Tas van Ommen
@tasvo.bsky.social
Climate scientist specialising in ice cores, Antarctica and glaciology. Interested in science and how we use it to navigate our place in the universe. Adjunct Professor at U. Tasmania.
Pinned
Tas van Ommen
@tasvo.bsky.social
· Nov 23
For new followers, welcome - here is a taste of what I like to post. This little animation draws on the ice core record of temperature and CO2 over the last 800,000 years. It shows clearly the tight coupling between the two, and the alarming anthropogenic CO2 increase! 🧪
This quote and a novel, poignant image is worthy of attention as another year begins. Human conceits rage around us and kindness is too scarce.
“There is perhaps no better demonstration of the folly of human conceits than a distant image of our tiny world. …it underscores our responsibility to deal more kindly with one another, and to preserve and cherish the pale blue dot, the only home we've ever known.”
— Carl Sagan, Pale Blue Dot, 1994
— Carl Sagan, Pale Blue Dot, 1994
Open up this picture fully.
Then look at the surface of Mars.
Then look up to the top right.
Spot Mars' moon Phobos high in the sky.
Then notice the bright spot beside Phobos.
That's Earth.
Then look at the surface of Mars.
Then look up to the top right.
Spot Mars' moon Phobos high in the sky.
Then notice the bright spot beside Phobos.
That's Earth.
January 4, 2026 at 7:16 AM
This quote and a novel, poignant image is worthy of attention as another year begins. Human conceits rage around us and kindness is too scarce.
Ah, summer in Hobart! The leader passes us as the second place rounds the entrance to the Derwent. #sydneytohobart
December 28, 2025 at 6:57 AM
Ah, summer in Hobart! The leader passes us as the second place rounds the entrance to the Derwent. #sydneytohobart
Reposted by Tas van Ommen
The past week has been busy as the station infrastructure is installed, providing kitchen and amenities buildings independent of the traverse facilities. Camp with newly constructed kitchen and mess in the centre. 📷 D. Beloin /..
December 2, 2025 at 5:57 AM
The past week has been busy as the station infrastructure is installed, providing kitchen and amenities buildings independent of the traverse facilities. Camp with newly constructed kitchen and mess in the centre. 📷 D. Beloin /..
I’ve been looking forward to this journey. Arrived today after months on order. Thanks @peterbrannen.bsky.social
November 28, 2025 at 8:07 AM
I’ve been looking forward to this journey. Arrived today after months on order. Thanks @peterbrannen.bsky.social
Reposted by Tas van Ommen
Activity at the Dome C North station is fully underway with the final placement of camp infrastructure and science drilling commencing. The first drilling task will be installation of 120 metres of casing in the upper borehole. 📷 J. Pedro /1
November 26, 2025 at 8:33 AM
Activity at the Dome C North station is fully underway with the final placement of camp infrastructure and science drilling commencing. The first drilling task will be installation of 120 metres of casing in the upper borehole. 📷 J. Pedro /1
Reposted by Tas van Ommen
Two billion kids would REALLY appreciate it if we did more about this than just make a few non-binding promises every year & then instantly forget about them.
#COP30
#COP30
November 22, 2025 at 10:30 PM
Two billion kids would REALLY appreciate it if we did more about this than just make a few non-binding promises every year & then instantly forget about them.
#COP30
#COP30
Reposted by Tas van Ommen
Home for the next two months for the Traverse and MYIC teams.
📸 Damien Beloin
📸 Damien Beloin
November 21, 2025 at 5:45 AM
Home for the next two months for the Traverse and MYIC teams.
📸 Damien Beloin
📸 Damien Beloin
Reposted by Tas van Ommen
Print version of my new commentary ("Bill Gates’s climate comments are a dangerous distraction") on #COP30, Bill Gates and more, in the latest issue of @nature.com: www.nature.com/articles/d41...
November 19, 2025 at 6:36 PM
Print version of my new commentary ("Bill Gates’s climate comments are a dangerous distraction") on #COP30, Bill Gates and more, in the latest issue of @nature.com: www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Reposted by Tas van Ommen
Read this interview with @peterthorne.bsky.social to understand how dire the situation is with respect to US science funding. The US has played an outsized role in Earth observations and global coordination, and even if other nations decide to step in, it would take at least a decade to recover.
