Thomas Rackow 🧊
@trackow.bsky.social
Scientist @ecmwf.int : climate & ocean variability, kilometre-scale modelling, and its visualisation. #art and music enthusiast. #scicomm
Pinned
Thomas Rackow 🧊
@trackow.bsky.social
· Dec 5
Recent global temperature surge intensified by record-low planetary albedo
In 2023, the global mean temperature soared to almost 1.5K above the pre-industrial level, surpassing the previous record by about 0.17K. Previous best-guess estimates of known drivers including anthr...
doi.org
We have a new paper out in @science.org today, led by Helge Goessling from #AWI:
The recent global temperature surge in 2023 was intensified by a record-low planetary #albedo
👉 doi.org/10.1126/scie... @thomasjung.bsky.social @ecmwf.bsky.social
This is what we found (🧵1/8)
The recent global temperature surge in 2023 was intensified by a record-low planetary #albedo
👉 doi.org/10.1126/scie... @thomasjung.bsky.social @ecmwf.bsky.social
This is what we found (🧵1/8)
Happy to see this out! Meltwater can delay future surface warming, and its interannual variations impact ocean stratification & overturning. This effect is usually absent from models.
Including it as forcing may lead to more realistic simulation of surface temperature and sea ice trends🧊🌊 (1/7)
Including it as forcing may lead to more realistic simulation of surface temperature and sea ice trends🧊🌊 (1/7)
Finally out! The outcome of a virtual workshop in Feb 2024 with modelers and observationalists to put together data and protocols to include historical changes in ice sheet/ice shelf discharge in CMIP models. Hopefully not too late for some CMIP7 runs!
gmd.copernicus.org/articles/18/...
gmd.copernicus.org/articles/18/...
Datasets and protocols for including anomalous freshwater from melting ice sheets in climate simulations
Abstract. Anomalous freshwater fluxes from the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets and ice shelves are impacting the surrounding oceans, and we need to be able to account for these effects in climate m...
gmd.copernicus.org
November 8, 2025 at 3:52 PM
Happy to see this out! Meltwater can delay future surface warming, and its interannual variations impact ocean stratification & overturning. This effect is usually absent from models.
Including it as forcing may lead to more realistic simulation of surface temperature and sea ice trends🧊🌊 (1/7)
Including it as forcing may lead to more realistic simulation of surface temperature and sea ice trends🧊🌊 (1/7)
Reposted by Thomas Rackow 🧊
Would you believe it: just 10 days after #EarthCARE went through the eye of Hurricane Humberto, it did the same with Hurricane Priscilla in the East Pacific on 7 October! A very different beast this one: a huge eye around 100 km across, and very lopsided, with much more rain on the southern side.
October 23, 2025 at 9:09 AM
Would you believe it: just 10 days after #EarthCARE went through the eye of Hurricane Humberto, it did the same with Hurricane Priscilla in the East Pacific on 7 October! A very different beast this one: a huge eye around 100 km across, and very lopsided, with much more rain on the southern side.
Reposted by Thomas Rackow 🧊
Read our editorial on #climate research in the Global South, and take a look at the collection of papers on #weather and climate extremes published in @natcomms.nature.com and @commsearth.nature.com www.nature.com/collections/...
"Those most impacted by climate change must be able to define and prioritize their own research agenda". Read our new editorial www.nature.com/articles/s41... and take a look at the collection of articles on #weather and #climate extremes: www.nature.com/collections/...
Climate research in the Global South - Nature Communications
The consequences of weather and climate extremes are felt disproportionately by some of the most disadvantaged populations of the world. Gaps in data and research perpetuate these deeply rooted inequalities and must be overcome.
www.nature.com
October 8, 2025 at 12:10 PM
Read our editorial on #climate research in the Global South, and take a look at the collection of papers on #weather and climate extremes published in @natcomms.nature.com and @commsearth.nature.com www.nature.com/collections/...
Reposted by Thomas Rackow 🧊
I just updated this NASA CERES graph. The regional level of Absorbed Solar Radiation increased by 4.2 W/m² in 20 years!!
