Dr. Shannon Cofield 🪨🗺️🌊
@geoshanz.bsky.social
Geological Oceanographer | Researching sediments from the Deep Sea to Mars
• Ph.D. in tiny Arctic rocks, oceans, + squiggly lines
• Exploring extreme environments w/ robot friends
✍️ https://geoshanz.blogspot.com
Prev 🐥: @ MarsRoverMapper (ODU+NASA-JPL)
• Ph.D. in tiny Arctic rocks, oceans, + squiggly lines
• Exploring extreme environments w/ robot friends
✍️ https://geoshanz.blogspot.com
Prev 🐥: @ MarsRoverMapper (ODU+NASA-JPL)
Pinned
History of the Barents Sea Ice Sheet, MIS 11 to present
Understanding the history of large Arctic ice sheets is important in knowing the possibilities for future climate change and its impact on existing ic…
www.sciencedirect.com
🚨New Paper: "History of the Barents Sea Ice Sheet, MIS 11 to present" - Cofield & Darby (2025)
Utilized ice rafted debris + Fe-grains from a deep-sea Arctic sediment core to reconstruct ice movement/ timing for Barents Sea Ice Sheet through MIS 11 (~440 ka).
*Proxy explanation in🧵
(1/n) 🌊🧪
Utilized ice rafted debris + Fe-grains from a deep-sea Arctic sediment core to reconstruct ice movement/ timing for Barents Sea Ice Sheet through MIS 11 (~440 ka).
*Proxy explanation in🧵
(1/n) 🌊🧪
🚨New Paper: "History of the Barents Sea Ice Sheet, MIS 11 to present" - Cofield & Darby (2025)
Utilized ice rafted debris + Fe-grains from a deep-sea Arctic sediment core to reconstruct ice movement/ timing for Barents Sea Ice Sheet through MIS 11 (~440 ka).
*Proxy explanation in🧵
(1/n) 🌊🧪
Utilized ice rafted debris + Fe-grains from a deep-sea Arctic sediment core to reconstruct ice movement/ timing for Barents Sea Ice Sheet through MIS 11 (~440 ka).
*Proxy explanation in🧵
(1/n) 🌊🧪
History of the Barents Sea Ice Sheet, MIS 11 to present
Understanding the history of large Arctic ice sheets is important in knowing the possibilities for future climate change and its impact on existing ic…
www.sciencedirect.com
November 10, 2025 at 2:34 PM
🚨New Paper: "History of the Barents Sea Ice Sheet, MIS 11 to present" - Cofield & Darby (2025)
Utilized ice rafted debris + Fe-grains from a deep-sea Arctic sediment core to reconstruct ice movement/ timing for Barents Sea Ice Sheet through MIS 11 (~440 ka).
*Proxy explanation in🧵
(1/n) 🌊🧪
Utilized ice rafted debris + Fe-grains from a deep-sea Arctic sediment core to reconstruct ice movement/ timing for Barents Sea Ice Sheet through MIS 11 (~440 ka).
*Proxy explanation in🧵
(1/n) 🌊🧪
Reposted by Dr. Shannon Cofield 🪨🗺️🌊
Cofield and Darby analyze a core located NW of Svalbard for ice rafted debris. They make the surprising finding that the Barents Sea Ice Sheet may not have formed during the MIS 10 and 8 glacial periods, and that if the Arctic ice shelf existed, it may have been early MIS 6. doi.org/10.1016/j.qu...
Redirecting
doi.org
November 10, 2025 at 6:14 AM
Cofield and Darby analyze a core located NW of Svalbard for ice rafted debris. They make the surprising finding that the Barents Sea Ice Sheet may not have formed during the MIS 10 and 8 glacial periods, and that if the Arctic ice shelf existed, it may have been early MIS 6. doi.org/10.1016/j.qu...
Massive shoutout to our HOV #Alvin pilots! Absolute professionals on all levels and a pleasure to work with.
Keep up the great work and let’s keep discovering secrets of the #DeepSea. 🌊🧪
Keep up the great work and let’s keep discovering secrets of the #DeepSea. 🌊🧪
Take a deep dive into the history and legacy of the nation’s deepest-diving crewed submersible, #Alvin.
