Andy Baker

@andy-baker.bsky.social

1.3K followers 210 following 190 posts

Australian Research Council Laureate Professor at UNSW Sydney, investigating groundwater recharge, climate, geochemistry, and stalagmites. Not all at once, at least not most of the time. Posting more often at @andbaker@aus.social .. more

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Environmental science 47%

Geology 24%

Posts Replies Media Videos

Andy Baker @andy-baker.bsky.social · 2d

We've made an offer. Thank you to all who shared.

Andy Baker @andy-baker.bsky.social · 2d

Soil Moisture and Vegetation are Key Predictors of Precipitation-driven Groundwater Recharge Occurrences in Southeastern Australia

Akhilesh Kumar has the first output from his PhD research available as a preprint here:
papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....

Preprint servers don't stop for the holidays!

Soil Moisture and Vegetation are Key Predictors of Precipitation-driven Groundwater Recharge Occurrences in Southeastern Australia

Rainfall is commonly recognized as the primary control on groundwater recharge; however, rainfall alone often fails to predict recharge occurrences accurately i

papers.ssrn.com

Andy Baker @andy-baker.bsky.social · 8d

Strength in numbers has served us well at my institution. Earth Science is in a School of Biological Earth and Environmental Sciences. Lower student intake in any one subject can often be covered by another.

Andy Baker @andy-baker.bsky.social · 8d

Thank you, I didn't know that.

Things are a bit different here in Australia. Earth Science student numbers cycle up and down over time, without a long term trend. However, the long term average is low, and increasingly below what university management consider viable.

Andy Baker @andy-baker.bsky.social · 9d

Exploring Drip Water Dynamics for Groundwater Recharge

The end of the year is approaching, and the papers and pre-prints are still coming from the groundwater and climate research team here and our collaborators. Here is a summary of our outputs the last three months of the year. All are…

Exploring Drip Water Dynamics for Groundwater Recharge

The end of the year is approaching, and the papers and pre-prints are still coming from the groundwater and climate research team here and our collaborators. Here is a summary of our outputs the last three months of the year. All are open-access, with links provided below Most recently, my photo made the cover of the Eos Buzz Newsletter, where Stacey Priestley (CSIRO) led this article with myself, Wendy Timms (Deakin), Margaret Shanafield (Flinders) and Martin Andersen (UNSW).

andy-baker.org

Andy Baker @andy-baker.bsky.social · 10d

We have a PhD opportunity for someone interested in 3D mapping of Australian Caves to map water flow pathways from the surface to the groundwater. The PhD is based at UNSW in Sydney.

Details are below, please share!

andy-baker.org/2025/12/17/p...

PhD opportunity: 3D mapping of caves – Andy Baker

We have a PhD opportunity reopened now for someone interested in developing their 3D laser mapping skills. Specifically, the project aims to map cave ceilings at sites across Australia, to identify…

andy-baker.org

Andy Baker @andy-baker.bsky.social · 10d

Very nice! La Nina = wet here across much of Australia, but also highly seasonal. Would you plan to design global maps for seasons? That would be cool.

Andy Baker @andy-baker.bsky.social · 10d

Earth Science positions have been cut in many countries. Did you get a sense of whether that particularly affected #AGU25 numbers this year? (Writing as an Earth Scientist intentionally not entering the USA).

Reposted by Valerie M. Delmotte, Ben Bond‐Lamberty, Andy Baker , and 5 more Valerie M. Delmotte, Ben Bond‐Lamberty, Andy Baker, Kevin J. Anchukaitis, Julie L. Lockwood, John R. Hutchinson, Rebecca Williams, Alessandro Rigolon

Alexandra Witze @alexwitze.bsky.social · 10d

Attendance at US-based science conferences is bouncing around this year but generally down. #AGU25 has ~10k fewer this year! I explored these trends for @nature.com — including solutions to keep conferences local & productive:

www.nature.com/articles/d41...

🧪

Scientists skip key US meetings — and seize on smaller alternatives

Researchers are devising creative ways to get together as Trump’s policies curb travel to US gatherings.

www.nature.com

Reposted by Andy Baker

Eos @eos.org · 10d

Wildfire smoke, already a health hazard, may come with a dangerous hitchhiker: fungal spores.

