Ethan Shaw
@cutoffmountain.bsky.social
Naturalist. Landscape: physiography, ecosystem geography, etc. Wallowa-Blue Mtn Snowfield Project (Insta: wallowasnowfields). Wisconsin to the Columbia Plateau.
Reposted by Ethan Shaw
Large glacial erratic along a gravel road in Iowa, photo by Jim Knox, 1967. I think this is one of the "Giant Boulders of the Iowan Drift" (titled of an obscure older article). This is on the Iowan Erosion Surface, an area of Middle to Early Pleistocene glaciation that was the subject of much debate
December 30, 2025 at 1:42 AM
Large glacial erratic along a gravel road in Iowa, photo by Jim Knox, 1967. I think this is one of the "Giant Boulders of the Iowan Drift" (titled of an obscure older article). This is on the Iowan Erosion Surface, an area of Middle to Early Pleistocene glaciation that was the subject of much debate
Reposted by Ethan Shaw
PDT continues High Wind Warning for Foothills of the Northern Blue Mountains of Oregon, Grande Ronde Valley, Wallowa County [OR] and Foothills of the Blue Mountains of Washington [WA] till Dec 24, 2:00 PM PST Link
December 24, 2025 at 6:53 PM
PDT continues High Wind Warning for Foothills of the Northern Blue Mountains of Oregon, Grande Ronde Valley, Wallowa County [OR] and Foothills of the Blue Mountains of Washington [WA] till Dec 24, 2:00 PM PST Link
Snow-lean mid-December ridgetop above 6,000 feet, waiting to get buried...
December 14, 2025 at 9:39 PM
Snow-lean mid-December ridgetop above 6,000 feet, waiting to get buried...
Reposted by Ethan Shaw
Across central and southern Wisconsin, it's been a severe - extreme start to the winter, according to the Accumulated Winter Season Severity Index.
You can learn more from @midwestclimate.bsky.social: mrcc.purdue.edu/research/awssi
You can learn more from @midwestclimate.bsky.social: mrcc.purdue.edu/research/awssi
December 10, 2025 at 8:49 PM
Across central and southern Wisconsin, it's been a severe - extreme start to the winter, according to the Accumulated Winter Season Severity Index.
You can learn more from @midwestclimate.bsky.social: mrcc.purdue.edu/research/awssi
You can learn more from @midwestclimate.bsky.social: mrcc.purdue.edu/research/awssi
Reposted by Ethan Shaw
The mountains of the Alaska Range cast their long shadows to the north under the low winter sun.
December 8, 2025 at 8:12 PM
The mountains of the Alaska Range cast their long shadows to the north under the low winter sun.
Reposted by Ethan Shaw
Mount Shishaldin volcano keeps steaming.
December 4, 2025 at 10:43 PM
Mount Shishaldin volcano keeps steaming.
Reposted by Ethan Shaw
Today’s view of the Yellowstone River and the Absaroka Mountains of Montana from Mallard’s Rest.
December 4, 2025 at 6:38 PM
Today’s view of the Yellowstone River and the Absaroka Mountains of Montana from Mallard’s Rest.
Moonrise on the eve of some much-needed snowmakers for the high country...
December 4, 2025 at 6:59 PM
Moonrise on the eve of some much-needed snowmakers for the high country...
Reposted by Ethan Shaw
New #GRL paper led by Kyla Bazlen shows that lower, earlier snow leads to streamflow spread out more over the water year. Proud to have worked on this with Kyla! agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1029/...
November 5, 2025 at 6:49 PM
New #GRL paper led by Kyla Bazlen shows that lower, earlier snow leads to streamflow spread out more over the water year. Proud to have worked on this with Kyla! agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1029/...
Reposted by Ethan Shaw
As the West warms, wildfires are burning at higher elevations and charring watersheds where the snowpack accumulates. New research has found that snow is melting earlier in burned areas. I wrote about the study—and the implications for the water supply and ecosystems.
waterdesk.org/2025/11/in-b...
waterdesk.org/2025/11/in-b...
In burned forests, the West’s snowpack is melting earlier
As blazes expand to higher elevations, the impacts cascade downstream
waterdesk.org
November 20, 2025 at 5:13 PM
As the West warms, wildfires are burning at higher elevations and charring watersheds where the snowpack accumulates. New research has found that snow is melting earlier in burned areas. I wrote about the study—and the implications for the water supply and ecosystems.
waterdesk.org/2025/11/in-b...
waterdesk.org/2025/11/in-b...
