Chris Mooney
@chriscmooney.bsky.social
Climate journalist, teacher, professor of practice @uvaenvironment.bsky.social. Former WaPo climate writer. Views are my own. For my latest work: https://reportearth.substack.com/
Pinned
Pulitzer Prize-Winning Journalist Chris Mooney Named Julia G. and Alfred G. Hill Chair of Excellence - College of Communication and Information
Photo courtesy of the University of Virginia This article was written by Noreen Premji. The University of Tennessee, Knoxville’s College of Communication and Information is proud to announce Pulitzer ...
cci.utk.edu
A little bit of news about me! cci.utk.edu/blog/2026/01...
Reposted by Chris Mooney
This chart. Wow. reportearth.substack.com/p/the-washin... via @chriscmooney.bsky.social
February 8, 2026 at 5:10 PM
This chart. Wow. reportearth.substack.com/p/the-washin... via @chriscmooney.bsky.social
Reposted by Chris Mooney
I was told today my Washington Post job is being eliminated
It's just a job, but it's one that I was proud to do for 8+ yrs alongside the best in the business
I'm here for opportunities to tell stories about the natural world and how we impact it
dino.grandoni@gmail.com
It's just a job, but it's one that I was proud to do for 8+ yrs alongside the best in the business
I'm here for opportunities to tell stories about the natural world and how we impact it
dino.grandoni@gmail.com
February 4, 2026 at 6:54 PM
I was told today my Washington Post job is being eliminated
It's just a job, but it's one that I was proud to do for 8+ yrs alongside the best in the business
I'm here for opportunities to tell stories about the natural world and how we impact it
dino.grandoni@gmail.com
It's just a job, but it's one that I was proud to do for 8+ yrs alongside the best in the business
I'm here for opportunities to tell stories about the natural world and how we impact it
dino.grandoni@gmail.com
Reposted by Chris Mooney
First NY Times veteran @jswartz.bsky.social transitions to teach journalism at the University of Texas, now former Washington Post Pulitzer winning climate reporter @chriscmooney.bsky.social moves to teach at the other UT, the one on Rocky Top. Both grew up on Gulf Coast.
cci.utk.edu/blog/2026/01...
cci.utk.edu/blog/2026/01...
Pulitzer Prize-Winning Journalist Chris Mooney Named Julia G. and Alfred G. Hill Chair of Excellence - College of Communication and Information
Photo courtesy of the University of Virginia This article was written by Noreen Premji. The University of Tennessee, Knoxville’s College of Communication and Information is proud to announce Pulitzer ...
cci.utk.edu
January 15, 2026 at 2:06 PM
First NY Times veteran @jswartz.bsky.social transitions to teach journalism at the University of Texas, now former Washington Post Pulitzer winning climate reporter @chriscmooney.bsky.social moves to teach at the other UT, the one on Rocky Top. Both grew up on Gulf Coast.
cci.utk.edu/blog/2026/01...
cci.utk.edu/blog/2026/01...
A little bit of news about me! cci.utk.edu/blog/2026/01...
Pulitzer Prize-Winning Journalist Chris Mooney Named Julia G. and Alfred G. Hill Chair of Excellence - College of Communication and Information
Photo courtesy of the University of Virginia This article was written by Noreen Premji. The University of Tennessee, Knoxville’s College of Communication and Information is proud to announce Pulitzer ...
cci.utk.edu
January 14, 2026 at 6:03 PM
A little bit of news about me! cci.utk.edu/blog/2026/01...
Reposted by Chris Mooney
2025 was an exceptional year for the Earth's climate
⬆️ Warmest ocean heat content
⬆️ Tied as second warmest surface temps
⬆️ Second warmest troposphere
⬆️ Record high sea level and GHGs
⬇️ Record low winter Arctic ice
New State of the Climate over at Carbon Brief: www.carbonbrief.org/...
⬆️ Warmest ocean heat content
⬆️ Tied as second warmest surface temps
⬆️ Second warmest troposphere
⬆️ Record high sea level and GHGs
⬇️ Record low winter Arctic ice
New State of the Climate over at Carbon Brief: www.carbonbrief.org/...
January 14, 2026 at 2:53 PM
2025 was an exceptional year for the Earth's climate
⬆️ Warmest ocean heat content
⬆️ Tied as second warmest surface temps
⬆️ Second warmest troposphere
⬆️ Record high sea level and GHGs
⬇️ Record low winter Arctic ice
New State of the Climate over at Carbon Brief: www.carbonbrief.org/...
