I am pleased to share that I have started a new role as Head of Department today. I joined the University of Reading's renowned Department of Meteorology 22 years ago, and I am looking forward to taking over the reins for a while.

Our new study finds that the upper atmosphere is becoming more sheared and less stratified because of climate change. Both these changes are making the atmosphere less stable and more conducive to turbulence. Covered by the BBC here: www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

I love meeting face-to-face at in-person conferences. There's something magical about being physically present in the same place as like-minded people. Virtual meetings have their place, and favour a hybrid-first approach to maximise accessibility, but I will always choose to travel if I can.

Taking my son to Brazil for a much-needed holiday!

Guess what was the top most-read article on the BBC News website today? And also the most engaged with, achieving well over 1,000 comments so far! I am happy to be quoted in it, explaining why servere turbulence is becoming more frequent. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

I am very happy to be featured in this BBC article on how the aviation sector is responding to increased turbulence. www.bbc.co.uk/future/artic...

Congratulations to my PhD student Isabel Smith, who officially became Dr Smith today!

I am very lucky to lead a fantastic research group in aviation turbulence at the University of Reading, pictured here having lunch today with a visitor. Thank you all for your contributions to our group's success.

How is climate change affecting aviation? And how can the sector adapt? We had a stimulating Q&A session on these topics at an Airbus conference in Toulouse recently.

Did you know that turbulence is the leading cause of weather-related commercial aircraft accidents? It accounts for 71% of them, according to a study we published in 2019, as I discussed at this recent presentation for Airbus in Toulouse.

Is the jet stream speeding up because of climate change, helping eastbound flights reach record-breaking ground speeds? I discussed the evidence in this recent presentation at the Airbus Leadership University in Toulouse.

It was a pleasure to share the stage with Camille Sagues and Veronique Roca at this recent Airbus event, discussing the crucial topic of adaptation of the aviation sector to climate change.

Here are my thoughts on what air travellers should know about turbulence before heading to the airport this summer. www.usatoday.com/story/travel...

I have been in Peru this week, to speak at an ICAO workshop on severe meteorological phenomena and aviation. It is great to see that the international aviation community is taking seriously the increasing risks of severe weather associated with climate change.

Today I'm getting naked to talk about wind shear! A listener of The Naked Scientists asked why clouds sometimes move in a different direction from the surface wind. I got my clothes off (don't worry, it's audio only!) to answer the question. Listen here: www.thenakedscientists.com/podcasts/que...

I had the pleasure of speaking at a conference in Rimini this week about how aviation will need to adapt to climate change, covering the latest science on topics such as airport flooding, degraded take-off performance, more lightning, modified hail patterns, and stronger turbulence.

We had a great aviation session at the European Climate Change Adaptation conference in Rimini this week. Thanks to fellow panellists Ian Elston, Davide Bassano, Marc Wetterwald, Robert Brons and moderator Rachel Burbidge for the stimulating discussions.

I am honoured to learn that our recent study on turbulence increases has been recognised by the publisher as one of the most-viewed articles in Geophysical Research Letters!

Happy memories of speaking about trends in weather-related aviation risks at the International Union of Aerospace Insurers (IUAI) conference in Prague last week.

I am back home after spending a stimulating three days in Prague attending the IUAI Members Conference. It was a pleasure to reunite with old friends and make some new ones too!

I am happy to be in Prague today, to speak to aviation insurers about long-term trends in turbulence and other hazards related to climate change.

Travel writer Cathy Adams describes her fear turbulence as climate change makes it worse - in today's Sunday Times.

It's always good to be in Paris, especially when presenting our research on turbulence and climate change to the Air France KLM Group executive committee.

I spent the week visiting Airbus in Toulouse, to discuss the consequences of increased turbulence from climate change. Exciting things are happening. Watch this space!

It was great to give a climate change lecture to teenagers at St Albans School today. Will this be the generation that finally solves the climate change problem? Quite possibly, if the level of engagement during the Q&A session was anything to go by.

Some good news coverage of my presentation in Vienna last week... www.fastcompany.com/91330301/why...

No trip to Vienna is complete without a selfie in front of the Mozart monument in Burggarten!

I'm in Vienna this week at the General Assembly of the European Geosciences Union. You can catch me speaking tomorrow morning on "Jet streams in a changing climate: evidence for large increases in shear and turbulence since 1979". Full details: meetingorganizer.copernicus.org/EGU25/EGU25-...