Without US satellites, 'we go dark', climate monitor tells AFP
US budget cuts risk creating blind spots in Earth monitoring systems that would imperil weather forecasting and climate research for years to come, the deputy chair of a key UN-backed climate monitori...
www.france24.com
November 19, 2025 at 11:43 AM
Read this interview with @peterthorne.bsky.social to understand how dire the situation is with respect to US science funding. The US has played an outsized role in Earth observations and global coordination, and even if other nations decide to step in, it would take at least a decade to recover.
Reposted by Tas van Ommen
November 12, 2025 at 7:53 PM
Reposted by Tas van Ommen
It really needs to emphasised as strongly as possible:
Do not eat Tasmanian farmed salmon.
Do not eat Tasmanian farmed salmon.
Lobster fishery off Bruny Island in TAS closed on eve of the opening of fishing season due to antibiotic use by the salmon farms.
No indication of how long for. Must be a devastating blow for fishermen approaching Xmas.
No indication of how long for. Must be a devastating blow for fishermen approaching Xmas.
Crayfish Closure Follows Salmon Antibiotic Deployment - Tasmanian Times
The commercial rock lobster fishery south of the D'Entrecasteaux Channel is now closed effective 15 November 2025
tasmaniantimes.com
November 16, 2025 at 6:13 AM
It really needs to emphasised as strongly as possible:
Do not eat Tasmanian farmed salmon.
Do not eat Tasmanian farmed salmon.
Reposted by Tas van Ommen
Touchdown on ice.. three MYIC science and drilling team members arrived to Casey Station yesterday after ride in the big jet with other incoming Casey Station crew. Thanks ADF!
#AusAntarctic 📸 JP
#AusAntarctic 📸 JP
November 16, 2025 at 6:47 AM
Touchdown on ice.. three MYIC science and drilling team members arrived to Casey Station yesterday after ride in the big jet with other incoming Casey Station crew. Thanks ADF!
#AusAntarctic 📸 JP
#AusAntarctic 📸 JP
Reposted by Tas van Ommen
Traverse is making excellent progress more about this and some great picutres at www.facebook.com/share/p/1Fxr...
Redirecting...
www.facebook.com
November 15, 2025 at 11:52 PM
Traverse is making excellent progress more about this and some great picutres at www.facebook.com/share/p/1Fxr...
Reposted by Tas van Ommen
The Coalition is spinning a lie that climate action is economically bad. How are they getting away with it? | Zoe Daniel
The Coalition is spinning a lie that climate action is economically bad. How are they getting away with it? | Zoe Daniel
In this post-truth environment, the interests of coal and gas are somehow able to win the hearts and minds of voters
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During the last parliament I negotiated an amendment to the Climate Change Act to lock in Australia’s carbon emissions target as a floor – not a ceiling.
I did it to promote government ambition to exceed the target and, having covered the first Trump administration’s withdrawal from the Paris agreement, to provide a legislative buffer against backsliding by a future Australian government. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
November 15, 2025 at 7:05 PM
The Coalition is spinning a lie that climate action is economically bad. How are they getting away with it? | Zoe Daniel
This is good communication - a simple message clearly articulated. The fossil-ocracy arguments around affordability are distortions of reality.
Politicians in Australia keep saying that the net zero target will cost too much, but multiple analyses, including from Treasury, show that it is actually *much cheaper* for the economy than not doing more
www.theguardian.com/news/ng-inte...
www.theguardian.com/news/ng-inte...
November 14, 2025 at 8:53 PM
This is good communication - a simple message clearly articulated. The fossil-ocracy arguments around affordability are distortions of reality.
Reposted by Tas van Ommen
They don't care if it is solved so much as that they profit from it.
November 7, 2025 at 2:20 AM
They don't care if it is solved so much as that they profit from it.
Reposted by Tas van Ommen
Stunning start to the weekend on Kunanyi /Mt Wellington. Chilly weekend for mid November and will be full winter by Monday with snow down to the upper suburbs of #Hobart.
November 7, 2025 at 6:49 PM
Stunning start to the weekend on Kunanyi /Mt Wellington. Chilly weekend for mid November and will be full winter by Monday with snow down to the upper suburbs of #Hobart.
Reposted by Tas van Ommen
Our season is now well and truly underway with the traverse climbing toward the drill site on the plateau. www.antarctica.gov.au/news/2025/lo...
