Peter Thorne

@peterthorne.bsky.social

5.3K followers 490 following 350 posts

Climate scientist, director ICARUS Climate Research Centre, Maynooth University, Ireland, author IPCC AR6, member Ireland's climate change advisory council, Chair GCOS AOPC. www.peter-thorne.net

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Peter William Thorne is a climatologist and professor of physical geography in the Department of Geography, Maynooth University.

Source: Wikipedia

Environmental science 55%

Geography 19%

Posts Replies Media Videos

Reposted by Peter Thorne, Gavin A. Schmidt

Katie Mack @astrokatie.com · 3h

Let people be their true selves, as they know and understand them. Let children explore their identities. Celebrate difference and variety and the incredible spectrum of humanity. The only alternative denies an opportunity to celebrate the joy of human flourishing and is ultimately unspeakably cruel

Reposted by Peter Thorne

John Kennedy @micefearboggis.bsky.social · 4h

I have no where to go
The swift satellites show
The clock of my whole being is slow,

It is too late to start
For destinations not of the heart.
I must stay here with my hurt.

Achilles Micawber @achillesthe2nd.bsky.social · 8d

Which lines of poetry live rent-free in your head?

Reposted by Peter Thorne

Janine Gibson @janinegibson.ft.com · 12h

Two men meet in the carpark of a Leeds hospital. They sit on a bench and start chatting. One of them has a bomb in their backpack and the other must talk them out of using it. A mindblowing and entirely true story that reads like a thriller. as.ft.com/r/13756c02-0...

‘It’s just a bomb’

[FREE TO READ] The true story of two strangers and an extraordinary act of courage

as.ft.com

Reposted by Michael Cox, Dorothy Bishop, Peter Thorne , and 23 more Michael Cox, Dorothy Bishop, Peter Thorne, James M. Bullock, Steve Peers, Tom Shakespeare, Leigh Sparks, Catherine Baker, Lesley A. Hall, Alex Callinicos, Simon Wren‐Lewis, Alan Stewart, Rebecca Williams, Kate Lancaster, Margot C. Finn, Stephen Ryan, Steven Fielding, Aurélien Mondon, Stuart White, Katrina Navickas, Lukas Graf, Jon Dean, Christina Pagel, Farah Mendlesohn, David Neilson, Alexandra Heller-Nicholas

Robin Ince @robinince.bsky.social · 21h

Very sad that I felt I had no choice but to resign from The Infinite Monkey Cage - a victory for the transphobes and other bigots - I did it because so much of the media has chosen to believe the kind and empathetic people are a fiction - they are real and so often unrepresented.

This is the saddest day of my professional life.
Today is not only the final recording of the latest series of The Infinite Monkey Cage, it is my last ever Monkey Cage.
I never thought that I would have to leave the show. I always imagined going on until | dropped dead under the studio lights due to a brain aneurysm caused by my final attempt to understand notions of quantum gravity or the shock of being told about fly maggot infestations in the sacks of macaque monkeys.
I resigned in September, after sixteen years of dedication to the show,
A show that I named and helped develop over all those years.
Unfortunately, my opinions outside the BBC have been considered problematic for sometime, whether it has been voicing support for the trans community, criticism of Donald Trump, numerous other outlandish opinions, including once gently criticising Stephen Fry.
These things were considered to conflict with being a freelance BBC science presenter

In a recent meeting where BBC Studio executives again voiced problems with me, I realised my choices.
Obedience and being quieter to remain making Monkey Cage, or 'Resign and have the freedom to speak out against what I believe are injustices'.
•
I chose the latter.
It broke my heart.
I love this show and I love the audience, and it is because of the audience in particular, that this decision was so difficult to make.
I kept thinking about all the extremist voices promoting hate and division. They are being given so many platforms, while voices that represent kindness, open mindedness, empathy seem to be scarcer and scarcer.
I felt I couldn't pamper myself with the luxury of silence.
One of my many privileges is that I am able to resign and I can speak out even if it is to the detriment of my career.

I have thought a lot about my heroes, Sinead O Connor, James Baldwin, Audre Lorde, and so many more.
I think of Sinead's words, "the job of an artist is to be themselves at any cost".
James Baldwin said prejudice was really just a word for cowardice.
Audre Lorde, viewing her life, wrote that her only regrets were her silences.
I think of my father as I resign, he brought me up to believe in fairness , justice and kindness.
Though my heart is broken, it is also full of fire.
I apologise to our incredible listeners for my departure, your love of the show means a great deal.
I am so sorry to let you down.
I hope that you can understand my reasoning.
I have to accept that I am not what the current
BBC expects of their freelance presenters.

Despite this I should add that I have always worked far more than my contracted hours to try and ensure the show was always the best it could be, as well as making myself accessible and responsive to the audience wherever and whenever I met them. Every night, we have recorded, I have been filled with determination to make the best show possible. This was not
"just a job"
I hope that with my departure I can be a better ally to the LGBTQ community, to the neurodivergent community, to activists fighting against those who aim to brutalise society, to those currently in prison on hunger strike, and to all those who fight for a more inclusive world.
From many conversations, I know there are many Monkey Cage listeners who support these communities and activists too.
The strawberry is dead.
Long live the strawberry. B

Reposted by Peter Thorne

Ruth Mottram @ruthmottram.bsky.social · 23h

The first step in the ~14,500 km journey (as the crow flies) to Wasa was a taxi to the airport. The second is a flight to Oslo*.
It's masks on time.