⬆️ Warmest ocean heat content
⬆️ Tied as second warmest surface temps
⬆️ Second warmest troposphere
⬆️ Record high sea level and GHGs
⬇️ Record low winter Arctic ice
New State of the Climate over at Carbon Brief: www.carbonbrief.org/...
Reposted by Chris Mooney
🌡️ WMO confirms 2025 was one of warmest years on record.
2025 was one of the 3 warmest years on record, with the global average surface temperature at 1.44°C ± 0.13°C above the 1850-1900 average, according to WMO’s consolidated analysis of 8 datasets.
🔗 https://bit.ly/49xpkWP
2025 was one of the 3 warmest years on record, with the global average surface temperature at 1.44°C ± 0.13°C above the 1850-1900 average, according to WMO’s consolidated analysis of 8 datasets.
🔗 https://bit.ly/49xpkWP
January 14, 2026 at 2:21 PM
🌡️ WMO confirms 2025 was one of warmest years on record.
2025 was one of the 3 warmest years on record, with the global average surface temperature at 1.44°C ± 0.13°C above the 1850-1900 average, according to WMO’s consolidated analysis of 8 datasets.
🔗 https://bit.ly/49xpkWP
2025 was one of the 3 warmest years on record, with the global average surface temperature at 1.44°C ± 0.13°C above the 1850-1900 average, according to WMO’s consolidated analysis of 8 datasets.
🔗 https://bit.ly/49xpkWP
Reposted by Chris Mooney
Most 2025 global temperatures are now out (degrees C above 1850-1900 baseline)
1.41 HadCRUT5
1.44 Berkeley
1.46 JRA-3Q
1.47 Copernicus
1.53 DCENT-I
NOAA and NASA GISS values will be public at 2pm UK time and but based on already public Jan-Nov data they will likely be between 1.3 and 1.4 degC.
1.41 HadCRUT5
1.44 Berkeley
1.46 JRA-3Q
1.47 Copernicus
1.53 DCENT-I
NOAA and NASA GISS values will be public at 2pm UK time and but based on already public Jan-Nov data they will likely be between 1.3 and 1.4 degC.
January 14, 2026 at 10:03 AM
Most 2025 global temperatures are now out (degrees C above 1850-1900 baseline)
1.41 HadCRUT5
1.44 Berkeley
1.46 JRA-3Q
1.47 Copernicus
1.53 DCENT-I
NOAA and NASA GISS values will be public at 2pm UK time and but based on already public Jan-Nov data they will likely be between 1.3 and 1.4 degC.
1.41 HadCRUT5
1.44 Berkeley
1.46 JRA-3Q
1.47 Copernicus
1.53 DCENT-I
NOAA and NASA GISS values will be public at 2pm UK time and but based on already public Jan-Nov data they will likely be between 1.3 and 1.4 degC.
Reposted by Chris Mooney
South Korean RV ARAON is indeed the only ship in the world regularly visiting Thwaites Glacier, Antarctica. US no longer has a dedicated Antarctic RV.
ARAON headed south now, with Raymond Zhong (NYT) & Miles O’Brien @pbsnews.org on board documenting! Gift link: www.nytimes.com/2025/12/27/c...
ARAON headed south now, with Raymond Zhong (NYT) & Miles O’Brien @pbsnews.org on board documenting! Gift link: www.nytimes.com/2025/12/27/c...
Bound for Antarctica: A Voyage to Earth’s End Is Underway
www.nytimes.com
December 27, 2025 at 4:35 PM
South Korean RV ARAON is indeed the only ship in the world regularly visiting Thwaites Glacier, Antarctica. US no longer has a dedicated Antarctic RV.
ARAON headed south now, with Raymond Zhong (NYT) & Miles O’Brien @pbsnews.org on board documenting! Gift link: www.nytimes.com/2025/12/27/c...
ARAON headed south now, with Raymond Zhong (NYT) & Miles O’Brien @pbsnews.org on board documenting! Gift link: www.nytimes.com/2025/12/27/c...
Reposted by Chris Mooney
📣 New estimates shed light on late-18th century temperatures!
🕰️🌡️🌎 New research provides the first global record from near-surface air temperature measurements, peering back in time to the late-18th century.
Read more about it here: brnw.ch/21wYn3Z
🕰️🌡️🌎 New research provides the first global record from near-surface air temperature measurements, peering back in time to the late-18th century.
Read more about it here: brnw.ch/21wYn3Z
Climate Lab Book
Discussions on various aspects of climate science. Click to read Climate Lab Book, by Ed Hawkins, a Substack publication.
brnw.ch
December 15, 2025 at 3:51 PM
📣 New estimates shed light on late-18th century temperatures!