📲Hear from Alvin pilots and researchers past and present, and dive deep into discovery with Yankee Magazine: go.whoi.edu/yankee-sub
#DeepSeaHistory #DeepSeaDiscovery
📲Hear from Alvin pilots and researchers past and present, and dive deep into discovery with Yankee Magazine: go.whoi.edu/yankee-sub
#DeepSeaHistory #DeepSeaDiscovery
November 9, 2025 at 9:03 PM
Reposted by Dr. Shannon Cofield 🪨🗺️🌊
READ: Off a small Danish island lies an underwater world of large mountains and deep river valleys, like an underwater version of the Grand Canyon. 🌊
Dive into this incredible place – and meet some species you likely haven't heard of before 👉 https://oceana.ly/4nITifN
Dive into this incredible place – and meet some species you likely haven't heard of before 👉 https://oceana.ly/4nITifN
November 9, 2025 at 6:19 PM
READ: Off a small Danish island lies an underwater world of large mountains and deep river valleys, like an underwater version of the Grand Canyon. 🌊
Dive into this incredible place – and meet some species you likely haven't heard of before 👉 https://oceana.ly/4nITifN
Dive into this incredible place – and meet some species you likely haven't heard of before 👉 https://oceana.ly/4nITifN
The PERFECT collab just dropped: Margaritaville x ISS mission patch
Proceeds support ISS National Lab R&D.
Fun Fact: the ISS follows nautical schematics (i.e., port & starboard). Sailors in space 🌊🚀
Proceeds support ISS National Lab R&D.
Fun Fact: the ISS follows nautical schematics (i.e., port & starboard). Sailors in space 🌊🚀
Margaritaville Mission Patch Inspired by Jimmy Buffett
Listen to the latest podcast episode of Between a Rocket & a Hard Space, featuring Dr. Ken Savin, CSO, SpaceMD
issnationallab.org
November 9, 2025 at 2:00 PM
The PERFECT collab just dropped: Margaritaville x ISS mission patch
Proceeds support ISS National Lab R&D.
Fun Fact: the ISS follows nautical schematics (i.e., port & starboard). Sailors in space 🌊🚀
Proceeds support ISS National Lab R&D.
Fun Fact: the ISS follows nautical schematics (i.e., port & starboard). Sailors in space 🌊🚀
Reposted by Dr. Shannon Cofield 🪨🗺️🌊
It’s been a while since I shared these, so here we go!
If you are new to BlueSky, here are a few 🌊 ocean starter packs 🌊 to help you find who to follow:
Physical oceanography
go.bsky.app/Eb6xX19
Polar oceans
go.bsky.app/851nQgx
Organisations
go.bsky.app/U1Ei6XY
If you are new to BlueSky, here are a few 🌊 ocean starter packs 🌊 to help you find who to follow:
Physical oceanography
go.bsky.app/Eb6xX19
Polar oceans
go.bsky.app/851nQgx
Organisations
go.bsky.app/U1Ei6XY
November 9, 2025 at 12:35 PM
It’s been a while since I shared these, so here we go!
If you are new to BlueSky, here are a few 🌊 ocean starter packs 🌊 to help you find who to follow:
Physical oceanography
go.bsky.app/Eb6xX19
Polar oceans
go.bsky.app/851nQgx
Organisations
go.bsky.app/U1Ei6XY
If you are new to BlueSky, here are a few 🌊 ocean starter packs 🌊 to help you find who to follow:
Physical oceanography
go.bsky.app/Eb6xX19
Polar oceans
go.bsky.app/851nQgx
Organisations
go.bsky.app/U1Ei6XY
One of my oceanography expedition 🌊 traditions is a proper dance party before deploying equipment.
Some of my colleagues were approved for our follow-up Hawai’i grab sample expedition (R/V Kilo Moana). They’re currently out-to-sea… running Dance Party Ops.
Love you Guys!!!! Mahalo 🫶
🎥: Katlin
Some of my colleagues were approved for our follow-up Hawai’i grab sample expedition (R/V Kilo Moana). They’re currently out-to-sea… running Dance Party Ops.
Love you Guys!!!! Mahalo 🫶
🎥: Katlin
November 8, 2025 at 2:55 PM
One of my oceanography expedition 🌊 traditions is a proper dance party before deploying equipment.
Some of my colleagues were approved for our follow-up Hawai’i grab sample expedition (R/V Kilo Moana). They’re currently out-to-sea… running Dance Party Ops.
Love you Guys!!!! Mahalo 🫶
🎥: Katlin
Some of my colleagues were approved for our follow-up Hawai’i grab sample expedition (R/V Kilo Moana). They’re currently out-to-sea… running Dance Party Ops.
Love you Guys!!!! Mahalo 🫶
🎥: Katlin
Friend sent me this w/ no context.
Immediately recognize our grad school shenanigans 😆 Ahhh, grad school was a blast! Miss my sedimentology lab & random coffee runs across campus.
Immediately recognize our grad school shenanigans 😆 Ahhh, grad school was a blast! Miss my sedimentology lab & random coffee runs across campus.
