Britta Jensen
@tephrabird.bsky.social
Associate Professor, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences at the University of Alberta. I like things that fly through the air (not shit hitting fan though), science, nature, pottery, and well, many things actually. Opinions are my own and probably questionable.
Another one of Zack’s posts that you want to like because his work is great, but can’t because what it says is definitively not likeable. My asters are still blooming in Edmonton. In November. We haven’t had a hard enough frost to kill them. That snow? Gone today, highs of 8 today, 12 (!) tomorrow.
November 9, 2025 at 2:53 PM
Another one of Zack’s posts that you want to like because his work is great, but can’t because what it says is definitively not likeable. My asters are still blooming in Edmonton. In November. We haven’t had a hard enough frost to kill them. That snow? Gone today, highs of 8 today, 12 (!) tomorrow.
Also, the beautiful flowers deserve a mention. The spring bloom was starting in earnest.
October 17, 2025 at 7:59 AM
Also, the beautiful flowers deserve a mention. The spring bloom was starting in earnest.
#fieldworkfriday! Early June was steep hikes in Jasper National Park looking for erratics. The Canadian Rockies are truly astounding. One of my favourite places on the planet, lucky I live pretty close! So many geology questions remain. Also nice to support Jasper after last year’s awful fires. ⚒️🧪🪨
October 17, 2025 at 7:59 AM
#fieldworkfriday! Early June was steep hikes in Jasper National Park looking for erratics. The Canadian Rockies are truly astounding. One of my favourite places on the planet, lucky I live pretty close! So many geology questions remain. Also nice to support Jasper after last year’s awful fires. ⚒️🧪🪨
I jumped ahead last #fieldworkfriday and forgot about our first year geology field school before Iceland. Amazing rocks, landscapes and students on a road trip through southern Alberta and SE BC. Drumheller to Waterton, Fernie and Jasper just to name a few spots. Glorious. ⚒️🧪🪨
October 3, 2025 at 5:22 PM
I jumped ahead last #fieldworkfriday and forgot about our first year geology field school before Iceland. Amazing rocks, landscapes and students on a road trip through southern Alberta and SE BC. Drumheller to Waterton, Fernie and Jasper just to name a few spots. Glorious. ⚒️🧪🪨
Was joined for the first week with @hanaayousif.bsky.social, now in Copenhagen learning all about the other aspects of ice core science. What a September!
September 26, 2025 at 9:13 AM
Was joined for the first week with @hanaayousif.bsky.social, now in Copenhagen learning all about the other aspects of ice core science. What a September!
Also currently in (sunny?!) St. Andrews Scotland learning the mysteries of volcanic sulphur isotopes from ice cores with @oceanicandrea.bsky.social and the tephra crew. I want to thank @uniofstandrews.bsky.social and their amazing Global Fellowship scheme for making this opportunity possible. 🌋
September 26, 2025 at 9:13 AM
Also currently in (sunny?!) St. Andrews Scotland learning the mysteries of volcanic sulphur isotopes from ice cores with @oceanicandrea.bsky.social and the tephra crew. I want to thank @uniofstandrews.bsky.social and their amazing Global Fellowship scheme for making this opportunity possible. 🌋
Have been laying low, but wanting do something light hearted, I will start sharing my summer for #fieldworkFriday. In May I joined the @iavcei.bsky.social @volc-ice.bsky.social field trip in Iceland. Stunning sunny days the entire time, so I can’t go back 🤣. Ready for future field work in NW BC! ⚒️🧪
September 26, 2025 at 8:54 AM
Have been laying low, but wanting do something light hearted, I will start sharing my summer for #fieldworkFriday. In May I joined the @iavcei.bsky.social @volc-ice.bsky.social field trip in Iceland. Stunning sunny days the entire time, so I can’t go back 🤣. Ready for future field work in NW BC! ⚒️🧪
May 18th 1980.
Mount St. Helens is, in my opinion, one of the most amazing volcanoes in the US. This eruption was both tragic and scientific gift, an inspiration to many to learn more. Me included. I love going to visit her, with my geology friends, as she still has many stories to tell us. 🌋🧪⚒️
Mount St. Helens is, in my opinion, one of the most amazing volcanoes in the US. This eruption was both tragic and scientific gift, an inspiration to many to learn more. Me included. I love going to visit her, with my geology friends, as she still has many stories to tell us. 🌋🧪⚒️
May 18, 2025 at 9:58 PM
May 18th 1980.