That's more than the global greenhouse gas forcing increase since 1750!
The 2 W/m² Net Flux increase indicates that there is a lot more regional warming in the pipeline.
That's more than the global greenhouse gas forcing increase since 1750!
The 2 W/m² Net Flux increase indicates that there is a lot more regional warming in the pipeline.
October 7, 2025 at 12:18 PM
I just updated this NASA CERES graph. The regional level of Absorbed Solar Radiation increased by 4.2 W/m² in 20 years!!
That's more than the global greenhouse gas forcing increase since 1750!
The 2 W/m² Net Flux increase indicates that there is a lot more regional warming in the pipeline.
That's more than the global greenhouse gas forcing increase since 1750!
The 2 W/m² Net Flux increase indicates that there is a lot more regional warming in the pipeline.
Reposted by Thomas Rackow 🧊
Finally, some excellent resources on the 2023 SST anomalies:
@polarocean.bsky.social
bsky.app/profile/pola...
@trackow.bsky.social
bsky.app/profile/trac...
bsky.app/profile/mice...
@tguinaldo.bsky.social
bsky.app/profile/tgui...
@profmattengland.bsky.social
bsky.app/profile/prof...
@polarocean.bsky.social
bsky.app/profile/pola...
@trackow.bsky.social
bsky.app/profile/trac...
bsky.app/profile/mice...
@tguinaldo.bsky.social
bsky.app/profile/tgui...
@profmattengland.bsky.social
bsky.app/profile/prof...
Why have the sea surface temperature suddenly risen in 2023/24? 🌊
Is it true that climate models cannot simulate such SST jumps? What is common to such jumps? How will SSTs evolve over the next months and years? Are we in uncharted territory? More from our recent study in Nature is here👇
Is it true that climate models cannot simulate such SST jumps? What is common to such jumps? How will SSTs evolve over the next months and years? Are we in uncharted territory? More from our recent study in Nature is here👇
Record sea surface temperature jump in 2023–2024 unlikely but not unexpected - Nature
Observations and climate models suggest that the global sea surface temperature jump in 2023–2024 was not unexpected and would have been nearly impossible without anthropogenic warming.
www.nature.com
September 2, 2025 at 11:59 AM
Finally, some excellent resources on the 2023 SST anomalies:
@polarocean.bsky.social
bsky.app/profile/pola...
@trackow.bsky.social
bsky.app/profile/trac...
bsky.app/profile/mice...
@tguinaldo.bsky.social
bsky.app/profile/tgui...
@profmattengland.bsky.social
bsky.app/profile/prof...
@polarocean.bsky.social
bsky.app/profile/pola...
@trackow.bsky.social
bsky.app/profile/trac...
bsky.app/profile/mice...
@tguinaldo.bsky.social
bsky.app/profile/tgui...
@profmattengland.bsky.social
bsky.app/profile/prof...
Reposted by Thomas Rackow 🧊
🌊 In 2023, the ocean carbon sink weakened for the first time in a record-hot year 🌡️🌎
Our new study in Nature Climate Change quantifies this unexpected decline and explains how it came about. 👇
doi.org/10.1038/s415...
Our new study in Nature Climate Change quantifies this unexpected decline and explains how it came about. 👇
doi.org/10.1038/s415...
Unexpected decline in the ocean carbon sink under record-high sea surface temperatures in 2023 - Nature Climate Change
The ocean carbon sink strengthened in previous warm El Niño years due to reduced CO2 outgassing in the tropics. Here the authors show that the ocean carbon sink declined in 2023 despite record-high se...
doi.org
September 2, 2025 at 11:59 AM
🌊 In 2023, the ocean carbon sink weakened for the first time in a record-hot year 🌡️🌎
Our new study in Nature Climate Change quantifies this unexpected decline and explains how it came about. 👇
doi.org/10.1038/s415...
Our new study in Nature Climate Change quantifies this unexpected decline and explains how it came about. 👇
doi.org/10.1038/s415...
