CANCELLED: Masterclass | The Role of Aerosols in Capturing European Extremes
LOCATION
Virtual - Hosted on Zoom
Aerosols, tiny particles and liquid droplets, can have natural sources, such as deserts and volcanic eruptions, or be emitted by human activities, such as burning fossil fuels. They are crucial for the formation of clouds, but the poor air quality associated with high aerosol concentrations is a large environmental health threat. Increasing atmospheric aerosols from human sources have offset around 0.4 ºC of the global warming caused by increasing greenhouse gas concentrations over the industrial era. However, their short atmospheric lifetime means aerosol composition and amounts vary dramatically between regions, and that their climate impacts are distinct from those due to greenhouse gas increases. Although it plays an important role in climate and climate change, anthropogenic aerosol represents the largest uncertainty in human-caused climate change, and their complex effects are often omitted from the tools used to inform policymakers. In this session, we will explore the different ways in which aerosols can affect climate, how they are represented in climate models, and the role they have played in key climate changes over the last century. We will also examine the impact of including a representation of aerosols in regional climate models, and look at some of the climate impacts that may result from the introduction of more stringent air quality policies worldwide.
Speakers
Laura Wilcox, NCAS
Laura Wilcox is an Associate Professor of aerosol-climate interactions in the National Centre for Atmospheric Science at the University of Reading. Her research focusses on the regional climate responses to recent and near-future aerosol changes, and she is particularly interested in how emission changes in one region cause climate responses in another. She is the chair of the Regional Aerosol Model Intercomparison Project, and a contributing author to the IPCC sixth Assessment Report.
Registration
REGISTRATION IS NOW CLOSED
Registration for this event is closed.
If you have any queries with regards to this event or require any further information please contact us at meetings@rmets.org.
We take data privacy seriously. Please read the RMetS privacy policy to find out more.
In the meantime, we look forward to seeing you at the rest of the talks in this series:
Masterclass | Can We Predict Extremes in Summer Weather and Climate - from months to years ahead?
Masterclass Series Abstract
Continuing its online Meteorological Masterclasses in partnership with the University of Reading, the Society is pleased to announce a new series for Spring 2025.
During this series, three leading experts from the University of Reading will discuss the latest scientific advances for understanding and predicting weather, climate, and its impacts.
These masterclasses are intended to provide support for professionals working in Meteorology and Climate Science, and its operational applications who wish to remain up to date on recent scientific developments in the field.
Aerosols, tiny particles and liquid droplets, can have natural sources, such as deserts and volcanic eruptions, or be emitted by human activities, such as burning fossil fuels. They are crucial for the formation of clouds, but the poor air quality associated with high aerosol concentrations is a large environmental health threat. Increasing atmospheric aerosols from human sources have offset around 0.4 ºC of the global warming caused by increasing greenhouse gas concentrations over the industrial era. However, their short atmospheric lifetime means aerosol composition and amounts vary dramatically between regions, and that their climate impacts are distinct from those due to greenhouse gas increases. Although it plays an important role in climate and climate change, anthropogenic aerosol represents the largest uncertainty in human-caused climate change, and their complex effects are often omitted from the tools used to inform policymakers. In this session, we will explore the different ways in which aerosols can affect climate, how they are represented in climate models, and the role they have played in key climate changes over the last century. We will also examine the impact of including a representation of aerosols in regional climate models, and look at some of the climate impacts that may result from the introduction of more stringent air quality policies worldwide.
Speakers
Laura Wilcox, NCAS
Laura Wilcox is an Associate Professor of aerosol-climate interactions in the National Centre for Atmospheric Science at the University of Reading. Her research focusses on the regional climate responses to recent and near-future aerosol changes, and she is particularly interested in how emission changes in one region cause climate responses in another. She is the chair of the Regional Aerosol Model Intercomparison Project, and a contributing author to the IPCC sixth Assessment Report.
Registration
REGISTRATION IS NOW CLOSED
Registration for this event is closed.
If you have any queries with regards to this event or require any further information please contact us at meetings@rmets.org.
We take data privacy seriously. Please read the RMetS privacy policy to find out more.
In the meantime, we look forward to seeing you at the rest of the talks in this series:
Masterclass | Can We Predict Extremes in Summer Weather and Climate - from months to years ahead?
Masterclass Series Abstract
Continuing its online Meteorological Masterclasses in partnership with the University of Reading, the Society is pleased to announce a new series for Spring 2025.
During this series, three leading experts from the University of Reading will discuss the latest scientific advances for understanding and predicting weather, climate, and its impacts.
These masterclasses are intended to provide support for professionals working in Meteorology and Climate Science, and its operational applications who wish to remain up to date on recent scientific developments in the field.
