Chris Vernon
@clv101.bsky.social
Climate scientist (ex-MetOffice, MInstP), glaciologist (PhD), engineer (CEng), bike mechanic, beekeeper, gardener & father. M0VTZ.
This is shockingly common.
I am by no means a prominent public intellectual, but my inbox is increasingly filled with messages from people who have been convinced by sycophantic chatbots that they have discovered revolutionary theories that entirely upend our scientific understanding of the universe.
November 22, 2025 at 10:15 AM
This is shockingly common.
Reposted by Chris Vernon
It's not your imagination: Wildfire smoke in the U.S. has dramatically worsened since 2019. According to a new study, it's already killing 41,000 people a year - and it's poised to get much worse.
new from me @johnmuyskens.bsky.social and @sadbumblebee.buzz
www.washingtonpost.com/climate-envi...
new from me @johnmuyskens.bsky.social and @sadbumblebee.buzz
www.washingtonpost.com/climate-envi...
Record wildfire smoke kills more people each year than car crashes. It’s about to get worse.
The past six summers have been the smokiest on record. New research shows that smoke could become the costliest consequence of climate change for Americans.
www.washingtonpost.com
September 18, 2025 at 3:25 PM
It's not your imagination: Wildfire smoke in the U.S. has dramatically worsened since 2019. According to a new study, it's already killing 41,000 people a year - and it's poised to get much worse.
new from me @johnmuyskens.bsky.social and @sadbumblebee.buzz
www.washingtonpost.com/climate-envi...
new from me @johnmuyskens.bsky.social and @sadbumblebee.buzz
www.washingtonpost.com/climate-envi...
Reposted by Chris Vernon
The BAMS State of the Global Climate report 2024 reveals the year was record-breaking for both atmospheric water vapour levels and global temperature.
Find out more in our press release:
www.metoffice.gov.uk/about-us/new...
Find out more in our press release:
www.metoffice.gov.uk/about-us/new...
August 14, 2025 at 4:04 PM
The BAMS State of the Global Climate report 2024 reveals the year was record-breaking for both atmospheric water vapour levels and global temperature.
Find out more in our press release:
www.metoffice.gov.uk/about-us/new...
Find out more in our press release:
www.metoffice.gov.uk/about-us/new...
Reposted by Chris Vernon
Is sea level around the US accelerating? If you actually do the analysis, instead of just repeating talking points from decades ago, the answer is yes.
tamino.wordpress.com/2025/08/03/s...
tamino.wordpress.com/2025/08/03/s...
Sea Level Mis-information from DOE
Here in the USA, the Department of Energy (DOE) has issued a report titled “A Critical Review of the Impacts of Greenhouse Gas Emissions on the U.S. Climate.” It is a product of the …
tamino.wordpress.com
August 3, 2025 at 12:26 PM
Is sea level around the US accelerating? If you actually do the analysis, instead of just repeating talking points from decades ago, the answer is yes.
tamino.wordpress.com/2025/08/03/s...
tamino.wordpress.com/2025/08/03/s...
Youngsters camping out in the garden... "Oh no, you've got bats! They're so noisy I won't be able to sleep!"
Feeling old, I haven't heard bats for decades!
Feeling old, I haven't heard bats for decades!
July 23, 2025 at 10:48 AM
Youngsters camping out in the garden... "Oh no, you've got bats! They're so noisy I won't be able to sleep!"
Feeling old, I haven't heard bats for decades!
Feeling old, I haven't heard bats for decades!
Reposted by Chris Vernon
I just published an explainer on aerosols and their role in the climate that I've been working on for the past few months! It includes both how aerosols work, how emissions have changed, and how thats driven recent warming: www.carbonbrief.org/...
June 10, 2025 at 3:52 PM
I just published an explainer on aerosols and their role in the climate that I've been working on for the past few months! It includes both how aerosols work, how emissions have changed, and how thats driven recent warming: www.carbonbrief.org/...