Reposted by Thomas Rackow 🧊
Hope you enjoy exploring this cool 3D app of the ocean focusing on NOAA World Ocean Atlas water column measurements of temp, salinity, dissolved O2, and nutrients!
#voxels #EcologicalMarineUnits
www.esri.com/about/newsro...
🌊 🦑 🌎 🌍 🌏 #GISchat #geogchat #geogsky
#voxels #EcologicalMarineUnits
www.esri.com/about/newsro...
🌊 🦑 🌎 🌍 🌏 #GISchat #geogchat #geogsky
Explore a 3D App of the Ocean
In this 10-minute tutorial, learn how 3D scenes and interactive controls allow for greater data exploration with the 3D Ocean Explorer app.
www.esri.com
August 1, 2025 at 8:22 PM
Hope you enjoy exploring this cool 3D app of the ocean focusing on NOAA World Ocean Atlas water column measurements of temp, salinity, dissolved O2, and nutrients!
#voxels #EcologicalMarineUnits
www.esri.com/about/newsro...
🌊 🦑 🌎 🌍 🌏 #GISchat #geogchat #geogsky
#voxels #EcologicalMarineUnits
www.esri.com/about/newsro...
🌊 🦑 🌎 🌍 🌏 #GISchat #geogchat #geogsky
Reposted by Thomas Rackow 🧊
Enfin, la température de l'eau à la surface de la mer Méditerrannée entre la France rt l'Afrique du Nord a été historiquement élevée (tous mois confondus) en juin : jusqu'à 27 °C, soit +3,7 °C par rapport à la "normale".
3/3
3/3
July 9, 2025 at 7:24 AM
Enfin, la température de l'eau à la surface de la mer Méditerrannée entre la France rt l'Afrique du Nord a été historiquement élevée (tous mois confondus) en juin : jusqu'à 27 °C, soit +3,7 °C par rapport à la "normale".
3/3
3/3
Reposted by Thomas Rackow 🧊
New paper in ERL! We study the importance of resolution for the representation of climate extremes.
We use a new generation of km-scale models to show that many important details about temperature and precipitation extremes are hidden at CMIP6-like resolutions.
doi.org/10.1088/1748...
We use a new generation of km-scale models to show that many important details about temperature and precipitation extremes are hidden at CMIP6-like resolutions.
doi.org/10.1088/1748...
June 17, 2025 at 10:56 AM
New paper in ERL! We study the importance of resolution for the representation of climate extremes.
We use a new generation of km-scale models to show that many important details about temperature and precipitation extremes are hidden at CMIP6-like resolutions.
doi.org/10.1088/1748...
We use a new generation of km-scale models to show that many important details about temperature and precipitation extremes are hidden at CMIP6-like resolutions.
doi.org/10.1088/1748...
Reposted by Thomas Rackow 🧊
#FIMC2025, Sarah Keeley (@copernicusecmwf.bsky.social) showed how coupling ocean, sea ice, and atmosphere boosts forecast accuracy. Storms, heatwaves, even sea ice changes—what lies beneath shapes what’s above. AI is now taking it further.
#CoupledForecasting #ECMWF #AI4Weather #UNOC3
#CoupledForecasting #ECMWF #AI4Weather #UNOC3
June 6, 2025 at 12:09 PM
#FIMC2025, Sarah Keeley (@copernicusecmwf.bsky.social) showed how coupling ocean, sea ice, and atmosphere boosts forecast accuracy. Storms, heatwaves, even sea ice changes—what lies beneath shapes what’s above. AI is now taking it further.
#CoupledForecasting #ECMWF #AI4Weather #UNOC3
#CoupledForecasting #ECMWF #AI4Weather #UNOC3
Reposted by Thomas Rackow 🧊
To celebrate the kick-off of #UNOC3 and #OOSC in Nice, we share a striking, mesmerising perspective on Mediterranean Marine Heatwaves —and their clear amplification by climate change.