*Yes, this #fieldwork involves *a lot* of carbon. Let's hope the data is worth it...

sternaparadisaea.net/2025/12/11/h...

Heading South

Tomorrow, I’m heading south, though more correctly, I’m first heading north to head south. Fieldwork in Antarctica starts next week..

sternaparadisaea.net

Reposted by Peter A. Stott, Peter Thorne, Fabrice Ardhuin , and 2 more Peter A. Stott, Peter Thorne, Fabrice Ardhuin, Baylor Fox‐Kemper, Flavio Lehner

Gavin Schmidt @climateofgavin.bsky.social · 1d

This is the only parody song about geophysical fluid dynamics you’ll ever need:

urldefense.com/v3/__https:/...

Call Me Charney: A GFD Parody

This was so fun to make!! #lamontdoherty #lamont #atmosphere #science #charney #GFS #vallis #geostrophic #quasigeostrophic #hydrostatic #rossby

urldefense.com

Reposted by Peter Thorne

David Ho @davidho.bsky.social · 1d

Phenomenal photos.

Photojournalists are amazing people.

Top 25 News Photos of 2025

Powerful images from the past 12 months

www.theatlantic.com

Reposted by Peter Thorne

Jaanus K 🌻🇪🇪🇪🇺🇺🇦🇬🇪 @jaanus.bsky.social · 1d

The US regime has launched a campaign against EU🇪🇺, telling Europeans they need saving from the tyranny of EU

It so happens that I just took a trip through not one, not two, but THREE EU countries

I thought that I will do a small thread to document my misery and suffering on this trip

1/15

Reposted by Peter Thorne

Doc Benway @docbenway.bsky.social · 1d

Not the best but I’ll always love when the Far Side and Dennis the Menace captions got switched

The far side cartoon is a cavewoman fortune teller with a cave man customer. She says “if I get as big as dad won’t my skin be too tight”. The Dennis the menace cartoon is the family sitting at the table and Dennis says “I see your little petrified skull…labeled and resting on a shelf somewhere”

Reposted by Peter Thorne

Elaine McGoff @elainemcgoff.bsky.social · 1d

Spot on 👇

"The extension
may spare the Government a political problem, but it places even greater pressure on a compromised environment & sets the country up for a grim ecological reckoning."

www.irishtimes.com/opinion/edit...
.

The Irish Times view on nitrates and waterways: procrastinating towards disaster

Extending derogation is at odds with Ireland’s climate and biodiversity commitments

www.irishtimes.com

Reposted by John Kennedy, Peter Thorne

Ruth Mottram @ruthmottram.bsky.social · 1d

Heading South

But not for the warmth.. Tomorrow I'm taking the first stage of the journey to Antarctica, ironically enough though, I'm heading south by first heading north, to Oslo, where the Norwegian Polar Institute have organised an almost direct flight from Oslo to Troll station with a short…

Heading South

But not for the warmth.. Tomorrow I'm taking the first stage of the journey to Antarctica, ironically enough though, I'm heading south by first heading north, to Oslo, where the Norwegian Polar Institute have organised an almost direct flight from Oslo to Troll station with a short stopover in Cape Town. Bags almost packed and ready to go... I'm super excited and also suffering a little trepidation.

sternaparadisaea.net

Peter Thorne @peterthorne.bsky.social · 2d

now I have the Spice girls in my head and its all your fault ... 😂

Reposted by Peter Thorne

Shauna Corr @shaunacorr.bsky.social · 2d

Bluetongue is continuing to spread in Northern Ireland, with two more suspected cases according to @daera-ni.gov.uk.
They said the two Co Down control zones have become one, given the new investigation is within the area.
It is hoped winter will stop midges spreading the disease

Reposted by Peter Thorne

Becca Thorne @beccathorne.bsky.social · 2d

A Winter Landscape: oil on primed, unstretched hessian, 50 x 100cm. Today’s piece from my studio sale - 20% off all work until Christmas www.artachart.com/available-work 🙂

Depiction of a winter landscape: a snowy field in the foreground, with a leafless hedgerow ascending from left to right; muted suggestion of land beyond, sloping down to the coast. Pale grey, clouded sky above.

Reposted by Peter Thorne

Emmet Ó Briain @emmet.quiddity.ie · 2d

seldom used as an argument, but the hierarchy of road users is mostly about bringing back the good old days of pedestrian rule

Alen McWeeney photo of o'connell street 1963

NTA Road User Hierarchy in Planning for Sustainable Transport

Reposted by Peter Thorne

Andrew D Thaler @drandrewthaler.bsky.social · 3d

I don't think even the wonkiest high seas policy wonks I work with are ready to grasp the absolute global chaos that will be unleashed if major powers start deciding that they no longer need to defer to the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.