Long haul for science begins – Australian Antarctic Program (News 2025)
Australia’s Antarctic tractor-traverse team is making its way up the Antarctic plateau to deliver scientific equipment, fuel and food to the site of the Million Year Ice Core (MYIC) drilling project.
www.antarctica.gov.au
November 7, 2025 at 2:11 AM
Our season is now well and truly underway with the traverse climbing toward the drill site on the plateau. www.antarctica.gov.au/news/2025/lo...
Reposted by Tas van Ommen
6,000,000 year old ice & plenty of wind and cold! What folks go through for old ice.
Team is headed back to Allan Hills now, follow more at COLDEX.org
Support via the incredible National Science Foundation and US Antarctic Program.
PNAS 6Myr results: www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
Team is headed back to Allan Hills now, follow more at COLDEX.org
Support via the incredible National Science Foundation and US Antarctic Program.
PNAS 6Myr results: www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
November 5, 2025 at 3:29 PM
6,000,000 year old ice & plenty of wind and cold! What folks go through for old ice.
Team is headed back to Allan Hills now, follow more at COLDEX.org
Support via the incredible National Science Foundation and US Antarctic Program.
PNAS 6Myr results: www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
Team is headed back to Allan Hills now, follow more at COLDEX.org
Support via the incredible National Science Foundation and US Antarctic Program.
PNAS 6Myr results: www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
If anyone has interest in a WW2 RAAF bomber pilot’s memoir this might be worth a look. My father in law got a rare (for aircrew) DSO for a pretty epic save of his aircraft and crew.
archive.org/details/cock...?
archive.org/details/cock...?
Cockerill And His Bantams V 3.3 ( Dig PDF) : Albert Cockerill DSO : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive
Autobiography of wartime experiences of RAAF pilot Albert (Bert) Cockerill.
archive.org
November 5, 2025 at 11:12 AM
If anyone has interest in a WW2 RAAF bomber pilot’s memoir this might be worth a look. My father in law got a rare (for aircrew) DSO for a pretty epic save of his aircraft and crew.
archive.org/details/cock...?
archive.org/details/cock...?
Reposted by Tas van Ommen
New video: A glacier on Antarctica’s Eastern Peninsula experienced the fastest retreat recorded in modern history—in just two months, nearly 50 percent of the glacier disintegrated. Watch this video to understand what happened. Study by @ciresnews #Antarctica #glaciermelt
November 3, 2025 at 8:17 PM
New video: A glacier on Antarctica’s Eastern Peninsula experienced the fastest retreat recorded in modern history—in just two months, nearly 50 percent of the glacier disintegrated. Watch this video to understand what happened. Study by @ciresnews #Antarctica #glaciermelt
Reposted by Tas van Ommen
New climate classification maps from BoM show the march southwards of the tropics and subtropics over recent decades.
#climatechange
www.bom.gov.au/climate/maps...
#climatechange
www.bom.gov.au/climate/maps...
November 3, 2025 at 9:29 AM
New climate classification maps from BoM show the march southwards of the tropics and subtropics over recent decades.
#climatechange
www.bom.gov.au/climate/maps...
#climatechange
www.bom.gov.au/climate/maps...
Reposted by Tas van Ommen
Spencer Creek (Australia) snow depths, updated for 2025 (which many called a bumper year)
Source: snowdepth.info
Source: snowdepth.info
November 2, 2025 at 11:26 AM
Spencer Creek (Australia) snow depths, updated for 2025 (which many called a bumper year)
Source: snowdepth.info
Source: snowdepth.info
@windjunky.bsky.social - now that you remind me of the brilliant Working Dog comedies - my favourite is The Hollowmen S2E6 “A Quiet January” (18:10) where the PM is set to give scientists an ice drill to get CO₂ samples! It sort of came true in a round about fashion.
November 1, 2025 at 11:23 PM
@windjunky.bsky.social - now that you remind me of the brilliant Working Dog comedies - my favourite is The Hollowmen S2E6 “A Quiet January” (18:10) where the PM is set to give scientists an ice drill to get CO₂ samples! It sort of came true in a round about fashion.
Reposted by Tas van Ommen
While the field teams are already in action, preparing to traverse to the drill site, things in the MYIC labs are moving forward. Daniel and Andy made the first serious gas sublimation measurement using our system with some known-composition Law Dome core. 📷 Joel Pedro
October 31, 2025 at 7:39 AM
While the field teams are already in action, preparing to traverse to the drill site, things in the MYIC labs are moving forward. Daniel and Andy made the first serious gas sublimation measurement using our system with some known-composition Law Dome core. 📷 Joel Pedro