Reposted by Ethan Shaw
Fall 2025 precipitation rank since 1895 using Prism climate data. 🌵☔
December 2, 2025 at 3:04 AM
Fall 2025 precipitation rank since 1895 using Prism climate data. 🌵☔
Reposted by Ethan Shaw
Fall 2025 temperature rank since 1895 using Prism climate data. 🔥🔥🔥
December 2, 2025 at 2:49 AM
Fall 2025 temperature rank since 1895 using Prism climate data. 🔥🔥🔥
Reposted by Ethan Shaw
Elk Mountain,
11/29/2025, 7:37:21 PM
11/29/2025, 7:37:21 PM
November 30, 2025 at 2:37 AM
Elk Mountain,
11/29/2025, 7:37:21 PM
11/29/2025, 7:37:21 PM
Reposted by Ethan Shaw
Beach ridge complexes in bays of Lake Superior, northwest of Marquette, Michigan. Northern hardwoods in fall color on the points between the bays and on high ground inland, conifers on the beach ridges. Sentinel 2, October 26, 2025.
October 28, 2025 at 11:19 PM
Beach ridge complexes in bays of Lake Superior, northwest of Marquette, Michigan. Northern hardwoods in fall color on the points between the bays and on high ground inland, conifers on the beach ridges. Sentinel 2, October 26, 2025.
Reposted by Ethan Shaw
Cornus alternifolia (pagoda dogwood) is easier to spot at this time in the fall and it surprises me again how much of it there is unobtrusively growing under the oaks here.
October 29, 2025 at 1:05 PM
Cornus alternifolia (pagoda dogwood) is easier to spot at this time in the fall and it surprises me again how much of it there is unobtrusively growing under the oaks here.
Reposted by Ethan Shaw
Wind River Range,
10/15/2025, 3:29:50 PM
10/15/2025, 3:29:50 PM
October 15, 2025 at 9:29 PM
Wind River Range,
10/15/2025, 3:29:50 PM
10/15/2025, 3:29:50 PM
Reposted by Ethan Shaw
An atmospheric river event favors increased chances of stormy weather over the Western U.S. during late October.
October 15, 2025 at 9:33 PM
An atmospheric river event favors increased chances of stormy weather over the Western U.S. during late October.
Reposted by Ethan Shaw
CORN-ADO CHASING! It was another hot, sunny day with record heat in the Midwest, ripe for dust devils. During the harvest season when cornbelt dust devils fill with corn stalks, I call them corn-adoes! Got my drone into a few of them today.
October 4, 2025 at 1:29 AM
CORN-ADO CHASING! It was another hot, sunny day with record heat in the Midwest, ripe for dust devils. During the harvest season when cornbelt dust devils fill with corn stalks, I call them corn-adoes! Got my drone into a few of them today.
Reposted by Ethan Shaw
The impact extreme rainfall events can have in a year - check out Tescott, KS. They'd probably be running near average year-to-date, but a pair of 6"+ rain events Jul 22 and Sep 9 have them running a 10"+ surplus.
Recap your 2025 precip story: ag-wx.com
Recap your 2025 precip story: ag-wx.com
September 11, 2025 at 2:23 PM
The impact extreme rainfall events can have in a year - check out Tescott, KS. They'd probably be running near average year-to-date, but a pair of 6"+ rain events Jul 22 and Sep 9 have them running a 10"+ surplus.
Recap your 2025 precip story: ag-wx.com
Recap your 2025 precip story: ag-wx.com
Reposted by Ethan Shaw
Something good: a new, nonprofit newsroom run by some wonderful, experienced folks (core crew from Outside mag's glory days) dedicated to journalism about American public lands! Looks like the plan is to collaborate a fair bit with other outlets.
RE:PUBLIC
INDEPENDENT JOURNALISM FOR PUBLIC LANDS.
www.republic.land
September 10, 2025 at 10:15 PM
Something good: a new, nonprofit newsroom run by some wonderful, experienced folks (core crew from Outside mag's glory days) dedicated to journalism about American public lands! Looks like the plan is to collaborate a fair bit with other outlets.
Reposted by Ethan Shaw
West Blue Mound, highest point in southern Wisconsin, on the horizon from a ridgetop in Lafayette County, Wisconsin. East Blue Mound is also visible at the right edge of the photo.
September 6, 2025 at 10:01 PM
West Blue Mound, highest point in southern Wisconsin, on the horizon from a ridgetop in Lafayette County, Wisconsin. East Blue Mound is also visible at the right edge of the photo.
Snowpatch fieldwork up in the "Skyland Block"...
September 2, 2025 at 4:43 PM
Snowpatch fieldwork up in the "Skyland Block"...