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UAlberta Volcanic Ash Research Group @tephrotastic.bsky.social · 04/02/2026

We are kicking off some new work in the Northern Cordilleran Volcanic Province this summer we hope! Exciting times, with Shaun leading the way. Some pics from 2021 when we collected the cores presented in the paper 🧪🌋 #fieldwork #geology #tephra

Collecting a Livingston sediment core from a lake in northwestern BC

Getting bc ready to collect a reasoner core. NW BC is stunning and remote!

Always important to remain hydrated while working

Lake core from Morcheau Lake showing the upper Findlay tephra. Not sure what volcano it is coming from but hopefully we will find out with new field work!

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UAlberta Volcanic Ash Research Group @tephrotastic.bsky.social · 20/05/2025

Sampling the Logan 2022 ice core for tephra!! 🌋🧊

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UAlberta Volcanic Ash Research Group @tephrotastic.bsky.social · 14/03/2025

A few photos from field work in SE Alaska from last year. Taking a hike up Crater Ridge next to Mount Edgecumbe. Almost got lost in the mega-dense fog that didn’t break until we got to the top. What an adventure! #alaska #fieldworkfriday #volcano 🌋⚒️

Hiking up to Crater Ridge and the fog is finally lifting! Yay! We can see something!

Beautiful banded obsidian flows that make up parts of the obsidian domes that are built on the edge of the crater. Trusty ice ax for scale

MSc Shaun Woudstra pretty darned happy that we can finally see Mount Edgecumbe right beside us. Part of his thesis is looking at younger eruptions from the Mount Edgecumbe volcanic field.

A panorama standing on Crater Ridge looking down into the crater with Mount Edgecumbe peaking out to the left.

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UAlberta Volcanic Ash Research Group @tephrotastic.bsky.social · 28/01/2025

And last, but not least, is "The Cat" also know by various nom de guerres Orange Cat, Orange Boy, and Pumpkin Baby. This fine feral has taken a shine to Shaun, our long suffering MSc who just can't seem to get a good 14C date no matter. The Cat seems to like his company though 🙂 #cats #YEG

Homeless puss The Cat sitting on a deer head in the snow.

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UAlberta Volcanic Ash Research Group @tephrotastic.bsky.social · 28/01/2025

Not all of the cats in our hearts can live with us, but we get to hang with them when we go home! Also part of the VARG, we present Saskatchewanites Hermes and Helios, and sweet Gracie Mae in Nova Scotia.

Cute kitty Helios sticking out his tongue

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UAlberta Volcanic Ash Research Group @tephrotastic.bsky.social · 28/01/2025

Another relatively new addition to the fold is sweet (well, maybe not that sweet, we hear she is a little feisty) Nyx, who takes very good care of @zoezonneveld.bsky.social

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UAlberta Volcanic Ash Research Group @tephrotastic.bsky.social · 28/01/2025

Next we have Misha and Ollie, proud owners of Tyler, who JUST finished his BSc Honours in Geology! Congratulations kitties on getting him through that slog, with one very annoying supervisor.

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UAlberta Volcanic Ash Research Group @tephrotastic.bsky.social · 28/01/2025

Next we have very meow-y, shy, but very sweet, Consuela the elder, almost 16 and the inspiration (during house-sitting encounters bailing out a poor planning supervisor) behind more than one grad student taking the plunge into cat-ville

Consuela, always ready for bedtime. If we only all could sleep for 20 hours!

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UAlberta Volcanic Ash Research Group @tephrotastic.bsky.social · 28/01/2025

To say things are grim right now is an understatement. So we would like to share a bit of fun. In honour of VARG PhD @hanaayousif.bsky.social finally adopting her furry feline, we present "THE CATS OF VARG". We start with the cat of the hour, Pliny! Yes, in honour of Plinian eruptions. #cats 🌋

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UAlberta Volcanic Ash Research Group @tephrotastic.bsky.social · 18/01/2025

Awesome walk home last night in the blizzard. Love it! Now a beautiful crispy and cold morning. Long live winter!

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UAlberta Volcanic Ash Research Group @tephrotastic.bsky.social · 10/01/2025

I would never want to live in a place without winter. Snow and ice, oh my!

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UAlberta Volcanic Ash Research Group @tephrotastic.bsky.social · 03/01/2025

Hmmm. Seems appropriate somehow. Start sabbatical in July.

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UAlberta Volcanic Ash Research Group @tephrotastic.bsky.social · 22/12/2024

If the UCP ever starts to recognize the positive force the UofA is in this province and are able to hire again, I would love to share with the prospectives what a wonderful gift a winter day can be. We are losing them and that is sad. Too many think YEG=Cold=bad. #WinterCity #YEG

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UAlberta Volcanic Ash Research Group @tephrotastic.bsky.social · 21/11/2024

We are on the same page! Walking for me though. Winter wonderland. I see Nordic skiing in our future.

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UAlberta Volcanic Ash Research Group @tephrotastic.bsky.social · 21/11/2024

Me too! There is something wonderful about it, and I love watching it slowly coalesce as the river finally freezes over. So glad that winter finally has arrived. Make it be a good one this year, despite all the signs.

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UAlberta Volcanic Ash Research Group @tephrotastic.bsky.social · 14/11/2024

I am so glad to be here, should have followed you ages ago! Here is the AD 852/3 White River Ash (UA4023), east, from a site along the Alaska Highway. So frothy, oh so frothy. And a bit of Old Crow (~160 ka; UT501) for contrast.

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UAlberta Volcanic Ash Research Group @tephrotastic.bsky.social · 14/11/2024

Well we made it. Meant to find this place a while ago but, well, inertia is strong. Hope to find our friends again, see some pretty pictures, share some science and see some happiness. For those that don't know us, we are the Volcanic Ash Research Group in Edmonton, AB, Canada. We like volcanoes.

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