Mount St. Helens is, in my opinion, one of the most amazing volcanoes in the US. This eruption was both tragic and scientific gift, an inspiration to many to learn more. Me included. I love going to visit her, with my geology friends, as she still has many stories to tell us. 🌋🧪⚒️
Mount St. Helens is, in my opinion, one of the most amazing volcanoes in the US. This eruption was both tragic and scientific gift, an inspiration to many to learn more. Me included. I love going to visit her, with my geology friends, as she still has many stories to tell us. 🌋🧪⚒️
Just returned an email. Yay Mount St. Helens!
May 14, 2025 at 11:37 PM
Just returned an email. Yay Mount St. Helens!
That is Vijfje (for those who don’t know Dutch, that is a diminutive of the number 5 in Dutch)- the new EAS110 mascot, who happens to be a Pentaceratops. She really enjoyed the trip after breaking out of the Tyrell Museum in Drumheller and joining the crew.
May 7, 2025 at 4:15 PM
That is Vijfje (for those who don’t know Dutch, that is a diminutive of the number 5 in Dutch)- the new EAS110 mascot, who happens to be a Pentaceratops. She really enjoyed the trip after breaking out of the Tyrell Museum in Drumheller and joining the crew.
Day 7: Home, Jasper to Edmonton. First time in Jasper since the fire. Lots of rebuilding, sad to what was lost. The hostel we usually stay at burned down. Whistlers Inn accommodated us and give us space in the pub 🤣 for the exam. Work with what you have! A short stop at some dunes for funsies.
May 5, 2025 at 4:15 PM
Day 7: Home, Jasper to Edmonton. First time in Jasper since the fire. Lots of rebuilding, sad to what was lost. The hostel we usually stay at burned down. Whistlers Inn accommodated us and give us space in the pub 🤣 for the exam. Work with what you have! A short stop at some dunes for funsies.
Next we stop at a favourite: Saskatchewan Crossing. #strataday. Loess, paleosols, and three (!) volcanic ash: Mazama, Mount St Helens Yn and Bridge River. Doesn’t get much better, unless you like glaciers. We finish at Athabasca Glacier. Beautiful but heart breaking in her steady retreat. 🧪⚒️
May 4, 2025 at 1:59 AM
Next we stop at a favourite: Saskatchewan Crossing. #strataday. Loess, paleosols, and three (!) volcanic ash: Mazama, Mount St Helens Yn and Bridge River. Doesn’t get much better, unless you like glaciers. We finish at Athabasca Glacier. Beautiful but heart breaking in her steady retreat. 🧪⚒️
Day 6: 1st year field school, Radium to Jasper. Last full field day, starting at the Columbia River by Radium, type example of an anastomosing river. Critical wetland habitat. Mapping massive thrust faults in Sinclair Canyon, showing the growing of the Canadian Rockies, another favourite 🧵
May 4, 2025 at 1:59 AM
Day 6: 1st year field school, Radium to Jasper. Last full field day, starting at the Columbia River by Radium, type example of an anastomosing river. Critical wetland habitat. Mapping massive thrust faults in Sinclair Canyon, showing the growing of the Canadian Rockies, another favourite 🧵
Day 5: 1st yr geology field school, Fernie-Radium. My favourite day, I get to go home to the East Kootenays. The structurally curious Rocky Mountain Trench, big bad-ass Cordilleran ice sheet geomorphology, complexly deformed Devonian limestone, and travertine and tufa at Fairmont Hot Springs. ⚒️🧪
May 3, 2025 at 1:13 AM
Day 5: 1st yr geology field school, Fernie-Radium. My favourite day, I get to go home to the East Kootenays. The structurally curious Rocky Mountain Trench, big bad-ass Cordilleran ice sheet geomorphology, complexly deformed Devonian limestone, and travertine and tufa at Fairmont Hot Springs. ⚒️🧪
Day 4: 1st geology field school. What a stunner of a day, Robin egg blue skies, perfect temperatures. The students are spoiled as they learn about the formation of the Rocky Mountains, visit the famous Frank Slide, and marvel at the bizarre melinite (Ti-rich garnets) bearing Crowsnest Volcanics.
