Pete Rowley

@pyroclasticpete.bsky.social

1199 Followers 449 Following

Volcanologist at the University of Bristol working on pyroclastic density currents and their deposits, and maritime volcanic risk. Occasional brewer, baker and blacksmith. https://earth-science.org.uk/teach-earth

Cat lying on its back showing all of its belly
Cat sat on laptop
Peacock butterfly drying it's wings in the sun
Picture of two stone counters in a food stall excavated at Pompeii
Text from Return to the Volcano: "An unusual story circulated after the war that Allied aircraft attacking Rabaul had dropped bombs into the craters of Tavurvur volcano to trigger an eruption that, hopefully, would be sufficiently large to dislodge the Japanese from their military base. So unusual was the story that many people believed it was probably untrue—a rumour, a myth, a good yarn. But the volcano bombing did take place. Takashi Kizawa told one of us (R.W.J.) of seeing bombers avoiding other targets and circling towards Tavurvur where they released bombs into the craters. The bombing had no effect, and Japanese soldiers considered the event to be a great joke. Kizawa, however, took a different view: that the enemy was inventive and determined enough at least to attempt a new technique. It helped him confirm his view that Japan would lose the war. Norm Fisher also told R.W.J. that he was consulted officially by the Royal Australian Air Force during the war about the use of bombing in triggering an eruption at Rabaul. He dismissed the suggestion outright, but after the war was amused to discover bomb craters within the volcanic craters of Tavurvur."
Cat asleep on table with head hanging off the edge
A bolder of gneiss with a hill in the background
Photo of the fairy glen on Skye, with pathways leading up to a basalt tower outcrop and a person standing on top
White cat lying on its back on a red kilim rug exposing its belly for strokes / slash / mauling
Moss and ice on an old tree stump in sunlight
Murmurating starling flock above reed beds at sunset
Easter eggs and chocolate rabbits for sale in a shop alongside discount Christmas chocolate selection boxes.
Large toy penguin stood with Stanley the white cat lying down in front with his belly to the sky
Large white cat stretched out on bed lying on its side.
Large flakes of snow falling outside an office window, with houseplants.
Cat sat on laptop on my lap
Yellow whiteboard marker
A screenshot from a BBC article, where a picture of the king reading a get well card is captioned "The king was amused by a card featuring a dog having to wear a protective cone"
Set of DIY bookshelves with cat