From @awi.de storyline simulations, visual by @jawijan.bsky.social
From @awi.de storyline simulations, visual by @jawijan.bsky.social
June 3, 2025 at 7:36 AM
To celebrate the kick-off of #UNOC3 and #OOSC in Nice, we share a striking, mesmerising perspective on Mediterranean Marine Heatwaves —and their clear amplification by climate change.
From @awi.de storyline simulations, visual by @jawijan.bsky.social
From @awi.de storyline simulations, visual by @jawijan.bsky.social
Reposted by Thomas Rackow 🧊
If I can add something. Here we demonstrate that NATL warming was due to natural variability. The event was excepted and in line with climate projections (return period around 10 years). The processes are well known and we can explain it.
www.nature.com/articles/s43...
www.nature.com/articles/s43...
Internal variability effect doped by climate change drove the 2023 marine heat extreme in the North Atlantic - Communications Earth & Environment
The 2023 North Atlantic marine heatwave was driven by an extreme phase of internal atmospheric variability but would have been impossible without the doping effect of anthropogenic warming, according ...
www.nature.com
May 13, 2025 at 6:54 PM
If I can add something. Here we demonstrate that NATL warming was due to natural variability. The event was excepted and in line with climate projections (return period around 10 years). The processes are well known and we can explain it.
www.nature.com/articles/s43...
www.nature.com/articles/s43...
Reposted by Thomas Rackow 🧊
Important new article in @nature.com:
"...the record-shattering jump in surface ocean temperatures in 2023–2024 was an extreme event after which surface ocean temperatures are expected to revert to the expected long-term warming trend."
#TruthIsBadEnough
(h/t @flowinguphill.bsky.social)
"...the record-shattering jump in surface ocean temperatures in 2023–2024 was an extreme event after which surface ocean temperatures are expected to revert to the expected long-term warming trend."
#TruthIsBadEnough
(h/t @flowinguphill.bsky.social)
Why have the sea surface temperature suddenly risen in 2023/24? 🌊
Is it true that climate models cannot simulate such SST jumps? What is common to such jumps? How will SSTs evolve over the next months and years? Are we in uncharted territory? More from our recent study in Nature is here👇
Is it true that climate models cannot simulate such SST jumps? What is common to such jumps? How will SSTs evolve over the next months and years? Are we in uncharted territory? More from our recent study in Nature is here👇
Record sea surface temperature jump in 2023–2024 unlikely but not unexpected - Nature
Observations and climate models suggest that the global sea surface temperature jump in 2023–2024 was not unexpected and would have been nearly impossible without anthropogenic warming.
www.nature.com
May 4, 2025 at 3:31 AM
Important new article in @nature.com:
"...the record-shattering jump in surface ocean temperatures in 2023–2024 was an extreme event after which surface ocean temperatures are expected to revert to the expected long-term warming trend."
#TruthIsBadEnough
(h/t @flowinguphill.bsky.social)
"...the record-shattering jump in surface ocean temperatures in 2023–2024 was an extreme event after which surface ocean temperatures are expected to revert to the expected long-term warming trend."
#TruthIsBadEnough
(h/t @flowinguphill.bsky.social)
Reposted by Thomas Rackow 🧊
If only people valued peer reviewed scientific papers and regional data more than tweets and blogs and global averages...
This is barely ever addressed.
Helge Goessling gave a great presentation at the EGU yesterday.
More soon.
This is barely ever addressed.
Helge Goessling gave a great presentation at the EGU yesterday.
More soon.
May 2, 2025 at 10:19 PM
If only people valued peer reviewed scientific papers and regional data more than tweets and blogs and global averages...
This is barely ever addressed.
Helge Goessling gave a great presentation at the EGU yesterday.
More soon.
This is barely ever addressed.
Helge Goessling gave a great presentation at the EGU yesterday.
More soon.
Reposted by Thomas Rackow 🧊
It's a wrap for this year's European Geosciences Union (EGU) General Assembly, where we have been presenting developments from across #ECMWF. Our team have been involved as speakers, poster presenters and conveners, but found time to get together for this great group photo!