Reposted by Chris Vernon
🚨 Carbon dioxide (CO₂) levels set a new monthly *record high* in May 2025 - 430.51 ppm (seasonal maximum)
This is the second largest May-May increase in this dataset (3.6 ppm higher than 2024). This is not good... 🫣
Data from gml.noaa.gov/ccgg/trends/
This is the second largest May-May increase in this dataset (3.6 ppm higher than 2024). This is not good... 🫣
Data from gml.noaa.gov/ccgg/trends/
June 7, 2025 at 1:57 PM
🚨 Carbon dioxide (CO₂) levels set a new monthly *record high* in May 2025 - 430.51 ppm (seasonal maximum)
This is the second largest May-May increase in this dataset (3.6 ppm higher than 2024). This is not good... 🫣
Data from gml.noaa.gov/ccgg/trends/
This is the second largest May-May increase in this dataset (3.6 ppm higher than 2024). This is not good... 🫣
Data from gml.noaa.gov/ccgg/trends/
Reposted by Chris Vernon
South Korea gender divide update 😲
Young men lean right by 50 points
(74% conservative vs 24% centre-left)
Young women lean left by 22 points
(58% centre-left vs 36% cons)
Young men lean right by 50 points
(74% conservative vs 24% centre-left)
Young women lean left by 22 points
(58% centre-left vs 36% cons)
June 4, 2025 at 10:01 AM
South Korea gender divide update 😲
Young men lean right by 50 points
(74% conservative vs 24% centre-left)
Young women lean left by 22 points
(58% centre-left vs 36% cons)
Young men lean right by 50 points
(74% conservative vs 24% centre-left)
Young women lean left by 22 points
(58% centre-left vs 36% cons)
Reposted by Chris Vernon
“UK workers have to make do with a third less capital per hour than their counterparts in higher-productivity peer countries… This has accumulated from decades of under-investment in equipment, research and development, training and infrastructure, by both the public and private sector.”
Check out the latest edition of my @financialtimes.com newsletter. (1/2)
The UK doesn't have a "productivity puzzle". Its problem is policymaking:
on.ft.com/4kifegH
The UK doesn't have a "productivity puzzle". Its problem is policymaking:
on.ft.com/4kifegH
June 2, 2025 at 6:34 AM
“UK workers have to make do with a third less capital per hour than their counterparts in higher-productivity peer countries… This has accumulated from decades of under-investment in equipment, research and development, training and infrastructure, by both the public and private sector.”
Reposted by Chris Vernon
Friday Ice Update - Both poles (Arctic and Antarctic) are about two standard deviations below average (1981-2010)...
+ More visuals: zacklabe.com/arctic-sea-i...
+ Data from @nsidc.bsky.social: nsidc.org/data/seaice_...
+ More visuals: zacklabe.com/arctic-sea-i...
+ Data from @nsidc.bsky.social: nsidc.org/data/seaice_...
May 30, 2025 at 2:26 PM
Friday Ice Update - Both poles (Arctic and Antarctic) are about two standard deviations below average (1981-2010)...
+ More visuals: zacklabe.com/arctic-sea-i...
+ Data from @nsidc.bsky.social: nsidc.org/data/seaice_...
+ More visuals: zacklabe.com/arctic-sea-i...
+ Data from @nsidc.bsky.social: nsidc.org/data/seaice_...
"We're not gonna make it, are we? People, I mean."
May 30, 2025 at 10:09 AM
"We're not gonna make it, are we? People, I mean."
Reposted by Chris Vernon
Latest WMO decadal update is available:
- 80% chance that at least one of the next five years will exceed 2024 as the warmest on record
- 70% chance that 5-year average warming for 2025-2029 will be more than 1.5 °C
wmo.int/publication-...
- 80% chance that at least one of the next five years will exceed 2024 as the warmest on record
- 70% chance that 5-year average warming for 2025-2029 will be more than 1.5 °C
wmo.int/publication-...
WMO Global Annual to Decadal Climate Update (2025-2029)
wmo.int
May 28, 2025 at 9:44 AM
Latest WMO decadal update is available:
- 80% chance that at least one of the next five years will exceed 2024 as the warmest on record
- 70% chance that 5-year average warming for 2025-2029 will be more than 1.5 °C
wmo.int/publication-...
- 80% chance that at least one of the next five years will exceed 2024 as the warmest on record
- 70% chance that 5-year average warming for 2025-2029 will be more than 1.5 °C
wmo.int/publication-...
Reposted by Chris Vernon
This year set the 2nd lowest annual maximum (boreal winter) #Arctic sea-ice volume on record in the PIOMAS data set. This follows "ice extent" reaching a new lowest annual maximum in 2025. Not a good winter for sea ice!
