Dr Georgy Falster
@raindrop-herder.bsky.social
3.1K followers 330 following 140 posts
mildly misanthropic swimming skiing scientist. climate & paleoclimate, co-lead PAGES2k https://pastglobalchanges.org/science/wg/2k-network/intro. person of european descent, born on Kaurna land. she/her
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raindrop-herder.bsky.social
new water isotope preprint! egusphere.copernicus.org/preprints/20...

We used the MAGIC of machine learning (ok, random forests) to predict monthly precipitation stable isotopes over the Australian continent, at monthly resolution from 1962-2023.

Details at the paper; pretty animation below
raindrop-herder.bsky.social
the calculations take some work, but if your data are in netcdf format, the visualisation is quite straightforward using xmovie (: xmovie.readthedocs.io/en/latest/in...
xmovie: movies from xarray objects — xmovie 0.3.2.dev8+gf4f6e30.d20220509 documentation
xmovie.readthedocs.io
raindrop-herder.bsky.social
new water isotope preprint! egusphere.copernicus.org/preprints/20...

We used the MAGIC of machine learning (ok, random forests) to predict monthly precipitation stable isotopes over the Australian continent, at monthly resolution from 1962-2023.

Details at the paper; pretty animation below
raindrop-herder.bsky.social
also yes I realise that this isn't really a place people come these days; I am just so sick of the admin burden at this damn place I needed to write about it
raindrop-herder.bsky.social
absolutely thrilled to have spent two hours this morning sorting out GST assignments on my purchase card acquittals when apparently there is an entire finance department at the University of Adelaide busy doing...something else.

I swear this place is set up to actively discourage research
Reposted by Dr Georgy Falster
peatymike.bsky.social
No advert out yet, but I will recruiting a 2yr postdoc, start date autumn 2025, at @livunigeog.bsky.social soon. Lowland and upland peatlands, GHGs, DOM and water chemistry. Plenty of fieldwork. Feel free to drop me a DM or email if you might be interested, and please spread the word.
Reposted by Dr Georgy Falster
Reposted by Dr Georgy Falster
hausfath.bsky.social
Scientists have been publishing climate models since ~1970.

A good way to evaluate their skill is to compare what they expected to happen in the years after the model was published to observed climate changes.

It turns out most models were pretty spot-on:
raindrop-herder.bsky.social
Astonishingly, no! A goal for a future paper
raindrop-herder.bsky.social
just giving my readers the value for money we all crave in this day and age
raindrop-herder.bsky.social
there are also tables, but just a normal amount (three)
raindrop-herder.bsky.social
in these dark times, I am thrilled to announce I just sent off a finalised paper draft to co-authors, featuring SEVEN HUNDRED AND NINETEEN panels across 28 figures

(that's a personal best or personal worst, depending on your preferences)
Photograph of a woman with short blonde hair and a gold nose ring, wearing a charcoal sweatshirt. She is smiling smugly into the camera, resting her chin on her hand. In the background is a mustard brick wall with wooden shelves and some plants in wine bottles.
raindrop-herder.bsky.social
somehow, yes. But apparently this sort of thing is rife at Adelaide - people waiting OVER A YEAR for finance and post-award to sort out their grants
raindrop-herder.bsky.social
Now just praying that UniSA swoops in to save us all in the merger cos otherwise RIP my DECRA
raindrop-herder.bsky.social
two weeks into my DECRA at the University of Adelaide: my project funds still don't exist, I don't have building access, and I won't have a computer until mid-May.

I'm not sure what's going on with the admin/HR/finance in this place but the results are.....shambolic.
Photograph of a 30-something year old woman with chin-length blonde hair, wearing a navy sweater, resting her head on her hand and smiling wryly into the camera
raindrop-herder.bsky.social
This was a collaboration by many of the good folks at the ARC Centre of Excellence for Climate Extremes (CLEX) and @21stcenturyweather.bsky.social - and is perfect cherry on top of the delicious (and, not to muddle the metaphor, extremely productive) cake that was the CLEX Drought Research Program.
raindrop-herder.bsky.social
Out today: our comprehensive review of Australian droughts.

It covers the nature and drivers of drought development, intensification & termination - and how those are changing with climate change.

www.nature.com/articles/s43...
Scientific diagram summarising the causes of drought development, intensification, and termination in Australia. The graphic shows that drought development and intensification is associated with El Nino and positive IPO conditions in the Pacific Ocean, positive IOD conditions in the Indian Ocean, reduced onshore moisture transport, high pressure systems over south-eastern and south-western Australia, dry MJO phases, and wind-evaporation feedbacks - with all affected by anthropogenic forcing. Drought termination is associated with La Nina and negative IPO conditions in the Pacific Ocean, negative IOD conditions in the Indian Ocean, enhanced onshore moisture transport, cut-off low weather systems in south-eastern Australia, monsoon lows in north-western Australia, and wet MJO phases - with all affected by anthropogenic forcing.
raindrop-herder.bsky.social
bit of a misdirect there maybe(!) the skivvy is fashionably sleeveless and the shirt is a nice lightweight one for UV protection - a real Adelaide necessity
raindrop-herder.bsky.social
DECRA day #1: got stuck in a bizarre loop where to find out my finance project codes I needed access to a system that could only be granted entering, into an online form, the correct project codes.

In better news, there's a feijoa tree outside my new building.
Photograph of a gently tattoo'd arm holding a bicycle helmet upside-down by the straps. The helmet is acting as a basket for a handful of feijoas. In the background is visible a feijoa tree in a patch of morning sunlight. Photograph of a woman with chin-length blonde hair, smiling down at the camera, wearing a blue checkered shirt open over a navy mock-turtleneck. The photo is taken from a low angle. In the background is a brick building, with the letters "E MAWSON LABORAT" visible on the façade.
Reposted by Dr Georgy Falster
raindrop-herder.bsky.social
After three jam-packed years, today was my last day at ANU.

During my postdoc here I learned a LOT, went to cool places, did fun science, and met a truly delightful bunch of people.

I'll miss ANU but looking forward to starting my DECRA fellowship at Adelaide Uni in just under a month
Reposted by Dr Georgy Falster
raindrop-herder.bsky.social
not as many as I'd have liked but at least five