INSTAAR 🏳️🌈
@instaar.bsky.social
Institute of Arctic & Alpine Research - Earth & environmental science at CU Boulder. Research & education on the past, present, & future of Earth systems in service of a just & thriving world https://www.colorado.edu/instaar/
Pinned
INSTAAR 🏳️🌈
@instaar.bsky.social
· Apr 10
Hi! 👋 We are scientists studying Earth & environmental systems at CU Boulder. Our name = cold/high places, but these days we work from tropics to poles, incl. the world ocean. Follow us for
🧊 Cold regions
⌛ Past climate
🏔️ Earth surface processes
💨 Atmospheric gases
🌱 Ecological change
& lots more!
🧊 Cold regions
⌛ Past climate
🏔️ Earth surface processes
💨 Atmospheric gases
🌱 Ecological change
& lots more!
🐚 Marine fossils offer a clue to the past and the future of the Atlantic ocean.
Tom Marchitto is a collaborator on a new paper led by the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution.
www.whoi.edu/press-room/n...
Tom Marchitto is a collaborator on a new paper led by the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution.
www.whoi.edu/press-room/n...
Critical Atlantic Ocean currents remained active during the last ice age
The study shows that deep ocean water in the North Atlantic was much warmer during the last ice age than scientists once believed.
www.whoi.edu
January 24, 2026 at 12:00 AM
🐚 Marine fossils offer a clue to the past and the future of the Atlantic ocean.
Tom Marchitto is a collaborator on a new paper led by the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution.
www.whoi.edu/press-room/n...
Tom Marchitto is a collaborator on a new paper led by the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution.
www.whoi.edu/press-room/n...
Update: New venue for this INSTAAR 75th anniversary seminar
🏔️ Life at the bottom of the world: A research journey to the Antarctic Dry Valleys
Diane McKnight
Thur Feb 5th 5-7pm MT
CU Boulder East Campus (JSCBB A115) & Zoom
FREE event but registration required calendar.colorado.edu/event/diane-...
🏔️ Life at the bottom of the world: A research journey to the Antarctic Dry Valleys
Diane McKnight
Thur Feb 5th 5-7pm MT
CU Boulder East Campus (JSCBB A115) & Zoom
FREE event but registration required calendar.colorado.edu/event/diane-...
January 23, 2026 at 9:48 PM
Update: New venue for this INSTAAR 75th anniversary seminar
🏔️ Life at the bottom of the world: A research journey to the Antarctic Dry Valleys
Diane McKnight
Thur Feb 5th 5-7pm MT
CU Boulder East Campus (JSCBB A115) & Zoom
FREE event but registration required calendar.colorado.edu/event/diane-...
🏔️ Life at the bottom of the world: A research journey to the Antarctic Dry Valleys
Diane McKnight
Thur Feb 5th 5-7pm MT
CU Boulder East Campus (JSCBB A115) & Zoom
FREE event but registration required calendar.colorado.edu/event/diane-...
Reposted by INSTAAR 🏳️🌈
Registration now open!!! CSDMS 2026 Annual Meeting, "Modeling Landscapes in Motion", May 19-21, 2026 in Minneapolis, MN. Details and register: csdms.colorado.edu/wiki/Form:An...
January 22, 2026 at 8:34 PM
Registration now open!!! CSDMS 2026 Annual Meeting, "Modeling Landscapes in Motion", May 19-21, 2026 in Minneapolis, MN. Details and register: csdms.colorado.edu/wiki/Form:An...
🏔️ Life at the bottom of the world: A research journey to the Antarctic Dry Valleys
Diane McKnight
Thurs Feb 5th 5-7pm MST
CU Boulder East Campus (AERO 114) & Zoom
All are welcome to this FREE INSTAAR 75th anniversary seminar but please register in advance calendar.colorado.edu/event/diane-...
Diane McKnight
Thurs Feb 5th 5-7pm MST
CU Boulder East Campus (AERO 114) & Zoom
All are welcome to this FREE INSTAAR 75th anniversary seminar but please register in advance calendar.colorado.edu/event/diane-...
January 21, 2026 at 4:59 PM
🏔️ Life at the bottom of the world: A research journey to the Antarctic Dry Valleys
Diane McKnight
Thurs Feb 5th 5-7pm MST
CU Boulder East Campus (AERO 114) & Zoom
All are welcome to this FREE INSTAAR 75th anniversary seminar but please register in advance calendar.colorado.edu/event/diane-...