May 2, 2025 at 3:23 PM
It's a wrap for this year's European Geosciences Union (EGU) General Assembly, where we have been presenting developments from across #ECMWF. Our team have been involved as speakers, poster presenters and conveners, but found time to get together for this great group photo!
Today @jens-d-mueller.bsky.social gave a great talk on the ocean carbon sink during the record-warm year 2023 & an outlook for 24. #EGU25
This relates to our joint work @awi.de @ecmwf.int that is presented Thursday morning, room 0.14. See you there:
meetingorganizer.copernicus.org/EGU25/EGU25-...
This relates to our joint work @awi.de @ecmwf.int that is presented Thursday morning, room 0.14. See you there:
meetingorganizer.copernicus.org/EGU25/EGU25-...
April 28, 2025 at 12:27 PM
Today @jens-d-mueller.bsky.social gave a great talk on the ocean carbon sink during the record-warm year 2023 & an outlook for 24. #EGU25
This relates to our joint work @awi.de @ecmwf.int that is presented Thursday morning, room 0.14. See you there:
meetingorganizer.copernicus.org/EGU25/EGU25-...
This relates to our joint work @awi.de @ecmwf.int that is presented Thursday morning, room 0.14. See you there:
meetingorganizer.copernicus.org/EGU25/EGU25-...
Reposted by Thomas Rackow 🧊
Our editors are calling for submissions to help build a robust, peer-reviewed evidence base for the forthcoming IPCC Special Report on Climate Change and Cities.
Read more 👇
latitude.plos.org/2024/11/call...
Read more 👇
latitude.plos.org/2024/11/call...
Call for papers: a new 'living' collection for the IPCC Special Report on Climate Change and Cities - Latitude
As work on the IPCC’s Special Report on Climate Change and Cities begins, PLOS Climate is calling for papers for a new…
latitude.plos.org
April 23, 2025 at 2:15 PM
Our editors are calling for submissions to help build a robust, peer-reviewed evidence base for the forthcoming IPCC Special Report on Climate Change and Cities.
Read more 👇
latitude.plos.org/2024/11/call...
Read more 👇
latitude.plos.org/2024/11/call...
Reposted by Thomas Rackow 🧊
If you are attending #EGU25 and interested in the attribution of #climate extremes: consider joining our networking session on Friday noon!
We will exchange on existing methods, their strengths, and how to compare them:
meetingorganizer.copernicus.org/EGU25/sessio...
W/ @vikkithompson.bsky.social
We will exchange on existing methods, their strengths, and how to compare them:
meetingorganizer.copernicus.org/EGU25/sessio...
W/ @vikkithompson.bsky.social
April 27, 2025 at 8:06 AM
If you are attending #EGU25 and interested in the attribution of #climate extremes: consider joining our networking session on Friday noon!
We will exchange on existing methods, their strengths, and how to compare them:
meetingorganizer.copernicus.org/EGU25/sessio...
W/ @vikkithompson.bsky.social
We will exchange on existing methods, their strengths, and how to compare them:
meetingorganizer.copernicus.org/EGU25/sessio...
W/ @vikkithompson.bsky.social
Reposted by Thomas Rackow 🧊
I will be presenting our results at #EGU25 in a poster on Wednesday. 🌀 So if you'd like to chat about the Arctic Beaufort Gyre in CMIP6 models, find me there!
The poster: meetingorganizer.copernicus.org/EGU25/EGU25-...
The paper: agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....
The poster: meetingorganizer.copernicus.org/EGU25/EGU25-...
The paper: agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....
April 27, 2025 at 8:11 AM
I will be presenting our results at #EGU25 in a poster on Wednesday. 🌀 So if you'd like to chat about the Arctic Beaufort Gyre in CMIP6 models, find me there!
The poster: meetingorganizer.copernicus.org/EGU25/EGU25-...
The paper: agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....
The poster: meetingorganizer.copernicus.org/EGU25/EGU25-...