November 7, 2025 at 7:40 PM
Friend sent me this w/ no context.
Immediately recognize our grad school shenanigans 😆 Ahhh, grad school was a blast! Miss my sedimentology lab & random coffee runs across campus.
Immediately recognize our grad school shenanigans 😆 Ahhh, grad school was a blast! Miss my sedimentology lab & random coffee runs across campus.
🚨 - Final - USGS 2025 Critical Minerals List
• Posted to U.S. Fed Register 11/07/2025
• Notably adds: copper, silver, uranium, metallurgical coal, boron, + phosphate
• Covers terrestrial + offshore 🌊🧪
[Links below]
• Posted to U.S. Fed Register 11/07/2025
• Notably adds: copper, silver, uranium, metallurgical coal, boron, + phosphate
• Covers terrestrial + offshore 🌊🧪
[Links below]
November 7, 2025 at 1:25 PM
🚨 - Final - USGS 2025 Critical Minerals List
• Posted to U.S. Fed Register 11/07/2025
• Notably adds: copper, silver, uranium, metallurgical coal, boron, + phosphate
• Covers terrestrial + offshore 🌊🧪
[Links below]
• Posted to U.S. Fed Register 11/07/2025
• Notably adds: copper, silver, uranium, metallurgical coal, boron, + phosphate
• Covers terrestrial + offshore 🌊🧪
[Links below]
🎬 Excited to share our expedition member’s hard work.
- coming soon -
(*AT50-38 expedition deliverables/ final report will be available to the Public shortly after the federal government reopens) 🌊🧪
- coming soon -
(*AT50-38 expedition deliverables/ final report will be available to the Public shortly after the federal government reopens) 🌊🧪
November 7, 2025 at 12:49 PM
🎬 Excited to share our expedition member’s hard work.
- coming soon -
(*AT50-38 expedition deliverables/ final report will be available to the Public shortly after the federal government reopens) 🌊🧪
- coming soon -
(*AT50-38 expedition deliverables/ final report will be available to the Public shortly after the federal government reopens) 🌊🧪
Shout out to my NOAA + USAF Hurricane Hunter colleagues flying into #HurricaneMelissa. Watching Jamaica closely.
Current stats via USAF-SFMR (10/28/2025 @ 0900): Cat 5; 180mph; 896mb
Thank you for your public service- especially during the shutdown.
Bravo Zulu! ✈️
Current stats via USAF-SFMR (10/28/2025 @ 0900): Cat 5; 180mph; 896mb
Thank you for your public service- especially during the shutdown.
Bravo Zulu! ✈️
October 28, 2025 at 1:18 PM
Shout out to my NOAA + USAF Hurricane Hunter colleagues flying into #HurricaneMelissa. Watching Jamaica closely.
Current stats via USAF-SFMR (10/28/2025 @ 0900): Cat 5; 180mph; 896mb
Thank you for your public service- especially during the shutdown.
Bravo Zulu! ✈️
Current stats via USAF-SFMR (10/28/2025 @ 0900): Cat 5; 180mph; 896mb
Thank you for your public service- especially during the shutdown.
Bravo Zulu! ✈️
Off on my next adventure 🛫 👋
Hope everyone has a Happy Halloween! Enjoy this year’s edition of:
~ Deep-Sea Spooky Season ~
🌊🧪
Hope everyone has a Happy Halloween! Enjoy this year’s edition of:
~ Deep-Sea Spooky Season ~
🌊🧪
October 24, 2025 at 11:54 AM
Off on my next adventure 🛫 👋
Hope everyone has a Happy Halloween! Enjoy this year’s edition of:
~ Deep-Sea Spooky Season ~
🌊🧪
Hope everyone has a Happy Halloween! Enjoy this year’s edition of:
~ Deep-Sea Spooky Season ~
🌊🧪
I had the incredible privilege to visit the White House on Election Day (Nov 5) 2024.
Looking back through my pictures from the historic East Wing:
Looking back through my pictures from the historic East Wing:
October 23, 2025 at 9:10 PM
I had the incredible privilege to visit the White House on Election Day (Nov 5) 2024.
Looking back through my pictures from the historic East Wing:
Looking back through my pictures from the historic East Wing:
Civil Servants Coalition complied a spreadsheet of programs + assistance during the shutdown (i.e., food, health, mortgages, loans).
This week is the first pay period sans pay. Please reach out to your federal worker colleagues to make sure they’re ok. Even a quick “hello” helps 🌼
This week is the first pay period sans pay. Please reach out to your federal worker colleagues to make sure they’re ok. Even a quick “hello” helps 🌼
Shutdown Assistance
docs.google.com
October 23, 2025 at 1:02 PM
Civil Servants Coalition complied a spreadsheet of programs + assistance during the shutdown (i.e., food, health, mortgages, loans).