Reposted by Peter Thorne

ICOS RI @icos-ri.eu · 3d

As part of the #ICOSCities project, Zurich now has 60 atmospheric sensors measuring real-time CO₂ levels across the city. For the first time, authorities can compare live atmospheric data with the traditional emissions inventory.

👉 Read more in FLUXES: www.icos-cp.eu/fluxes/4/tra...

Reposted by Peter Thorne

Michael Sigmond @michaelsigmond.bsky.social · 4d

Proud to share our new paper in npj Clim. Atmos. Sci. (@SpringerNature)!

Our findings:
1️⃣ reduce uncertainty in mid-latitude climate projections
2️⃣ increase confidence that #ClimateModels correctly predict a future poleward shift of the #JetStream

Read the paper here 👉 rdcu.be/eS73b

#ClimateScience

Jet stream response to future Arctic sea ice loss not underestimated by climate models

npj Climate and Atmospheric Science - Jet stream response to future Arctic sea ice loss not underestimated by climate models

rdcu.be

Reposted by Peter Thorne

Jon Seal @antsymbiosis.bsky.social · 4d

Impact of demographic change in one image.

Reposted by Peter Thorne

Jess Phoenix 🌋 @volcanojess.com · 4d

Someone asked me if the footage of 1,000ft lava fountains on Kīlauea was AI.

PLANET EARTH IS INFINITELY SUPERIOR TO ANYTHING THAT SOULLESS ENVIRONMENT-KILLER COULD EVER CONJURE FROM PILLAGING REAL ART.

Ahem. No, it's not AI. Volcanoes are just that incredible.

Reposted by Peter Thorne

Maynooth University @maynoothuniversity.ie · 4d

The Atlantic between Ireland and Canada, which gives us our mild climate, is behaving strangely & is the only location on the earth's surface that has cooled, write Dr Gerard McCarthy of ICARUS. 🌊

www.maynoothuniversity.ie/research/spo...

Is the Atlantic ocean's "wobble" a warning for Ireland?

The Atlantic between Ireland and Canada, which gives us our mild climate, is behaving strangely and is the only location on the earth's surface that has cooled, write Dr Gerard McCarthy of ICARUS, Dr

www.maynoothuniversity.ie

Reposted by Peter Thorne, Steve Peers, Andrew Scott , and 4 more Peter Thorne, Steve Peers, Andrew Scott, Christopher McCabe, Tom Shakespeare, Björn Heile, Ailsa Cox

Reposted by Peter Thorne

KOJAMF🤘🖤🤘 @kojamf.bsky.social · 4d

Elle Cordova & Toni Lindgren
@ellecordova.bsky.social

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 5d

RFK Jr: "All of the ingenuity of corporate America has not produced an infant formula that is superior in nutrition and all the qualities that we want to the infant formula that God made, which is the infant formula in a mother's breast."

Peter Thorne @peterthorne.bsky.social · 5d

New Batman movie being filmed in Dublin?

Reposted by Peter Thorne, Jonathan A. Foley, Joseph Schafer , and 3 more Peter Thorne, Jonathan A. Foley, Joseph Schafer, Jennifer A. Johnson, Halley E. Froehlich, Chhaya M. Werner

Daniel Swain @weatherwest.bsky.social · 5d

To be clear: the new, near-exclusive emphasis on natural causes of climate change on the U.S. EPA's website is now completely out of synch with all available evidence demonstrating overwhelming human influence on contemporary warming trends.

Daniel Swain @weatherwest.bsky.social · 5d

It appears that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has, within the past week, scrubbed a large amount of climate change content from its official website, as well as *removed human-caused warming* from the discussion on its "causes of climate change" page.

Snapshot of US EPA's "causes of climate change" webpage as of 12/8/2025. Human causes are no longer mentioned anywhere on the page.

Reposted by Peter Thorne

University of Reading @uniofreading.bsky.social · 5d

Climate Ambassador Scheme extended to 2027 with £1.9m in new DfE funding.

Created at Reading, the programme has already linked 1,000+ volunteers with 10,000+ education settings to support climate action in schools, nurseries and colleges.

Full story 👉 <https://rdg.ac/4pVgCbC

#ClimateEducation

Reposted by Peter Thorne

Ember @ember-energy.org · 5d

NEW | It’s been 25 years since offshore wind first dropped anchor in Britain. The industry has seen some big changes from 2000 to 2025:

2 ➡️ 2,878 turbines
1 ➡️ 47 operational offshore wind farms
0 ➡️ 17% of 🇬🇧 electricity
https://ember-energy.org/latest-insights/25-years-of-british-offshore-wind

Reposted by Peter Thorne, Ed Hawkins

Kevin Healion @healionk.bsky.social · 5d

www.zooniverse.org/projects/hea...

1/ The Weather Archive Africa @zooniverse.bsky.social project is continuing to return important data that helps us to learn more about the climate of Africa. If you havn't contributed yet, please click the above link. A few minutes will rescue invaluable data

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