Steve Voelker
@thetreecorener.bsky.social
Mostly a forest, tree and plant nerd. I teach about climate change. Expert in plant ecophysiology & stable isotopes & dendrochronology. I also study fish through their otoliths. Husband and Dad. Assoc Prof of Forest Ecology & Mgt at Michigan Tech.
Reposted by Steve Voelker
In the century leading up to 1975, nearly 6000 freighters went down in the Great Lakes.
The Edmund Fitzgerald was the last.
The last. In 50 years, not a single commercial freighter has been lost in the Great Lakes.
Why?
It's NOAA. Of course it's NOAA.
The Edmund Fitzgerald was the last.
The last. In 50 years, not a single commercial freighter has been lost in the Great Lakes.
Why?
It's NOAA. Of course it's NOAA.
November 11, 2025 at 1:50 AM
In the century leading up to 1975, nearly 6000 freighters went down in the Great Lakes.
The Edmund Fitzgerald was the last.
The last. In 50 years, not a single commercial freighter has been lost in the Great Lakes.
Why?
It's NOAA. Of course it's NOAA.
The Edmund Fitzgerald was the last.
The last. In 50 years, not a single commercial freighter has been lost in the Great Lakes.
Why?
It's NOAA. Of course it's NOAA.
Reposted by Steve Voelker
Here is the Newsweek magazine article that led to the song "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald," marked up to show key passages that Lightfoot borrowed. Short thread at quoted post. Thanks to @bikeguy.bsky.social for reminding me about this. #EdmundFitzgerald50
November 9, 2025 at 6:59 PM
Here is the Newsweek magazine article that led to the song "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald," marked up to show key passages that Lightfoot borrowed. Short thread at quoted post. Thanks to @bikeguy.bsky.social for reminding me about this. #EdmundFitzgerald50
Reposted by Steve Voelker
A.E. Douglass (founder of the science of dendrochronology) got fired by Percival Lowell for questioning the existence of 'canals' on Mars. Douglass was out of science for many years before getting a position at the University of Arizona. He would be expected to teach physics & physical geography:
November 10, 2025 at 8:21 PM
A.E. Douglass (founder of the science of dendrochronology) got fired by Percival Lowell for questioning the existence of 'canals' on Mars. Douglass was out of science for many years before getting a position at the University of Arizona. He would be expected to teach physics & physical geography:
Reposted by Steve Voelker
Today’s local fieldwork was colder but older! I think we may have found some 300 yr old beech and sweet gum! Will be going back to this site in the future, some nice oak and Nyssa as well.
November 9, 2025 at 11:20 PM
Today’s local fieldwork was colder but older! I think we may have found some 300 yr old beech and sweet gum! Will be going back to this site in the future, some nice oak and Nyssa as well.
Your backwoods knowledge score is 10/10 if you know what this is immediately.
Found it this weekend under a small rowboat on the shore of a remote, undeveloped lake on Forest Service land.
Found it this weekend under a small rowboat on the shore of a remote, undeveloped lake on Forest Service land.
November 10, 2025 at 12:43 AM
Your backwoods knowledge score is 10/10 if you know what this is immediately.
Found it this weekend under a small rowboat on the shore of a remote, undeveloped lake on Forest Service land.
Found it this weekend under a small rowboat on the shore of a remote, undeveloped lake on Forest Service land.
A recent photo from Silver Mountain (shown at the top, center of DEM image below).
One of my favorite places in the UP.
During the summer of 2000 I camped many weekends in the shadow of Silver Mt because my first forest ecology research job as an undergrad only paid for hotels during weekdays.
One of my favorite places in the UP.
During the summer of 2000 I camped many weekends in the shadow of Silver Mt because my first forest ecology research job as an undergrad only paid for hotels during weekdays.
November 7, 2025 at 4:21 AM
A recent photo from Silver Mountain (shown at the top, center of DEM image below).
One of my favorite places in the UP.
During the summer of 2000 I camped many weekends in the shadow of Silver Mt because my first forest ecology research job as an undergrad only paid for hotels during weekdays.
One of my favorite places in the UP.
During the summer of 2000 I camped many weekends in the shadow of Silver Mt because my first forest ecology research job as an undergrad only paid for hotels during weekdays.