Research presented at #AGU25 by @kobziar.bsky.social, @phin-lampman.bsky.social, & colleagues. eos.org/articles/fun...

Fungal Spores in Wildfire Smoke Could Cause Lung Disease - Eos

Mice exposed to fungi spready by wildfires developed symptoms, exposing a potential health hazard to humans that has been understudied.

eos.org

Andy Baker @andy-baker.bsky.social · 10d

Eurokarst 2026

This is an international meeting on the hydrogeology of karstified Rocks - think caves, limestone and chalk and their water resources.

Which is held in Europe. Hence the title.

The abstract deadline is now open, and closes 15th January. Pass the word!

www.eurokarst.org

Eurokarst 2026 – The bi-annual european Karst conference / Aug. 31 to Sep. 4

The bi-annual european Karst conference / Aug. 31 to Sep. 4

www.eurokarst.org

Reposted by Andy Baker

Mike Peacock @peatymike.bsky.social · 11d

First update from STOTEN in a while. Yet none of these ongoing issues are obvious from STOTEN's homepage. I'd be annoyed if I had been unaware and published with them in the past year.

Andy Baker @andy-baker.bsky.social · 16d

Many thanks to the team at @eos.org for publishing this article on groundwater and when it gets replenished.

Do you know what weather and climate conditions are needed to recharge groundwater where you live?

@unswbees.bsky.social @ccrc.bsky.social

Reposted by Emily S. Bernhardt, Andy Baker, Zen Faulkes

Matthias Sprenger @matthiasprenger.bsky.social · 16d

No OSPA at this year's #AGU25, which is disappointing, because it made sure that students had at least 3 scientists come to their poster, ask questions, and provide anonymous (hopefully productive) feedback afterwards. Does anyone know why it was dropped? @hydrology-agu.bsky.social or @agu.org

Reposted by Andy Baker

Ted Pavlic (he/him/his) @tedpavlic.bsky.social · 17d

Early career academics: Remember that if you hope someday to "get noticed" by way of a meritorious award independently recognizing you for all of your contributions, then you really need to either *submit an application* for it or *convince your friends to nominate you*...

Celeste Labedz @celestelabedz.bsky.social · 20d

It's over.

Despite the fact that the academic council recommended against it, despite the fact that the program brought in more tuition than it cost, and despite the fact that Nebraskans need & deserve this expertise, Earth & Atmospheric Sciences will be cut.

www.dailynebraskan.com/news/adminis...

BREAKING: ‘This hurts’: UNL eliminates 4 programs despite faculty, student pleas

The University of Nebraska-Lincoln eliminates the Earth and atmospheric sciences 8-0, educational administration 7-1, statistics 7-1, textiles, merchandising and fashion design 7-1 programs.

www.dailynebraskan.com

Reposted by Michael Wagner, Andy Baker, Du Toit , and 3 more Michael Wagner, Andy Baker, Du Toit, Prokla Redaktion, Carlos Moreno, Giulio Mattioli

Prof. Stefan Rahmstorf @rahmstorf.bsky.social · 21d

Collapse of key Atlantic current could bring extreme drought to Europe for centuries, study finds. @swinda.bsky.social
That's an under-appreciated impact of #AMOC shutdown, of particular concern given the recent results showing much higher likelihood of this. 1/2
www.livescience.com/planet-earth...

Andy Baker @andy-baker.bsky.social · 22d

Thanks to @agu.org @eos.org team for all their support, and the Australian Research Council for funding.

Andy Baker @andy-baker.bsky.social · 22d

Providing an evidence base for policy makers and groundwater managers, and a new approach to constrain groundwater models and stalagmite records of past groundwater recharge.

Come and join us on this journey!

Andy Baker @andy-baker.bsky.social · 22d

We have a new position paper, where we advocate for the wider use of underground observatories to understand how groundwater is replenished.

By directly observing these recharge events, we can make a direct link between groundwater replenishment, weather and climate.

eos.org/science-upda...

When Does Rainfall Become Recharge? - Eos

Counting drips in caves is helping to reveal how much precipitation is needed to start refilling underground aquifers.

eos.org

Reposted by Andy Baker, Kevin J. Anchukaitis

Bob Kopp @bobkopp.net · 22d

Important updates from @agu.org for those attending #AGU25 in New Orleans as the city is invaded by federal paramilitaries in operation “Catahoula Crunch”

New Orleans updates | AGU25

www.agu.org

Reposted by Andy Baker

Eos @eos.org · 22d

Measuring rainfall recharge thresholds allows researchers to assess how much rainfall is needed to recharge groundwater and when this recharge occurs, write @andy-baker.bsky.social + colleagues at CSIRO, UNSW, @flindersuniversity.bsky.social, & @deakinuniversity.bsky.social

eos.org/science-upda...