Diane McKnight
Thurs Feb 5th 5-7pm MST
CU Boulder East Campus (AERO 114) & Zoom
All are welcome to this FREE INSTAAR 75th anniversary seminar but please register in advance calendar.colorado.edu/event/diane-...
Reposted by INSTAAR 🏳️🌈
Earth Surface Processes Institute - Deadline for application January 24th!! ESPIn is a five-day immersive training experience organized by CSDMS for 25 early career scientists, including graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, researchers, and faculty. Details: csdms.colorado.edu/wiki/ESPIn
ESPIn
csdms.colorado.edu
January 16, 2026 at 6:08 PM
Earth Surface Processes Institute - Deadline for application January 24th!! ESPIn is a five-day immersive training experience organized by CSDMS for 25 early career scientists, including graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, researchers, and faculty. Details: csdms.colorado.edu/wiki/ESPIn
Reposted by INSTAAR 🏳️🌈
Join PSECCO and @cires.colorado.edu for a media training designed for polar early career scientists. Register on the events page of our website: psecco.org/events!
January 15, 2026 at 10:01 PM
Join PSECCO and @cires.colorado.edu for a media training designed for polar early career scientists. Register on the events page of our website: psecco.org/events!
🚨Calling all grad students who model earth surface processes.
You could win a CSDMS Syvitski Student Modeler Award, which includes *FREE* travel & lodging for the May CSDMS Annual Mtg in Minneapolis
JAN 26 DEADLINE to submit a project you completed in 2025. See csdms.colorado.edu/wiki/Student...
You could win a CSDMS Syvitski Student Modeler Award, which includes *FREE* travel & lodging for the May CSDMS Annual Mtg in Minneapolis
JAN 26 DEADLINE to submit a project you completed in 2025. See csdms.colorado.edu/wiki/Student...
Only a few weeks left to submit your latest and greatest codes and science finding for consideration for the #CSDMS student modeler award.
csdms.colorado.edu/wiki/Student...
Any #ESPIN-eers ready to share their work?
csdms.colorado.edu/wiki/Student...
Any #ESPIN-eers ready to share their work?
January 16, 2026 at 12:26 AM
🚨Calling all grad students who model earth surface processes.
You could win a CSDMS Syvitski Student Modeler Award, which includes *FREE* travel & lodging for the May CSDMS Annual Mtg in Minneapolis
JAN 26 DEADLINE to submit a project you completed in 2025. See csdms.colorado.edu/wiki/Student...
You could win a CSDMS Syvitski Student Modeler Award, which includes *FREE* travel & lodging for the May CSDMS Annual Mtg in Minneapolis
JAN 26 DEADLINE to submit a project you completed in 2025. See csdms.colorado.edu/wiki/Student...
Meet the "EcoTram." 🌱 🛤️ 🌱
Keith Musselman and collaborators have constructed a mini rail line that continuously measures hydrological and ecological variables across a 400-foot transect high in the Indian Peaks.
Keith Musselman and collaborators have constructed a mini rail line that continuously measures hydrological and ecological variables across a 400-foot transect high in the Indian Peaks.
Research highlight: Dr. Keith Musselman and the EcoTram
High up in the subalpine forest of the Como Creek Watershed, in a landscape shaped by snow and wind, CU Boulder’s own Dr. Keith Musselman and collaborators have
www.colorado.edu
January 14, 2026 at 6:00 PM
Meet the "EcoTram." 🌱 🛤️ 🌱
Keith Musselman and collaborators have constructed a mini rail line that continuously measures hydrological and ecological variables across a 400-foot transect high in the Indian Peaks.
Keith Musselman and collaborators have constructed a mini rail line that continuously measures hydrological and ecological variables across a 400-foot transect high in the Indian Peaks.
LIVE FROM ANTARCTICA 2.0
15.JAN.2026 9:30 AM MST
Learn about the sustainable aspects of the first (and to date only) zero emission polar research station in the world. At the end, there will be a 20-30 minute Q&A open to all. Zoom registration required cuboulder.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
15.JAN.2026 9:30 AM MST
Learn about the sustainable aspects of the first (and to date only) zero emission polar research station in the world. At the end, there will be a 20-30 minute Q&A open to all. Zoom registration required cuboulder.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
Join us on Thursday, January 15th @ 9:30am MST while we chat with the International Polar Foundation about the sustainability initiatives and climate research happening at the Princess Elizabeth Antarctica!