The paper: agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....
Reposted by Thomas Rackow 🧊
We will be at the European Geosciences Union (EGU) General Assembly next week, presenting developments from across #ECMWF. Find out which sessions we are involved in as speakers, poster presenters and conveners ➡ www.ecmwf.int/en/about/med...
#EGU2025
@egu.eu
#EGU2025
@egu.eu
April 25, 2025 at 11:09 AM
We will be at the European Geosciences Union (EGU) General Assembly next week, presenting developments from across #ECMWF. Find out which sessions we are involved in as speakers, poster presenters and conveners ➡ www.ecmwf.int/en/about/med...
#EGU2025
@egu.eu
#EGU2025
@egu.eu
Reposted by Thomas Rackow 🧊
For a new visualization project @awi.de, I’m currently experimenting with satellite imagery, elevation data, and OSM. Exciting!
@blender.org
@blender.org
April 7, 2025 at 12:33 PM
For a new visualization project @awi.de, I’m currently experimenting with satellite imagery, elevation data, and OSM. Exciting!
@blender.org
@blender.org
Reposted by Thomas Rackow 🧊
Exploring ways to visualise wind together with my colleague @sbeyer.net at AWI. Here’s a glimpse: IFS-FESOM wind speed visualised as coloured particles.
April 5, 2025 at 7:37 PM
Exploring ways to visualise wind together with my colleague @sbeyer.net at AWI. Here’s a glimpse: IFS-FESOM wind speed visualised as coloured particles.
Reposted by Thomas Rackow 🧊
Our new study is out:
The Arctic Beaufort Gyre is projected to weaken or vanish in most CMIP6 models under future climate change.
The gyre would thus stop storing freshwater in its centre, with possibly large impacts on the Arctic and beyond.
Read: agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....
The Arctic Beaufort Gyre is projected to weaken or vanish in most CMIP6 models under future climate change.
The gyre would thus stop storing freshwater in its centre, with possibly large impacts on the Arctic and beyond.
Read: agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....
The Arctic Beaufort Gyre in CMIP6 Models: Present and Future
CMIP6 models generally simulate a too strong, large, and northward-extending Beaufort Gyre (BG) during the historical period Among the least unrealistic models, most simulations project a decline...
agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com
March 31, 2025 at 2:48 PM
Our new study is out:
The Arctic Beaufort Gyre is projected to weaken or vanish in most CMIP6 models under future climate change.
The gyre would thus stop storing freshwater in its centre, with possibly large impacts on the Arctic and beyond.
Read: agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....
The Arctic Beaufort Gyre is projected to weaken or vanish in most CMIP6 models under future climate change.
The gyre would thus stop storing freshwater in its centre, with possibly large impacts on the Arctic and beyond.
Read: agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....
Reposted by Thomas Rackow 🧊
Why have the sea surface temperature suddenly risen in 2023/24? 🌊
Is it true that climate models cannot simulate such SST jumps? What is common to such jumps? How will SSTs evolve over the next months and years? Are we in uncharted territory? More from our recent study in Nature is here👇
Is it true that climate models cannot simulate such SST jumps? What is common to such jumps? How will SSTs evolve over the next months and years? Are we in uncharted territory? More from our recent study in Nature is here👇
Record sea surface temperature jump in 2023–2024 unlikely but not unexpected - Nature
Observations and climate models suggest that the global sea surface temperature jump in 2023–2024 was not unexpected and would have been nearly impossible without anthropogenic warming.
www.nature.com
March 12, 2025 at 4:13 PM
Why have the sea surface temperature suddenly risen in 2023/24? 🌊
Is it true that climate models cannot simulate such SST jumps? What is common to such jumps? How will SSTs evolve over the next months and years? Are we in uncharted territory? More from our recent study in Nature is here👇
Is it true that climate models cannot simulate such SST jumps? What is common to such jumps? How will SSTs evolve over the next months and years? Are we in uncharted territory? More from our recent study in Nature is here👇