Alexander Askew from the Knowledge Integration department at the Met Office gave us an insight into the challenges faced both in accurately predicting the weather but also how human activity has unequivocally caused global warming.
His talk at our meeting in June was an overview of the work of the Meteorological Office (universally known as the Met Office), and climate change and he successfully kept his audience engaged throughout. We learnt the history of the Met and its initial primary purpose to provide wind data for shipping and how it has transformed into a very sophisticated operation using super computers to create weather models, illustrate trends and predict outcomes.
Alexander made referene to the 2022 heatwave with temperatures above 40 degrees, reaching 46 in some places, breaking national records. This effected the whole of the UK apart from Northern Ireland. Where once these events were predicted to take place once in 1000 years, due to weather changes it is now once in 300 years and by 2100, depending on future climate action, it could be once every 15 years.
On a positive note, Alexander advised of the many areas of progress, with some reductions in the trend of warming and the slowing down of the speed of increase in greenhouse gases. Although the UK was doing reasonably well in reducing carbon emissions, it was doing less well at action to mitigate the risks and effects of global warming, such as buildings that are more efficient and machinery, the impact on health, flood defences and so on.
Many questions from members followed, and Alexander has certainly given us all something to think about.