January 13, 2026 at 5:46 PM
LIVE FROM ANTARCTICA 2.0
15.JAN.2026 9:30 AM MST
Learn about the sustainable aspects of the first (and to date only) zero emission polar research station in the world. At the end, there will be a 20-30 minute Q&A open to all. Zoom registration required cuboulder.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
15.JAN.2026 9:30 AM MST
Learn about the sustainable aspects of the first (and to date only) zero emission polar research station in the world. At the end, there will be a 20-30 minute Q&A open to all. Zoom registration required cuboulder.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
Reposted by INSTAAR 🏳️🌈
🌎 Are you an early career researcher keen on Earth surface processes? Want to learn about numerical modeling & software development?
Apply by 24 January for the *free* CSDMS ESPIn immersive training experience Aug 3-7, 2026 in Boulder Colorado ⬇️
csdms.colorado.edu/wiki/ESPIn2026
Apply by 24 January for the *free* CSDMS ESPIn immersive training experience Aug 3-7, 2026 in Boulder Colorado ⬇️
csdms.colorado.edu/wiki/ESPIn2026
December 15, 2025 at 9:45 PM
🌎 Are you an early career researcher keen on Earth surface processes? Want to learn about numerical modeling & software development?
Apply by 24 January for the *free* CSDMS ESPIn immersive training experience Aug 3-7, 2026 in Boulder Colorado ⬇️
csdms.colorado.edu/wiki/ESPIn2026
Apply by 24 January for the *free* CSDMS ESPIn immersive training experience Aug 3-7, 2026 in Boulder Colorado ⬇️
csdms.colorado.edu/wiki/ESPIn2026
Reposted by INSTAAR 🏳️🌈
At the 2025 AGU Annual Meeting in New Orleans, CIRES scientist Michael MacFerrin & CEEE Director Anne Gold pushed for real change in extreme field research. Their panels focused on making fieldwork more inclusive for marginalized researchers & creating safer environments in the most remote places 🌍
January 7, 2026 at 7:48 PM
At the 2025 AGU Annual Meeting in New Orleans, CIRES scientist Michael MacFerrin & CEEE Director Anne Gold pushed for real change in extreme field research. Their panels focused on making fieldwork more inclusive for marginalized researchers & creating safer environments in the most remote places 🌍
Reposted by INSTAAR 🏳️🌈
Dismal snowpack in Colorado. Went on a ski road trip anyway. Documented the low-tide winter in a photo essay for snow.news.
www.snow.news/p/photo-essa...
www.snow.news/p/photo-essa...
Photo essay: Low tide in Colorado
Images from a thin winter
www.snow.news
January 8, 2026 at 6:10 PM
Dismal snowpack in Colorado. Went on a ski road trip anyway. Documented the low-tide winter in a photo essay for snow.news.
www.snow.news/p/photo-essa...
www.snow.news/p/photo-essa...
ICYMI: An interesting Q&A with @colorado.edu's first vice chancellor for sustainability Andrew Mayock. He previously served as chief sustainability officer for the US government.
www.colorado.edu/coloradan/20...
www.colorado.edu/coloradan/20...
Andrew Mayock Joined CU to Accelerate Climate Solutions
Andrew Mayock has joined CU Boulder as the university’s first vice chancellor for sustainability, aiming to elevate its global leadership in climate action.
www.colorado.edu
January 7, 2026 at 12:29 AM
ICYMI: An interesting Q&A with @colorado.edu's first vice chancellor for sustainability Andrew Mayock. He previously served as chief sustainability officer for the US government.
www.colorado.edu/coloradan/20...
www.colorado.edu/coloradan/20...
Reposted by INSTAAR 🏳️🌈
Arctic ecosystems are on the brink of change. 🌊
New research from @instaar.bsky.social predicts disrupted phytoplankton blooms by 2100, impacting life throughout the Arctic Ocean.
Read more ↓
bit.ly/4aoXsqa
New research from @instaar.bsky.social predicts disrupted phytoplankton blooms by 2100, impacting life throughout the Arctic Ocean.
Read more ↓
bit.ly/4aoXsqa
Scientists predict sea change in Arctic ecosystems by century's end
A team, led by INSTAAR's Courtney Payne, used a powerful methodology to predict outcomes for life in the Arctic Ocean in the year 2100. The results show
bit.ly
January 6, 2026 at 12:27 AM
Arctic ecosystems are on the brink of change. 🌊
New research from @instaar.bsky.social predicts disrupted phytoplankton blooms by 2100, impacting life throughout the Arctic Ocean.
Read more ↓
bit.ly/4aoXsqa
New research from @instaar.bsky.social predicts disrupted phytoplankton blooms by 2100, impacting life throughout the Arctic Ocean.