Here are some of the forests that occur along the Sturgeon river gorge shown in the DEM image below. These pictures were taken at the north edge of the image looking south across the gorge or downslope. These fire-scarred red pines are somewhat uncommon as this area is mostly northern hardwoods.
November 7, 2025 at 2:57 AM
Here are some of the forests that occur along the Sturgeon river gorge shown in the DEM image below. These pictures were taken at the north edge of the image looking south across the gorge or downslope. These fire-scarred red pines are somewhat uncommon as this area is mostly northern hardwoods.
Across the northern hemisphere stable isotopes in precipitation tend to get more negative at increasing latitudes.
However, adjacent to Lake Superior the opposite pattern occurs (see figure) and is particularly pronounced during cold conditions.
Does anyone know what is going on here ?
However, adjacent to Lake Superior the opposite pattern occurs (see figure) and is particularly pronounced during cold conditions.
Does anyone know what is going on here ?
November 3, 2025 at 7:40 PM
Across the northern hemisphere stable isotopes in precipitation tend to get more negative at increasing latitudes.
However, adjacent to Lake Superior the opposite pattern occurs (see figure) and is particularly pronounced during cold conditions.
Does anyone know what is going on here ?
However, adjacent to Lake Superior the opposite pattern occurs (see figure) and is particularly pronounced during cold conditions.
Does anyone know what is going on here ?
Today on a walk I came across this UP mining cabin from the mid to late 1800s. It would have been just tall enough to stand stooped at the peak.
There are some nice local white cedar rings in the logs walls.
There are some nice local white cedar rings in the logs walls.
October 29, 2025 at 8:49 PM
Today on a walk I came across this UP mining cabin from the mid to late 1800s. It would have been just tall enough to stand stooped at the peak.
There are some nice local white cedar rings in the logs walls.
There are some nice local white cedar rings in the logs walls.
Reposted by Steve Voelker
NOAA retirees “volunteering” including one who is working as an “unpaid intern” in order to help. I would like to never again hear anyone bitch about civil servants’ work ethic tyvm.
Volunteers Step In to Help Understaffed NOAA Track Hurricane Melissa
www.nytimes.com
October 28, 2025 at 11:19 PM
NOAA retirees “volunteering” including one who is working as an “unpaid intern” in order to help. I would like to never again hear anyone bitch about civil servants’ work ethic tyvm.
Reposted by Steve Voelker
deadtrees.earth — An open-access and interactive database for centimeter-scale aerial imagery to uncover global tree mortality dynamics. www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti... Led by @cmosig.bsky.social
October 27, 2025 at 7:22 PM
deadtrees.earth — An open-access and interactive database for centimeter-scale aerial imagery to uncover global tree mortality dynamics. www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti... Led by @cmosig.bsky.social
How's your aspen?
October 27, 2025 at 1:43 PM
How's your aspen?
Reposted by Steve Voelker
A fabulous #postdoc opportunity to work with my colleague Nick Ward at PNNL on forest trace gas cycling, studying a poorly constrained component of the Earth system! Please share widely: careers.pnnl.gov/jobs/10985?l...
Post Doctorate Research Associate – Forest Trace Gas Cycling in Sequim, Washington | Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
PNNL is hiring a Post Doctorate Research Associate – Forest Trace Gas Cycling in Sequim, Washington. Review all of the job details and apply today!
careers.pnnl.gov
October 22, 2025 at 10:16 AM
A fabulous #postdoc opportunity to work with my colleague Nick Ward at PNNL on forest trace gas cycling, studying a poorly constrained component of the Earth system! Please share widely: careers.pnnl.gov/jobs/10985?l...
I don't know about "gigantism", but these authors suggest CO2 may have caused trees/forests to increase in size.
This paper came out just in time for a proposal I am submitting tomorrow on the same topic, but using a different approach in a different system.
This paper came out just in time for a proposal I am submitting tomorrow on the same topic, but using a different approach in a different system.
October 21, 2025 at 5:01 PM
I don't know about "gigantism", but these authors suggest CO2 may have caused trees/forests to increase in size.
This paper came out just in time for a proposal I am submitting tomorrow on the same topic, but using a different approach in a different system.
This paper came out just in time for a proposal I am submitting tomorrow on the same topic, but using a different approach in a different system.
Here is something you will only find in this part of the UP.