This week is the first pay period sans pay. Please reach out to your federal worker colleagues to make sure they’re ok. Even a quick “hello” helps 🌼
This week is the first pay period sans pay. Please reach out to your federal worker colleagues to make sure they’re ok. Even a quick “hello” helps 🌼
Just discovered the M.C. Escher museum offers guided tours for blind & visually impaired visitors (sells out quickly!). What a lovely opportunity to experience his tessellations and mind-bending buildings.
*Math x Art = One of my fav artists 🧪
📍Escher in Het Paleis, Netherlands
*Math x Art = One of my fav artists 🧪
📍Escher in Het Paleis, Netherlands
October 22, 2025 at 9:04 PM
Just discovered the M.C. Escher museum offers guided tours for blind & visually impaired visitors (sells out quickly!). What a lovely opportunity to experience his tessellations and mind-bending buildings.
*Math x Art = One of my fav artists 🧪
📍Escher in Het Paleis, Netherlands
*Math x Art = One of my fav artists 🧪
📍Escher in Het Paleis, Netherlands
Reposted by Dr. Shannon Cofield 🪨🗺️🌊
ICYMI: My longest article ever for Scuba Diving Magazine answers one of the most frequent career advice quesions I receive... and the answer probably isn't what you think!
Give it a read and share
www.scubadiving.com/best-schools... 🦑🧪
Give it a read and share
www.scubadiving.com/best-schools... 🦑🧪
What Are the Best Schools to Study Marine Biology?
In this edition of “Ask a Marine Biologist,” Dr. David Shiffman gives aspiring marine scientists things to consider when looking for in a college or university.
www.scubadiving.com
October 22, 2025 at 12:37 PM
ICYMI: My longest article ever for Scuba Diving Magazine answers one of the most frequent career advice quesions I receive... and the answer probably isn't what you think!
Give it a read and share
www.scubadiving.com/best-schools... 🦑🧪
Give it a read and share
www.scubadiving.com/best-schools... 🦑🧪
🍂 Fall Outings.
Finally hiked to the columnar basalt outcrops. Cooper-approved 🐾
Spectacular!
Bonus: Park was packed, so I had an opportunity to discuss this outcrop w/ a group of enthusiastic hikers.
📍Compton Gap- #ShenandoahNationalPark, Virginia 🪨🧪
Finally hiked to the columnar basalt outcrops. Cooper-approved 🐾
Spectacular!
Bonus: Park was packed, so I had an opportunity to discuss this outcrop w/ a group of enthusiastic hikers.
📍Compton Gap- #ShenandoahNationalPark, Virginia 🪨🧪
October 20, 2025 at 3:55 PM
🍂 Fall Outings.
Finally hiked to the columnar basalt outcrops. Cooper-approved 🐾
Spectacular!
Bonus: Park was packed, so I had an opportunity to discuss this outcrop w/ a group of enthusiastic hikers.
📍Compton Gap- #ShenandoahNationalPark, Virginia 🪨🧪
Finally hiked to the columnar basalt outcrops. Cooper-approved 🐾
Spectacular!
Bonus: Park was packed, so I had an opportunity to discuss this outcrop w/ a group of enthusiastic hikers.
📍Compton Gap- #ShenandoahNationalPark, Virginia 🪨🧪
Plastic is everywhere.
On today’s dive, the E/V Nautilus/ ROV Hercules encountered a crushed plastic bottle on the abyssal plain- in the remote Pacific (Cook Islands @ 5,198 meters).
♻️ I challenge everyone to swap at least one single-use plastic item. Small steps for more eco habits. 🌊🧪🌎
On today’s dive, the E/V Nautilus/ ROV Hercules encountered a crushed plastic bottle on the abyssal plain- in the remote Pacific (Cook Islands @ 5,198 meters).
♻️ I challenge everyone to swap at least one single-use plastic item. Small steps for more eco habits. 🌊🧪🌎
October 16, 2025 at 11:14 PM
Plastic is everywhere.
On today’s dive, the E/V Nautilus/ ROV Hercules encountered a crushed plastic bottle on the abyssal plain- in the remote Pacific (Cook Islands @ 5,198 meters).
♻️ I challenge everyone to swap at least one single-use plastic item. Small steps for more eco habits. 🌊🧪🌎
On today’s dive, the E/V Nautilus/ ROV Hercules encountered a crushed plastic bottle on the abyssal plain- in the remote Pacific (Cook Islands @ 5,198 meters).