🕰️🌡️🌎 New research provides the first global record from near-surface air temperature measurements, peering back in time to the late-18th century.
Read more about it here: brnw.ch/21wYn3Z
🕰️🌡️🌎 New research provides the first global record from near-surface air temperature measurements, peering back in time to the late-18th century.
Read more about it here: brnw.ch/21wYn3Z
Reposted by Chris Mooney
The new GloSAT temperature dataset extends our observational estimates of global temperature change back to 1781
Blog: climatelabbook.substack.com/p/new-estima...
Paper by Morice et al.: essd.copernicus.org/articles/17/...
Blog: climatelabbook.substack.com/p/new-estima...
Paper by Morice et al.: essd.copernicus.org/articles/17/...
New estimates of surface temperature change since the late 18th century
Releasing an observation-based global temperature dataset extending back to 1781
climatelabbook.substack.com
December 15, 2025 at 2:10 PM
The new GloSAT temperature dataset extends our observational estimates of global temperature change back to 1781
Blog: climatelabbook.substack.com/p/new-estima...
Paper by Morice et al.: essd.copernicus.org/articles/17/...
Blog: climatelabbook.substack.com/p/new-estima...
Paper by Morice et al.: essd.copernicus.org/articles/17/...
Reposted by Chris Mooney
Article on the new GloSAT dataset and implications by @chriscmooney.bsky.social for @cnn.com
edition.cnn.com/2025/12/15/c...
edition.cnn.com/2025/12/15/c...
New data raises questions about how much the Earth has warmed | CNN
New climate data raises questions about how much the Earth has warmed
edition.cnn.com
December 15, 2025 at 2:12 PM
Article on the new GloSAT dataset and implications by @chriscmooney.bsky.social for @cnn.com
edition.cnn.com/2025/12/15/c...
edition.cnn.com/2025/12/15/c...
Thanks @jswatz.bsky.social ! One of my favorite stories, I’m so thrilled that it turns out to have had this next chapter
The little ice robot that could. Great stuff from @chriscmooney.bsky.social open.substack.com/pub/reportea...
“They’re not designed for that”: An ocean robot's lucky Antarctic discoveries
One Argo float's unexpected Antarctic voyage, and unprecedented findings, show the importance of serendipity to science.
open.substack.com
December 7, 2025 at 5:54 PM
Thanks @jswatz.bsky.social ! One of my favorite stories, I’m so thrilled that it turns out to have had this next chapter
Reposted by Chris Mooney
🚨 Monday ice update - #Arctic sea ice extent is currently the lowest on record (JAXA data)
• about 1,110,000 km² below the 2010s mean
• about 1,600,000 km² below the 2000s mean
• about 2,310,000 km² below the 1990s mean
• about 2,810,000 km² below the 1980s mean
More: zacklabe.com/arctic-sea-i...
• about 1,110,000 km² below the 2010s mean
• about 1,600,000 km² below the 2000s mean
• about 2,310,000 km² below the 1990s mean
• about 2,810,000 km² below the 1980s mean
More: zacklabe.com/arctic-sea-i...
December 1, 2025 at 4:04 PM
🚨 Monday ice update - #Arctic sea ice extent is currently the lowest on record (JAXA data)
• about 1,110,000 km² below the 2010s mean
• about 1,600,000 km² below the 2000s mean
• about 2,310,000 km² below the 1990s mean
• about 2,810,000 km² below the 1980s mean
More: zacklabe.com/arctic-sea-i...
• about 1,110,000 km² below the 2010s mean
• about 1,600,000 km² below the 2000s mean
• about 2,310,000 km² below the 1990s mean
• about 2,810,000 km² below the 1980s mean
More: zacklabe.com/arctic-sea-i...
Reposted by Chris Mooney
Flagstaff’s Lowell Observatory plans to cut nearly all its research funding and reduce the number of paid science staff to just two positions next year.
Lowell Observatory slashes research funding in the midst of financial struggle
Flagstaff’s Lowell Observatory plans to cut nearly all its research funding and reduce the number of paid science staff to just two positions next year.
buff.ly
November 10, 2025 at 7:00 PM
Flagstaff’s Lowell Observatory plans to cut nearly all its research funding and reduce the number of paid science staff to just two positions next year.
Reposted by Chris Mooney
Editors have a really hard job, and the good ones can make something unreadable readable, and the great ones can make something unreadable into something good. But they're basically invisible, until someone tries to write without one.