A person on FB selling a 515 lb piece of "float copper"
This means it is a piece of nearly pure copper deposited here during the last deglacial.
People search for these with metal detectors since anything at the surface has been found.
A person on FB selling a 515 lb piece of "float copper"
This means it is a piece of nearly pure copper deposited here during the last deglacial.
People search for these with metal detectors since anything at the surface has been found.
October 21, 2025 at 2:14 AM
Here is something you will only find in this part of the UP.
A person on FB selling a 515 lb piece of "float copper"
This means it is a piece of nearly pure copper deposited here during the last deglacial.
People search for these with metal detectors since anything at the surface has been found.
A person on FB selling a 515 lb piece of "float copper"
This means it is a piece of nearly pure copper deposited here during the last deglacial.
People search for these with metal detectors since anything at the surface has been found.
Reposted by Steve Voelker
My department is hiring an assistant professor of forest regeneration. The University of Minnesota department of forest resources is a great place to work, I really really like it here, and hope we end up hiring someone I can collaborate with. hr.myu.umn.edu/jobs/ext/370...
Careers
The Department of Forest Resources at the University of Minnesota seeks outstanding applicants for a full-time tenure-track Assistant Professor faculty position focused on forest regeneration dynamics. This may include focus areas of early stand dynamics, forest genetics, climate-adaptive seed/tree selection, nursery systems, or environmental stress physiology, which may fall within broader disciplines such as silviculture, restoration ecology, or forest operations. This is a 9-month, full-time, tenure-track faculty position with research (50%) and teaching (50%) responsibilities. The successful candidate will have access to office and laboratory space in the department. The position is available beginning August 2026, with review of applications beginning December 8, 2025.ResponsibilitiesResponsibilities include but are not limited to:
hr.myu.umn.edu
October 17, 2025 at 5:14 PM
My department is hiring an assistant professor of forest regeneration. The University of Minnesota department of forest resources is a great place to work, I really really like it here, and hope we end up hiring someone I can collaborate with. hr.myu.umn.edu/jobs/ext/370...
Reposted by Steve Voelker
Hiker Wandering Through Oregon Forest Enjoying Vibrant Reds And Golds Of Fall https://theonion.com/hiker-wandering-through-oregon-forest-enjoying-vibrant-1845142293/
October 15, 2025 at 9:00 PM
Hiker Wandering Through Oregon Forest Enjoying Vibrant Reds And Golds Of Fall https://theonion.com/hiker-wandering-through-oregon-forest-enjoying-vibrant-1845142293/
Reposted by Steve Voelker
@democracyforward.org showing how it’s done…
We just secured a court order with co-counsel BLOCKING Pres. Trump’s attempts to fire federal workers during the shutdown.
We just secured a court order with co-counsel BLOCKING Pres. Trump’s attempts to fire federal workers during the shutdown.
October 15, 2025 at 6:52 PM
@democracyforward.org showing how it’s done…
We just secured a court order with co-counsel BLOCKING Pres. Trump’s attempts to fire federal workers during the shutdown.
We just secured a court order with co-counsel BLOCKING Pres. Trump’s attempts to fire federal workers during the shutdown.
Reposted by Steve Voelker
After getting zero firm commitments to this point from the first nine invitees, the Trump administration is extending its proposed compact to all colleges. Expect some red-state publics to say yes.
Trump Offers All Colleges Preferential Funding Plan Rejected by MIT
The Trump administration is inviting all US colleges to participate in a compact — initially rejected by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology — that would grant preferential federal funding in re...
www.bloomberg.com
October 13, 2025 at 10:17 PM
After getting zero firm commitments to this point from the first nine invitees, the Trump administration is extending its proposed compact to all colleges. Expect some red-state publics to say yes.
Reposted by Steve Voelker
Excited to share our research on the evolution of fossil forests from the Devonian to Jurassic! By analyzing 38 global fossil forests, we explored key parameters to better understand how these fossil forests developed over time.
doi.org/10.1016/j.ea...
doi.org/10.1016/j.ea...
October 12, 2025 at 1:16 PM
Excited to share our research on the evolution of fossil forests from the Devonian to Jurassic! By analyzing 38 global fossil forests, we explored key parameters to better understand how these fossil forests developed over time.
doi.org/10.1016/j.ea...
doi.org/10.1016/j.ea...