Compare the annual maximum and minimum at zacklabe.com/arctic-sea-i...
Compare the annual maximum and minimum at zacklabe.com/arctic-sea-i...
May 18, 2025 at 2:10 PM
This year set the 2nd lowest annual maximum (boreal winter) #Arctic sea-ice volume on record in the PIOMAS data set. This follows "ice extent" reaching a new lowest annual maximum in 2025. Not a good winter for sea ice!
Compare the annual maximum and minimum at zacklabe.com/arctic-sea-i...
Compare the annual maximum and minimum at zacklabe.com/arctic-sea-i...
Reposted by Chris Vernon
A huge, quiet success: violence has fallen 75% in a generation:
May 17, 2025 at 12:58 PM
A huge, quiet success: violence has fallen 75% in a generation:
Reposted by Chris Vernon
There is a false dichotomy drawn between "the ivory tower" and "the real world," and I'm here to report that in a post-industrial society, your real-world economy absolutely hinges on the university.
University towns are factory towns. Universities drive economic activity, not the other way around.
University towns are factory towns. Universities drive economic activity, not the other way around.
A must read
May 18, 2025 at 9:20 AM
There is a false dichotomy drawn between "the ivory tower" and "the real world," and I'm here to report that in a post-industrial society, your real-world economy absolutely hinges on the university.
University towns are factory towns. Universities drive economic activity, not the other way around.
University towns are factory towns. Universities drive economic activity, not the other way around.
Remember, those higher energy bills mean more imported gas, weakening our balance of payments, increasing the trade deficit and hugely weakening the local economy because that money can't be spent locally if it's been sent to Qatar or the US.
Poor building standards add £1000 a year to energy bills of new homes, analysis finds
- About £5bn more spent over seven years than if rules for low-carbon new-builds had not been scrapped in 2016, @eciu.net finds
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
- About £5bn more spent over seven years than if rules for low-carbon new-builds had not been scrapped in 2016, @eciu.net finds
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Poor building standards add £1,000 to energy bills of new homes, analysis finds
About £5bn more spent than if rules for low-carbon new-builds had not been scrapped in 2016, ECIU thinktank finds
www.theguardian.com
May 16, 2025 at 9:19 AM
Remember, those higher energy bills mean more imported gas, weakening our balance of payments, increasing the trade deficit and hugely weakening the local economy because that money can't be spent locally if it's been sent to Qatar or the US.
Reposted by Chris Vernon
Private Eye calls out "former newspaper" Daily Telegraph over its woeful coverage of net-zero
May 15, 2025 at 6:53 AM
Private Eye calls out "former newspaper" Daily Telegraph over its woeful coverage of net-zero
Reposted by Chris Vernon
Last month was the 2nd hottest April on record globally...
It was also separately the *warmest* April for global land areas and the 2nd warmest for global ocean areas.
Data provided by @noaa.gov NOAAGlobalTemp v6.0.0 (www.ncei.noaa.gov/products/lan...).
It was also separately the *warmest* April for global land areas and the 2nd warmest for global ocean areas.
Data provided by @noaa.gov NOAAGlobalTemp v6.0.0 (www.ncei.noaa.gov/products/lan...).
May 12, 2025 at 5:35 PM
Last month was the 2nd hottest April on record globally...
It was also separately the *warmest* April for global land areas and the 2nd warmest for global ocean areas.
Data provided by @noaa.gov NOAAGlobalTemp v6.0.0 (www.ncei.noaa.gov/products/lan...).
It was also separately the *warmest* April for global land areas and the 2nd warmest for global ocean areas.
Data provided by @noaa.gov NOAAGlobalTemp v6.0.0 (www.ncei.noaa.gov/products/lan...).
Yes, the *why* is important. The most nationalist government in a couple of generations, on the back of 'control our borders' Brexit - specifically created policies to significantly increase immigration. Folk need to understand why Johnson, May and Sunak did that. THEY should have explained.
Endless references in media coverage today to the rapid increases in net migration in recent years and often too little explanation as to why: (i) keeping UK HE/social care afloat and (ii) an attempt to deal with post Covid labour shortages/supply chain inflation.