November 17, 2025 at 3:35 PM
Editors have a really hard job, and the good ones can make something unreadable readable, and the great ones can make something unreadable into something good. But they're basically invisible, until someone tries to write without one.
13. For an archive of more charts like these, see here
! /end reportearth.substack.com/p/reporteart...
! /end reportearth.substack.com/p/reporteart...
ReportEarth chart archive
Since I began this Substack in March, I've been making lots of charts. Now they can all live in one place.
reportearth.substack.com
October 24, 2025 at 3:03 PM
13. For an archive of more charts like these, see here
! /end reportearth.substack.com/p/reporteart...
! /end reportearth.substack.com/p/reporteart...
12. Further explanation in my latest Substack story here reportearth.substack.com/p/dont-bet-a...
Don't bet against physics
Don't be surprised by short term fluctuations in Earth systems as the planet warms. In the long term, heat is hard to overcome.
reportearth.substack.com
October 24, 2025 at 3:02 PM
12. Further explanation in my latest Substack story here reportearth.substack.com/p/dont-bet-a...
11. But the scientific expectation remains the same: Warming will continue. That means the Earth, in the long run, will keep losing ice.
Don’t bet against physics.
Don’t bet against physics.
October 24, 2025 at 3:01 PM
11. But the scientific expectation remains the same: Warming will continue. That means the Earth, in the long run, will keep losing ice.
Don’t bet against physics.
Don’t bet against physics.
10. So what’s the upshot here?
Even with record global warmth, the planet’s ice regions do not necessarily march in lockstep. The whole system is very complex.
Even with record global warmth, the planet’s ice regions do not necessarily march in lockstep. The whole system is very complex.
October 24, 2025 at 3:00 PM
10. So what’s the upshot here?
Even with record global warmth, the planet’s ice regions do not necessarily march in lockstep. The whole system is very complex.
Even with record global warmth, the planet’s ice regions do not necessarily march in lockstep. The whole system is very complex.
9. Increasing snowfall appears to be behind this, and the new sea ice configuration could be at play in the overall weather situation. reportearth.substack.com/p/whats-happ...
What's happening in Antarctica
Is the massive southern continent really gaining ice? Or poised to lose massive amounts? Clearing up some stuff this week.
reportearth.substack.com
October 24, 2025 at 2:59 PM
9. Increasing snowfall appears to be behind this, and the new sea ice configuration could be at play in the overall weather situation. reportearth.substack.com/p/whats-happ...
8. And this may be contributing to a surprising effect. Antarctic *grounded ice loss*, the kind that contributes to sea level rise, has also seemingly paused its decline, at least in the last few years.
October 24, 2025 at 2:58 PM
8. And this may be contributing to a surprising effect. Antarctic *grounded ice loss*, the kind that contributes to sea level rise, has also seemingly paused its decline, at least in the last few years.
7. Antarctic sea ice, in contrast, is clearly down lately, though this is a rather recent development.
October 24, 2025 at 2:57 PM
7. Antarctic sea ice, in contrast, is clearly down lately, though this is a rather recent development.
6. What’s up with that? Well, recent scientific papers suggest an ice “regime shift” happened in 2007 and also that, well, natural variability can do this, even on a warming Earth.
agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....
agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1029/...
agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....
agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1029/...
Regime Shift in Arctic Ocean Sea‐Ice Extent
A regime shift occurred in 2007 in the September Arctic sea-ice extent, from a downward trend (1979–2006) to no trend (2007–2024) The period of no trend is inconsistent with a linear model of dec...
agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com
October 24, 2025 at 2:56 PM
6. What’s up with that? Well, recent scientific papers suggest an ice “regime shift” happened in 2007 and also that, well, natural variability can do this, even on a warming Earth.
agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....
agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1029/...
agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....
agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1029/...
5. In fact, there is really not a downtrend in September, the month of lowest ice annual concentrations, between 2007 and the present.
October 24, 2025 at 2:55 PM
5. In fact, there is really not a downtrend in September, the month of lowest ice annual concentrations, between 2007 and the present.
4. But this September, Arctic sea ice extent was merely the 11th lowest on record (when considered on a monthly average basis, rather than when looking at the single lowest daily extent).
This is a bit surprising.
This is a bit surprising.
October 24, 2025 at 2:54 PM
4. But this September, Arctic sea ice extent was merely the 11th lowest on record (when considered on a monthly average basis, rather than when looking at the single lowest daily extent).
This is a bit surprising.
This is a bit surprising.