Ed Hawkins
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Ed Hawkins
@edhawkins.org

Climate scientist at the National Centre for Atmospheric Science, University of Reading | IPCC AR6 Lead Author | MBE | Views own | https://edhawkins.org

Warming Stripes: http://www.ShowYourStripes.info

Edward Hawkins is a British climate scientist who is Professor of climate science at the University of Reading, principal research scientist at the National Centre for Atmospheric Science (NCAS), editor of Climate Lab Book blog and lead scientist for the Weather Rescue citizen science project. He is known for his data visualizations of climate change for the general public such as warming stripes and climate spirals. .. more

Environmental science 47%
Geology 18%
Pinned
Monitoring changes in UK temperature

To (almost) no-one’s surprise, multiple sources of data agree on the long-term trends in UK temperatures.

climatelabbook.substack.com/p/monitoring...
Monitoring changes in UK temperature
Multiple sources of data agree on long-term observed trends
climatelabbook.substack.com
In three days, #COP30 starts in #Belém, Brazil, let’s remember that climate action isn’t just about climate - it’s also a good way to clean the air we breathe.
Many of the steps we take to tackle #climatechange can also bring immediate air-quality benefits.

I think 1750 would be ideal but starting in 1800 would include simulation of the major volcanic eruptions which is important for post-1850 climate. When we suggested these ideas for CMIP7 the modelling centres saw the value but were not keen on spending (limited) computational resources on this.

We performed parallel simulations using 1750 and 1850 frameworks.

When starting in 1750, the simulated climate for lengthy periods after 1850 is different from simulations started in 1850, even with the same radiative forcings.

This is mainly because of volcanoes & land use changes before 1850.
Should we start historical climate simulations in 1750 (or 1800) rather than 1850?

Importance of beginning industrial-era climate simulations in the eighteenth century

Ballinger, Schurer et al.: iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1...
Looking for a #PhD in #ClimateExtremes?
We are advertising a project attributing causes of recent #droughts using counter-factual storylines.
Based in #Edinburgh, working with Andrew Schurer, me, @gabihegerl.bsky.social, & @edhawkins.org
tinyurl.com/5n7b52fr

At a workshop today discussing improving historical weather & climate reconstructions for the British & Irish Isles.

Key questions: if you had a high resolution reanalysis for these islands, what would you want to use it for? What complementary observational datasets should be prioritised?

HadCRUT5 global temperature dataset now updated to Sep 2025.

As usual, data can be downloaded from CRU/UEA website: crudata.uea.ac.uk/cru/data/tem...
And from Met Office/hadobs website: www.metoffice.gov.uk/hadobs/hadcr...

@climateuea.bsky.social @colinmorice.bsky.social
New study in Nature by Lin et al shows how the sea-level rise from the melting Ice Age ice (a total of 120 meters rise) ended thousands of years ago.
Until our fossil fuel use started a new phase of rising seas.
Graph shows the global mean rate of sea level rise.
🌊
www.nature.com/articles/s41...

Reposted by Peter Thorne

A damaging hurricane in a warmer world

How would a major hurricane that hit Jamaica in 1903 be different today, in a warmer world?

It would drop more rain. (At least)

climatelabbook.substack.com/p/a-damaging...

Including how a major hurricane that hit Jamaica in 1903 would have dropped more rain in today’s warmer world: climatelabbook.substack.com/p/a-damaging...

Reposted by Ed Hawkins

Climate change DEFINITELY affects hurricane:

STRENGTH: Warmer water is hurricane food

RAINFALL: Warm air holds more water vapor

SURGE: Warmer water expands, warmer ice melts, sea levels rise

PREDICTION: hotter seas mean faster intensification

Reposted by Anders Levermann

As Hurricane #Melissa approaches Jamaica, we look back to a similar event in August 1903.

The rainfall from that storm would have been more intense in today’s warmer climate.

#Melissa will likely drop more rain now than it would have done a century ago.

climatelabbook.substack.com/p/a-damaging...
A damaging hurricane in a warmer world
The value of considering historical extreme storms
climatelabbook.substack.com

Reposted by Peter Thorne

In August 1903 a cat 3 hurricane hit Jamaica causing significant damage.

Our reanalysis-based approach (esd.copernicus.org/articles/14/...) can examine how that storm would be different in a warmer world like today.

Then & now precipitable water fields show heavier rain would be likely.

#Melissa

Might you want to be a volunteer rainfall observer and contribute to the ongoing monitoring of UK climate?
www.climate-lab-book.ac.uk/2020/wanted-...
WANTED: rainfall observers | Climate Lab Book
www.climate-lab-book.ac.uk

Can’t possibly be as interesting as a discussion of Stephenson Screens, 5-inch copper rain gauges and 150-year old pieces of paper with hand written numbers on.

The importance of continuing manual rainfall observations discussed on BBC Radio 4 Inside Science today:

Listen from about 14mins:
www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
BBC Inside Science - Have scientists created a bionic eye? - BBC Sounds
The bionic microchip implant which allows registered blind people to see again.
www.bbc.co.uk