May 2, 2025 at 1:12 AM
Day 4: 1st geology field school. What a stunner of a day, Robin egg blue skies, perfect temperatures. The students are spoiled as they learn about the formation of the Rocky Mountains, visit the famous Frank Slide, and marvel at the bizarre melinite (Ti-rich garnets) bearing Crowsnest Volcanics.
Day 3 Field School. Jensen Reservoir and Cretaceous Beach deposits, Del Bonita uplands outside the reach of the Laurentide Ice Sheet - a remnant periglacial landscape, and the Rocky Mountains. Hello Waterton and the Purcell Super Group, 1.3 Billion yrs old. Geologists- the ultimate time travellers.
April 30, 2025 at 10:16 PM
Day 3 Field School. Jensen Reservoir and Cretaceous Beach deposits, Del Bonita uplands outside the reach of the Laurentide Ice Sheet - a remnant periglacial landscape, and the Rocky Mountains. Hello Waterton and the Purcell Super Group, 1.3 Billion yrs old. Geologists- the ultimate time travellers.
Teaching EAS 110 First Year Field school. The badlands around Drumheller are as spectacular as ever. We also now have a mascot. #geology
#fieldwork
⚒️
#fieldwork
⚒️
April 29, 2025 at 10:44 PM
Teaching EAS 110 First Year Field school. The badlands around Drumheller are as spectacular as ever. We also now have a mascot. #geology
#fieldwork
⚒️
#fieldwork
⚒️
My first super duper MASSIVE crush as I inched closer to tweendom. Rest in peace Madmartigan.
(and Iceman, of course, 2nd favourite roll, so glad he was in part 2).
#valkilmer
(and Iceman, of course, 2nd favourite roll, so glad he was in part 2).
#valkilmer
April 2, 2025 at 6:10 PM
My first super duper MASSIVE crush as I inched closer to tweendom. Rest in peace Madmartigan.
(and Iceman, of course, 2nd favourite roll, so glad he was in part 2).
#valkilmer
(and Iceman, of course, 2nd favourite roll, so glad he was in part 2).
#valkilmer
I feel like we are at ~40 cm in Westmount. As my informal shovelling-effort scale and very precise back porch observations suggest. Can we get that information from a weather station like Blatchford?
#yeg
#yeg
March 28, 2025 at 2:32 PM
I feel like we are at ~40 cm in Westmount. As my informal shovelling-effort scale and very precise back porch observations suggest. Can we get that information from a weather station like Blatchford?
#yeg
#yeg
Maybe I didn’t think this through, being complacent due to our fake spring?
March 8, 2025 at 8:49 PM
Maybe I didn’t think this through, being complacent due to our fake spring?
Looking at the names I think they are all from Guatemala and El Salvador.
March 6, 2025 at 4:25 PM
Looking at the names I think they are all from Guatemala and El Salvador.
Taking the LRT #YEG in today and noticed that I am surrounded by volcano art. What a whimsical way to start my day. I will have to look up what the story behind this is. Thank you Edmonton. 🌋
March 6, 2025 at 4:25 PM
Taking the LRT #YEG in today and noticed that I am surrounded by volcano art. What a whimsical way to start my day. I will have to look up what the story behind this is. Thank you Edmonton. 🌋
Yay #strataday! I can get into that. Perhaps ‘young’ for some (late Pleistocene), but here is part of the Wilson Creek formation- explosive volcanism, controversial paleomagnetism, Pleistocene Lake Russell sediments- in one of my favourite spots on Earth by Mono Lake in the eastern Sierra. ⚒️
March 2, 2025 at 6:56 PM
Yay #strataday! I can get into that. Perhaps ‘young’ for some (late Pleistocene), but here is part of the Wilson Creek formation- explosive volcanism, controversial paleomagnetism, Pleistocene Lake Russell sediments- in one of my favourite spots on Earth by Mono Lake in the eastern Sierra. ⚒️