Read more ↓
bit.ly/4aoXsqa
Between ambitious projects, big awards and groundbreaking publications, it’s been a newsy year at the Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research. Here are our top stories of 2025 www.colorado.edu/instaar/2026...
INSTAAR’s most read news stories of 2025
Between ambitious projects, big awards and groundbreaking publications, it’s been a newsy year at the Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research. Here are our top
www.colorado.edu
January 5, 2026 at 10:27 PM
Between ambitious projects, big awards and groundbreaking publications, it’s been a newsy year at the Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research. Here are our top stories of 2025 www.colorado.edu/instaar/2026...
👍🏽 We're big fans of RECCS, having had a number of great students work with us over the years. If you know any community college students keen on geo or environ science in CO, KS, NE, NM, or WY, send 'em the link ⬇️
🚨 Attention Community College Students! 🚨
Looking for hands-on research experience? The RECCS application is OPEN! ✨
Learn more and apply here:
🔗 ceee.colorado.edu/programs/reccs
Attend the information session:
🔗 tinyurl.com/RECCS26-Info-Session
#ResearchOpportunity #CommunityCollege #RECCS
Looking for hands-on research experience? The RECCS application is OPEN! ✨
Learn more and apply here:
🔗 ceee.colorado.edu/programs/reccs
Attend the information session:
🔗 tinyurl.com/RECCS26-Info-Session
#ResearchOpportunity #CommunityCollege #RECCS
January 5, 2026 at 10:13 PM
👍🏽 We're big fans of RECCS, having had a number of great students work with us over the years. If you know any community college students keen on geo or environ science in CO, KS, NE, NM, or WY, send 'em the link ⬇️
Katie Suding's former student Isabel De Silva is featured in this CPR piece on moose in Colorado
www.cpr.org/2025/12/08/c...
www.cpr.org/2025/12/08/c...
Have Colorado’s moose restoration efforts been too successful?
Around 3,500 moose now wander Colorado. The hungry herbivores are also threatening a once-wetland-rich valley in Rocky Mountain National Park.
www.cpr.org
December 22, 2025 at 7:14 PM
Katie Suding's former student Isabel De Silva is featured in this CPR piece on moose in Colorado
www.cpr.org/2025/12/08/c...
www.cpr.org/2025/12/08/c...
🔥 INSTAARites in Boulder are hunkered down today for “extremely critical” fire weather conditions. Fortunately, no ignitions so far. Wish us luck!
🌬️ Peak wind gust 104 mph (NCAR Mesa Lab)
🌡️ Air temp ~65F
🌵 Humidity only ~9%
#COWX
🌬️ Peak wind gust 104 mph (NCAR Mesa Lab)
🌡️ Air temp ~65F
🌵 Humidity only ~9%
#COWX
December 19, 2025 at 8:33 PM
🔥 INSTAARites in Boulder are hunkered down today for “extremely critical” fire weather conditions. Fortunately, no ignitions so far. Wish us luck!
🌬️ Peak wind gust 104 mph (NCAR Mesa Lab)
🌡️ Air temp ~65F
🌵 Humidity only ~9%
#COWX
🌬️ Peak wind gust 104 mph (NCAR Mesa Lab)
🌡️ Air temp ~65F
🌵 Humidity only ~9%
#COWX
Reposted by INSTAAR 🏳️🌈
Today, the 2025 #ArcticReportCard was released, marking 20 years of tracking rapid Arctic warming and change.
Find the full 2025 Arctic Report Card, with images, facts and stats at:
arctic.noaa.gov/report-card/...
#AGU25
noaa.gov via NOAA Research
Find the full 2025 Arctic Report Card, with images, facts and stats at:
arctic.noaa.gov/report-card/...
#AGU25
noaa.gov via NOAA Research
Report Card 2025 - NOAA Arctic
Arctic Report Card: Update for 2025 Twenty years of tracking rapid Arctic warming and change Archive of Previous Arctic Report Cards Arctic Report Card 2025 2025 Headlines and Overview Vital Signs Oth...
arctic.noaa.gov
December 16, 2025 at 5:22 PM
Today, the 2025 #ArcticReportCard was released, marking 20 years of tracking rapid Arctic warming and change.
Find the full 2025 Arctic Report Card, with images, facts and stats at:
arctic.noaa.gov/report-card/...
#AGU25
noaa.gov via NOAA Research
Find the full 2025 Arctic Report Card, with images, facts and stats at:
arctic.noaa.gov/report-card/...