May 12, 2025 at 9:38 PM
Yes, the *why* is important. The most nationalist government in a couple of generations, on the back of 'control our borders' Brexit - specifically created policies to significantly increase immigration. Folk need to understand why Johnson, May and Sunak did that. THEY should have explained.
And what's the madman (recently elected with 52.4% of the vote, against Tories 22.9%) trying to do? Reduce our reliance on imported, finite fossil fuels? Reduce our exposure to volatile global markets? Reduce our dependence on 'unaligned' regimes? ...and reduce our carbon emissions? Seems legit.
The Sun, Mail, Express and Telegraph are now relentlessly characterising Ed Miliband as "mad", a "loon", "insane", "crazy", etc
Such word choices are v deliberate.
But imagine the outrage from these same newspapers if, say, their beloved Nigel Farage was ever described in media in this way
Such word choices are v deliberate.
But imagine the outrage from these same newspapers if, say, their beloved Nigel Farage was ever described in media in this way
May 12, 2025 at 9:33 AM
And what's the madman (recently elected with 52.4% of the vote, against Tories 22.9%) trying to do? Reduce our reliance on imported, finite fossil fuels? Reduce our exposure to volatile global markets? Reduce our dependence on 'unaligned' regimes? ...and reduce our carbon emissions? Seems legit.
Just read Brian Merchant's @bcmerchant.bsky.social Blood in the Machine. Fantastic, a highlight of year so far. It tells story of the Luddite movement, addressing head on the myth that they were simply anti-technology. Instead they were pro-worker, fighting against exploitative labour [1/2]
May 7, 2025 at 9:45 PM
Just read Brian Merchant's @bcmerchant.bsky.social Blood in the Machine. Fantastic, a highlight of year so far. It tells story of the Luddite movement, addressing head on the myth that they were simply anti-technology. Instead they were pro-worker, fighting against exploitative labour [1/2]
Reposted by Chris Vernon
According to the latest from Gallagher Re, the 2025 L.A. wildfires cost $65 billion. This ranks as the globe's 8th-costliest weather-related disaster on record (using data from NOAA and EM-DAT). Four of the world's top-20 costliest weather disasters happened in the past year (highlighted in red).
April 23, 2025 at 9:34 PM
According to the latest from Gallagher Re, the 2025 L.A. wildfires cost $65 billion. This ranks as the globe's 8th-costliest weather-related disaster on record (using data from NOAA and EM-DAT). Four of the world's top-20 costliest weather disasters happened in the past year (highlighted in red).
Reposted by Chris Vernon
Imagine if we had an index that everyone panicked about when things fundamental to our well being were threatened.
April 8, 2025 at 11:30 AM
Imagine if we had an index that everyone panicked about when things fundamental to our well being were threatened.
Reposted by Chris Vernon
Colossal Bioscience did not revive dire wolves, despite a sensationalist Time Magazine cover story.
Making genetically modified animals that are cosplaying as extinct species is not de-extinction.
Making genetically modified animals that are cosplaying as extinct species is not de-extinction.
Dire wolves were not close relatives of gray wolves. They last shared a common ancestor more than 5 million years ago. What Colossal has done is make something new and slapped a dire wolf sticker on it, as if an organism equals a hypothetical genome.
Dire Wolves Were Not Really Wolves, New Genetic Clues Reveal
The extinct giant canids were a remarkable example of convergent evolution
www.scientificamerican.com
April 7, 2025 at 3:40 PM
Colossal Bioscience did not revive dire wolves, despite a sensationalist Time Magazine cover story.
Making genetically modified animals that are cosplaying as extinct species is not de-extinction.
Making genetically modified animals that are cosplaying as extinct species is not de-extinction.
The 'rich' tend to gain most of their income through dividends or capital gains - at a lower rate than regular waged folk. Why not the same rate? Or why not tax dividends and capital gain at a *higher* rate than we tax labour?
Here are the rates of tax on different ways of making a living. There's no NI on dividends or gains. Higher rates of income tax are generally higher in Scotland and thresholds are generally lower. Self-employed pay 6% basic rate NI not 8%. 32% CGT applies to 'carried interest'
April 7, 2025 at 8:46 PM
The 'rich' tend to gain most of their income through dividends or capital gains - at a lower rate than regular waged folk. Why not the same rate? Or why not tax dividends and capital gain at a *higher* rate than we tax labour?