Our new study examines the impacts of geoengineering on future clear-air turbulence (CAT) increases. Injecting sulfate aerosols into the stratosphere, to counteract global warming, would reduce severe CAT trends by the end of the century from around 80% to around 40%. doi.org/10.1029/2024...

Climate change denier doesn't know the difference between velocity and acceleration. Absolute shocker!

I am happy to share that I was the top University of Reading media spokesperson in 2024. In these times of fake news and alternative facts, I am delighted to play my small part in communicating authoritative information about atmospheric science and climate change to the general public.

Atmospheric scientist @profpaul.bsky.social's work has allowed pilots to take more efficient routes and demonstrated how rising temps are causing worse and more dangerous #turbulence ✈️ 🔗 rdg.ac/4hkDKeP

Interesting in applying for a research fellowship here in the Department of Meteorology at the University of Reading? Attend our open day on 7 May — either in person or online — to find out more! Apply to attend here: research.reading.ac.uk/meteorology/...

Our new study quantifies the effects of climate change on aircraft take-off performance for an A320 at 30 European airports in summer. Around 50-100 metres more runway will be required to generate enough lift for take-off in the warmer, thinner air by 2050 compared to 2000. doi.org/10.3390/aero...

Powerful words from the American Geophysical Union.

Yes, they are right actually! Also, despite its name, PragerU is not an academic institution and does not confer degrees. Best to trust proper universities with proper professors, and not these absolute jokers.

It most certainly should not be flying in a straight line. Flying along that southerly route, it enjoyed a 100 knot tailwind from the jet stream, saving fuel and arriving early. But sure, Elon, you know best!

We have a unique opportunity for a computer scientist to do a fully funded PhD on using birds as flying probes of atmospheric turbulence. I am co-supervising the project, and you'll be paid as a part-time (0.25 FTE) Graduate Teaching Assistant. Apply now! jobs.reading.ac.uk/Job/JobDetai...

I had a very enjoyable time in Bogotá last week, speaking at the Price Forbes LatAm Airline & Operators Forum about trends in weather-related aviation hazards, and setting out the evidence that climate change is increasing aviation turbulence.

I'm excited to be heading to Colombia this week, to speak at the Price Forbes LatAm Airline & Operators Forum about trends in weather-related aviation hazards.

The fantastic podcast "Countering Climate Skepticism" has reached its 17th episode. Co-presented by my former PhD student Mark, it is well worth a listen. It will help you identify and counter the dizzying array of denial arguments peddled by clueless folk. ccspod.podbean.com/e/ep17-summa...

@profpaul.bsky.social your AMS talk was a great summary of the whys and hows of clear air turbulence! Great to see some Reading uni representation, too.

I had a simple pinhole camera in my south-facing bedroom window for most of 2024, capturing a long-exposure photograph of the Sun's trajectory. I think the result is really beautiful. It's both art and science. It's strangely poignant to see (nearly) 365 days flash by in one image. #solargraphy

'Tis the season for journal review requests with unreasonable deadlines. All I want for Christmas is three simple lines of code in their manuscript submission systems: if (25 Dec - today) < 28 days, due date = due date + 14 days endif

The windshield wiper was invented by a woman from Alabama in 1903, the first significant wind-powered electricity generation was in Ohio and Scotland in 1887, the first computational weather models were envisioned in 1922 (mini chapter by @profpaul.bsky.social) #wxsky #energysky

I'm speaking (remotely) about jet streams in a changing climate, at the American Geophysical Union (AGU) Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C. today. agu.confex.com/agu/agu24/me...

Happy memories of speaking at the Aircraft Leasing Ireland (ALI) Global Aviation Sustainability Day in Dublin last month. www.youtube.com/watch?v=gllH...

Great to speak in London last night at an event exploring the impacts of increased turbulence from climate change on aviation insurance. Organised by the International Union of Aerospace Insurers (IUAI) with the International Underwriting Association of London (IUA) and leading global law firm HFW.

Our paper on increased turbulence from climate change has been adapted into a simplified article especially for kids! This is a great resource for teachers and it comes complete with teaching aids including a quiz to check students' understanding. www.sciencejournalforkids.org/articles/why...

Graffiti should always cite peer-reviewed sources.