every 36.7 degrees.
Find 350 degrees on the new knob. I dare you.
Find 350 degrees on the new knob. I dare you.
September 7, 2025 at 4:48 PM
Adventures in algebra. Had to get a new oven knob. Temps on the old knob run from 275 to 500. New knob runs 220 to 440. The old knob conveniently marked temperatures at 25 degree intervals, whereas the new one has (no joke) marks every 36.7 degrees.
Find 350 degrees on the new knob. I dare you.
Find 350 degrees on the new knob. I dare you.
Also posted by AEC, this figure showing the timing of the events--you can see that they become more frequent as we approach the time of the main landslide.
August 13, 2025 at 7:10 PM
Also posted by AEC, this figure showing the timing of the events--you can see that they become more frequent as we approach the time of the main landslide.
The Alaska Earthquake Center posted this figure showing the events: the tiny wiggles that precede the really big one are the precursors in question. (Read more at earthquake.alaska.edu/major-landsl...)
August 13, 2025 at 7:10 PM
The Alaska Earthquake Center posted this figure showing the events: the tiny wiggles that precede the really big one are the precursors in question. (Read more at earthquake.alaska.edu/major-landsl...)
Couldn't do much work on the recent AK landslide today because I was busy making curly fries at the NW Washington Fair. Science starts again tomorrow..
August 12, 2025 at 1:30 AM
Couldn't do much work on the recent AK landslide today because I was busy making curly fries at the NW Washington Fair. Science starts again tomorrow..
Good call, and yes!
August 11, 2025 at 3:03 PM
Good call, and yes!
WOW, there are a lot of salmon jumping at Brooks Falls (Alaska) right now. Check out salmon and bears on the live cam: explore.org/livecams/cur...
July 19, 2025 at 8:56 PM
WOW, there are a lot of salmon jumping at Brooks Falls (Alaska) right now. Check out salmon and bears on the live cam: explore.org/livecams/cur...
I just love this typo in the NYTimes. Not only is it an ironic error, but misspelling "Genius" is the only way that one could justify Trump's observation (highlighted).
July 18, 2025 at 7:46 PM
I just love this typo in the NYTimes. Not only is it an ironic error, but misspelling "Genius" is the only way that one could justify Trump's observation (highlighted).
It's a lousy year to celebrate July 4, so we are focusing on our community. Spent the past week building a couple of holes of mini golf for the neighborhood to enjoy when walking by.
July 4, 2025 at 8:38 PM
It's a lousy year to celebrate July 4, so we are focusing on our community. Spent the past week building a couple of holes of mini golf for the neighborhood to enjoy when walking by.
Timeline cleanse: my daughter is home from college and made a cake. First time she's attempted a heart shape. I think she's amazing. ❤️
June 6, 2025 at 5:45 PM
Timeline cleanse: my daughter is home from college and made a cake. First time she's attempted a heart shape. I think she's amazing. ❤️
The US Army texted me to recruit my daughter today. I had thoughts.
May 19, 2025 at 11:29 PM
The US Army texted me to recruit my daughter today. I had thoughts.
I've been watching for a while, so the light angle has totally changed. Here's a good example of the brownish stuff--this time coming from the other side, I think.
May 12, 2025 at 4:26 AM
I've been watching for a while, so the light angle has totally changed. Here's a good example of the brownish stuff--this time coming from the other side, I think.
Curious what other volcano geeks think is going on around the plume. There's a white (water?) gas that forms on the outside of the brownish plume. Is that brown plume gas? Pele's hair? Guessing the water cools more on the outside and condenses?
May 12, 2025 at 3:55 AM
Curious what other volcano geeks think is going on around the plume. There's a white (water?) gas that forms on the outside of the brownish plume. Is that brown plume gas? Pele's hair? Guessing the water cools more on the outside and condenses?
Fossils of the Anthropocene.
May 5, 2025 at 1:22 AM
Fossils of the Anthropocene.