#AGU25
noaa.gov via NOAA Research
🧑🏽🔬 This week, 100s of @colorado.edu scientists -incl many INSTAARs- are participating in the #AGU25 Earth & space science conference. INSTAARs are helping w the CU exhibit booth too. Thanks y'all!
See schedule of remaining talks & posters of CU participants www.colorado.edu/news/formedi...
See schedule of remaining talks & posters of CU participants www.colorado.edu/news/formedi...
December 17, 2025 at 8:04 PM
🧑🏽🔬 This week, 100s of @colorado.edu scientists -incl many INSTAARs- are participating in the #AGU25 Earth & space science conference. INSTAARs are helping w the CU exhibit booth too. Thanks y'all!
See schedule of remaining talks & posters of CU participants www.colorado.edu/news/formedi...
See schedule of remaining talks & posters of CU participants www.colorado.edu/news/formedi...
🌊 The Arctic Rivers Project is weaving Indigenous Knowledge with empirical analysis to plan for the 21st century.
Last week, Eos writer Cassidy Beach featured INSTAAR fellow Keith Musselman in a piece on the innovative research effort.
Last week, Eos writer Cassidy Beach featured INSTAAR fellow Keith Musselman in a piece on the innovative research effort.
Changing Winters Leave Indigenous Alaskans on Thin Ice - Eos
Researchers are blending Indigenous Knowledges with climate models to describe shifts in snow and ice.
eos.org
December 17, 2025 at 7:19 PM
🌊 The Arctic Rivers Project is weaving Indigenous Knowledge with empirical analysis to plan for the 21st century.
Last week, Eos writer Cassidy Beach featured INSTAAR fellow Keith Musselman in a piece on the innovative research effort.
Last week, Eos writer Cassidy Beach featured INSTAAR fellow Keith Musselman in a piece on the innovative research effort.
Reposted by INSTAAR 🏳️🌈
Attention @colorado.edu authors! Did you know that University Libraries can provide up to $2,000 to pay for publishing fees for full open access journals, including our own AAAR? Please read through the eligibility criteria carefully: libraries.colorado.edu/research/ope....
December 16, 2025 at 4:48 PM
Attention @colorado.edu authors! Did you know that University Libraries can provide up to $2,000 to pay for publishing fees for full open access journals, including our own AAAR? Please read through the eligibility criteria carefully: libraries.colorado.edu/research/ope....
Extract rare earth metals from contaminated Colorado streams?
Diane McKnight & Tom Marchitto are collaborators on a new project seeking to improve water quality while also increasing the domestic supply of raw materials for advanced technologies www.colorado.edu/instaar/2025...
Diane McKnight & Tom Marchitto are collaborators on a new project seeking to improve water quality while also increasing the domestic supply of raw materials for advanced technologies www.colorado.edu/instaar/2025...
Precious waterways: how contaminated mountain streams could power American-made technology
Diane McKnight and Tom Marchitto are collaborators on a new project looking for a way to extract rare earth metals from contaminated Colorado streams. The goal
www.colorado.edu
December 16, 2025 at 7:48 PM
Extract rare earth metals from contaminated Colorado streams?
Diane McKnight & Tom Marchitto are collaborators on a new project seeking to improve water quality while also increasing the domestic supply of raw materials for advanced technologies www.colorado.edu/instaar/2025...
Diane McKnight & Tom Marchitto are collaborators on a new project seeking to improve water quality while also increasing the domestic supply of raw materials for advanced technologies www.colorado.edu/instaar/2025...
🌎 Are you an early career researcher keen on Earth surface processes? Want to learn about numerical modeling & software development?
Apply by 24 January for the *free* CSDMS ESPIn immersive training experience Aug 3-7, 2026 in Boulder Colorado ⬇️
csdms.colorado.edu/wiki/ESPIn2026
Apply by 24 January for the *free* CSDMS ESPIn immersive training experience Aug 3-7, 2026 in Boulder Colorado ⬇️
csdms.colorado.edu/wiki/ESPIn2026
December 15, 2025 at 9:45 PM
🌎 Are you an early career researcher keen on Earth surface processes? Want to learn about numerical modeling & software development?
Apply by 24 January for the *free* CSDMS ESPIn immersive training experience Aug 3-7, 2026 in Boulder Colorado ⬇️
csdms.colorado.edu/wiki/ESPIn2026
Apply by 24 January for the *free* CSDMS ESPIn immersive training experience Aug 3-7, 2026 in Boulder Colorado ⬇️
csdms.colorado.edu/wiki/ESPIn2026