♻️ I challenge everyone to swap at least one single-use plastic item. Small steps for more eco habits. 🌊🧪🌎
🔔 DIVE HAPPENING NOW
My colleagues (👋 Amanda!) are narrating this gorgeous dive in the Cook Islands abyssal plains.
Forbidden truffles 🪨🪨🪨
Link below to watch livestream 🧪🌊
My colleagues (👋 Amanda!) are narrating this gorgeous dive in the Cook Islands abyssal plains.
Forbidden truffles 🪨🪨🪨
Link below to watch livestream 🧪🌊
October 16, 2025 at 3:10 PM
🔔 DIVE HAPPENING NOW
My colleagues (👋 Amanda!) are narrating this gorgeous dive in the Cook Islands abyssal plains.
Forbidden truffles 🪨🪨🪨
Link below to watch livestream 🧪🌊
My colleagues (👋 Amanda!) are narrating this gorgeous dive in the Cook Islands abyssal plains.
Forbidden truffles 🪨🪨🪨
Link below to watch livestream 🧪🌊
Bit of good news this morning.
Minor revision request for our new manuscript examining presence/ extent of the Barents Sea Ice Sheet during past glacial maxima 🧊🪨🌊 Unlocking Arctic paleoclimate!
Grateful for thoughtful Reviewer feedback.
(unrelated to current furl'd position- PhD continuation)
Minor revision request for our new manuscript examining presence/ extent of the Barents Sea Ice Sheet during past glacial maxima 🧊🪨🌊 Unlocking Arctic paleoclimate!
Grateful for thoughtful Reviewer feedback.
(unrelated to current furl'd position- PhD continuation)
October 15, 2025 at 1:54 PM
Bit of good news this morning.
Minor revision request for our new manuscript examining presence/ extent of the Barents Sea Ice Sheet during past glacial maxima 🧊🪨🌊 Unlocking Arctic paleoclimate!
Grateful for thoughtful Reviewer feedback.
(unrelated to current furl'd position- PhD continuation)
Minor revision request for our new manuscript examining presence/ extent of the Barents Sea Ice Sheet during past glacial maxima 🧊🪨🌊 Unlocking Arctic paleoclimate!
Grateful for thoughtful Reviewer feedback.
(unrelated to current furl'd position- PhD continuation)
The news is starting to roll-in from today’s NASA-JPL terminations. Sending the biggest virtual hugs to my extended JPL Family 🩵🥺
October 14, 2025 at 9:54 PM
The news is starting to roll-in from today’s NASA-JPL terminations. Sending the biggest virtual hugs to my extended JPL Family 🩵🥺
Absolutely heartbroken for my NASA-JPL colleagues. Tomorrow is going to be a challenging day 💔
[JPL Peeps- y’all know how to directly reach me. PLEASE reach out if you need anything. Love you Guys!!!]
[JPL Peeps- y’all know how to directly reach me. PLEASE reach out if you need anything. Love you Guys!!!]
NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory to lay off about 550 workers reut.rs/4302N2L
NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory to lay off about 550 workers
NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory said on Monday it will cut nearly 550 jobs as part of a restructuring, not related to the current U.S. government shutdown.
reut.rs
October 13, 2025 at 11:00 PM
Absolutely heartbroken for my NASA-JPL colleagues. Tomorrow is going to be a challenging day 💔
[JPL Peeps- y’all know how to directly reach me. PLEASE reach out if you need anything. Love you Guys!!!]
[JPL Peeps- y’all know how to directly reach me. PLEASE reach out if you need anything. Love you Guys!!!]
Trying my best to mimic Vostok δ¹⁸O data. If you squint hard enough, you can see that pesky MIS 4 rearing its face.
October 9, 2025 at 4:16 PM
Trying my best to mimic Vostok δ¹⁸O data. If you squint hard enough, you can see that pesky MIS 4 rearing its face.
Tiny shoutout to my fellow grad student @ocnogrphr.bsky.social! He’s returning to our Alma mater as part of our dept’s lecture series- as a seasoned postdoc!
Hey Ryan- don’t forget to swing by Borjo ☕️ Enjoy your visit to ODU!
Hey Ryan- don’t forget to swing by Borjo ☕️ Enjoy your visit to ODU!
October 9, 2025 at 1:23 PM
Tiny shoutout to my fellow grad student @ocnogrphr.bsky.social! He’s returning to our Alma mater as part of our dept’s lecture series- as a seasoned postdoc!
Hey Ryan- don’t forget to swing by Borjo ☕️ Enjoy your visit to ODU!
Hey Ryan- don’t forget to swing by Borjo ☕️ Enjoy your visit to ODU!