When Does Rainfall Become Recharge? - Eos

Counting drips in caves is helping to reveal how much precipitation is needed to start refilling underground aquifers.

eos.org

Reposted by Andy Baker

UNSW Climate Change Research Centre @ccrc.bsky.social · 23d

🚨CCRC researchers @drjucker.bsky.social, Laurie Menviel and Valentina Guzmán joined other leading and emerging climate scientists across Australia to produce a new review of the Southern Annular Mode and its impacts. The study just published in @natrevearthenviron.nature.com. doi.org/10.1038/s430...

Southern Annular Mode dynamics, projections and impacts in a changing climate - Nature Reviews Earth & Environment

The Southern Annular Mode (SAM) has shifted towards its positive phase owing to ozone depletion and increasing greenhouse gas concentrations. This Review discusses the dynamics, trends and projections...

doi.org

Andy Baker @andy-baker.bsky.social · 24d

That's outrageous! Personally I have published in STOTEN eighteen times over twemty one years. Much of my research had a good fit to the journal, and it often felt like the right journal. I guess I started in the 'good' days and didn't spot the decline in later years, and should have.

Reposted by Andy Baker

Martin Jucker @drjucker.bsky.social · 24d

New review led by @ariaan.bsky.social on climate effects of the Southern Annular Mode, the most important mode of climate variability in the Southern Hemisphere. Read it in @natrevearthenviron.nature.com at doi.org/10.1038/s430... 🧪 #academicsky #climate #climatechange

Southern Annular Mode dynamics, projections and impacts in a changing climate - Nature Reviews Earth & Environment

doi.org

Reposted by Tom Le Breton

Andy Baker @andy-baker.bsky.social · 25d

On unethical editorial practice at STOTEN - Science of the Total Environmental- and how this has ultimately led to delisting at Clarivate.

english.elpais.com/science-tech...

#academia #academicchatter

The fall of a prolific science journal exposes the billion-dollar profits of scientific publishing | Science | EL PAÍS English

One of the 15 publications that put out the most studies globally has been expelled from the indexing system for irregularities. Its publisher, Elsevier, has a 38% profit margin that reached $1.5 billion in 2024

english.elpais.com

Reposted by Andy Baker

HydrologyNL @hydrology.nl · 27d

Unprecedent cave ice melt in the last 6100 years in the Central Pyrenees
tc.copernicus.org/articles/19/...

Unprecedent cave ice melt in the last 6100 years in the Central Pyrenees (A294 ice cave)

Abstract. Ice caves are understudied environments within the cryosphere, hosting unique ice deposits valuable for paleoclimate studies. Recently, many of these deposits have experienced accelerated re...

tc.copernicus.org

Reposted by Andy Baker

Melaine Le Roy @subfossilguy.bsky.social · 27d

The A294 cave contains the world’s known oldest firn cave deposit, 6100 year old! 🧊🦇

Ice stratigraphy suggests unprecedented melting conditions since ice began to form! 🔥
'We encourage the scientific community to study these archives before they are lost forever'

tc.copernicus.org/articles/19/...

Unprecedent cave ice melt in the last 6100 years in the Central Pyrenees (A294 ice cave)

tc.copernicus.org

Andy Baker @andy-baker.bsky.social · Nov 26

Wrapping up fieldwork with some data logger downloads.

That's another 6 months of continuous measurement of water flux into Harrie Wood Cave. 6 more potential recharge events identified.

Thanks to Pauline Treble, 2026 will be the 20th year of long term monitoring at this site.

A cave with stalagmites, laptop in foreground

Andy Baker @andy-baker.bsky.social · Nov 25

I presented our latest research on groundwater recharge yesterday to the NSW government water planners for groundwater and coastal syatems. And then led tours to show the team our recharge monitoring sites at Harrie Wood Cave, Yarrangobilly.

Cavers with headlamps standing on steps in a cave with stalagmites and stalactites

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