Reposted by Steve Voelker
Picture how big the Hoover Dam is. An absolute unit. The Hoover Dam has a power capacity of 2 gigawatts (GW).
The solar farm that the Admin just cancelled could have produces 6.2 GW of power. That's more than 3 Hoover Dams.
The solar farm that the Admin just cancelled could have produces 6.2 GW of power. That's more than 3 Hoover Dams.
SCOOP: The Bureau of Land Management says the largest solar project in Nevada — the Esmeralda 7 mega-farm — has been canceled
The news was quietly dropped via a sudden website update with no public word from any of the companies involved or a statement from the agency
@heatmap.news
The news was quietly dropped via a sudden website update with no public word from any of the companies involved or a statement from the agency
@heatmap.news
Esmeralda 7 Solar Project Has Been Canceled, BLM Says
It would have delivered a gargantuan 6.2 gigawatts of power.
heatmap.news
October 10, 2025 at 4:00 AM
Picture how big the Hoover Dam is. An absolute unit. The Hoover Dam has a power capacity of 2 gigawatts (GW).
The solar farm that the Admin just cancelled could have produces 6.2 GW of power. That's more than 3 Hoover Dams.
The solar farm that the Admin just cancelled could have produces 6.2 GW of power. That's more than 3 Hoover Dams.
Two redwood sampling pictures from the archives. This tree cross-dated really well from 1996 to 450 CE.
It fell in a storm during the winter of 96/97 in the Rockefeller Forest area of Humboldt Redwoods State Park.
It was tricky to cut because it was partially buried in the soil from when it fell.
It fell in a storm during the winter of 96/97 in the Rockefeller Forest area of Humboldt Redwoods State Park.
It was tricky to cut because it was partially buried in the soil from when it fell.
October 10, 2025 at 2:44 AM
Two redwood sampling pictures from the archives. This tree cross-dated really well from 1996 to 450 CE.
It fell in a storm during the winter of 96/97 in the Rockefeller Forest area of Humboldt Redwoods State Park.
It was tricky to cut because it was partially buried in the soil from when it fell.
It fell in a storm during the winter of 96/97 in the Rockefeller Forest area of Humboldt Redwoods State Park.
It was tricky to cut because it was partially buried in the soil from when it fell.
Reposted by Steve Voelker
From beginning to end: the synecology of tree‐killing bark beetles, fungi, and trees - Six - Biological Reviews - Wiley Online Library 😁WE HAVE A NEW ONE OUT. Two years in the making. Give it a look!
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
From beginning to end: the synecology of tree‐killing bark beetles, fungi, and trees
Over a century of research has revealed an amazing complexity of behaviours and physiological adaptations that allow tiny bark beetles to overcome large trees, sometimes resulting in outbreaks that k...
onlinelibrary.wiley.com
October 7, 2025 at 1:59 PM
From beginning to end: the synecology of tree‐killing bark beetles, fungi, and trees - Six - Biological Reviews - Wiley Online Library 😁WE HAVE A NEW ONE OUT. Two years in the making. Give it a look!
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
Good reporting on widespread Douglas-fir mortality in SW Oregon.
I lived on the edge of the Ashland watershed mentioned in the article ca. 2012-2014.
Even then I was seeing patchy mortality from crowding/drought that I knew would get much worse as temps warmed.
I lived on the edge of the Ashland watershed mentioned in the article ca. 2012-2014.
Even then I was seeing patchy mortality from crowding/drought that I knew would get much worse as temps warmed.
Drought and insects have killed an unprecedented number of Oregon’s Douglas fir trees during the last decade, costing billions in timber value, damaging infrastructure and ramping up wildfire danger.
What is Douglas fir dieback? Where is it happening? What is being done? tinyurl.com/5n9amvx6
What is Douglas fir dieback? Where is it happening? What is being done? tinyurl.com/5n9amvx6
October 6, 2025 at 2:13 AM
Good reporting on widespread Douglas-fir mortality in SW Oregon.
I lived on the edge of the Ashland watershed mentioned in the article ca. 2012-2014.
Even then I was seeing patchy mortality from crowding/drought that I knew would get much worse as temps warmed.
I lived on the edge of the Ashland watershed mentioned in the article ca. 2012-2014.
Even then I was seeing patchy mortality from crowding/drought that I knew would get much worse as temps warmed.