James Allan

Leaving politics aside, I'm sure that when the Epstein files drop, there'll be a mad rush to see how fast people can put them through the AI summary mangle. I'm very morbidly curious to know what's going to happen, given most of the evidence is likely to be incredibly boring.

This is really interesting.

Noticed you namechecked my 2010 paper there! 😁 Cheers!

UK Storm Season 2025–26: Names, causes, and what to expect - NCAS Find out why storms are named, what causes storms, and what to expect this season.

The 2025-26 UK storm season has begun, and this week marks 10 years since the first named storm.

We spoke to NCAS researchers about what to expect for the new season and as the climate continues to warm.

ncas.ac.uk/uk-storm-sea...

Decarbonisation efforts are advancing, but they’re outpaced by rising energy demands - NCAS Global carbon emissions from fossil fuels are projected to rise by 1.1% in 2025 – reaching a record high, according to new research by the Global Carbon Project. The 2025 Global Carbon Budget projects...

Global carbon emissions from fossil fuels are projected to rise by 1.1% in 2025 – reaching a record high, according to new research by the Global Carbon Project.

Read more:
ncas.ac.uk/decarbonisat...

That is a fantastic graphic. Says what needs to be said!

While fresh air is good, trying to clean the air chemically is not. The atmospheric chemistry community has been saying this for a long time; the best ways of cleaning indoor air is physical removal (filters/sorbents/air exchange).

Well deserved. I was one of many aerosol scientists who sprayed their coffee over the screen when the WHO made that 'particles bigger than 5 microns can't be airborne' statement, and while many in our field fought to raise awareness, Morawska is one in particular that deserves recognition.

COP30 and climate science in action - NCAS Stories of climate science in action at the National Centre for Atmospheric Science during COP30.

It’s clear that atmospheric science plays a vital role in our collective effort to tackle climate change.

As #COP30 begins, check out our 4 stories of climate science in action: ncas.ac.uk/cop30-and-cl...

New PhD projects available at the Aerosol Science CDT, including one of mine (it involves burning stuff). Please pass on to those who might be interested.
www.aerosol-cdt.ac.uk/2026-projects/

We live on a planet on the brink of disaster This year’s State of the Climate Report warns of imminent climate chaos

"We live on a planet on the brink of disaster -- This year’s State of the Climate Report warns of imminent climate chaos" by @brianmchugh.bsky.social for @yorkshirebylines.co.uk:
yorkshirebylines.co.uk/news/environ...

Climate plans don't limit dangerous warming, UN says ahead of COP The UN's review of national climate plans shows the world is well off track to limit warming

1.5°C was always going to be a challenge, but I'm not convinced there is the collective will to meet 2°C either. I think the debate around geoengineering is inevitably shifting from 'if' we think it's a good idea, to 'when' it will become a necessity (assuming it isn't already).

In situations like that, the AQI is likely to be "many". 😷

Prenatal Exposure to Fine Particulate Matter Components and Autism Risk in Childhood This cohort study of births in a Canadian province examines whether higher prenatal exposures to fine particulate matter and its components are associated with risk of autism spectrum disorder.

Here's an interesting one, linking prenatal PM2.5 and O3 exposure with autism. The also found the most significant link was with ammonium sulphate, but given the location and time period, this could be a proxy for industrial emissions.

jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...

The study here doesn't use the type of model that can predict acute short term exposure, which is why it's not evaluated, but the overall population health burden from long term exposure alone is quantifiable. (2/2)

Just to clear one point up, PM2.5 causes BOTH long term and short term harm. Acute high concentrations do trigger asthma attacks and so on, but sustained long term exposure increases the risk of heat attacks, cancer, strokes, etc. and even small changes in the average make a difference. (1/2)

I use images like that from LS Lowry paintings in presentations to show how much Manchester has improved over the years!

The big caveat in all of this is that this research isn't peer-reviewed. Furthermore, rather frustratingly, it doesn't even say what model they used to predict the impacts. I'd assume it's either PCM or CMAQ, but if anyone happens to know, I'd be interested. (3/3)

This one for me is the most interesting bit. The second panel is what would happen to PM2.5 if people ditched the wood burners and only relied on their primary domestic heat source (usually gas). The numbers don't look huge, but in dense population centres the health impacts can add up. (2/3)

Research shows major health and economic benefits from reducing domestic burning in UK homes A new report by Ricardo shows that reducing the burning of solid fuels in UK homes could contribute to savings up to £54 million in healthcare costs

Here's one that's done the rounds today, a new report from Ricardo that looks at the impacts of domestic burning, with a particular focus on Hertfordshire. The number the Guardian is quoting is 2,500 deaths from domestic burning annually. (1/3)

www.ricardo.com/en/news-and-...

New satellite data products just dropped!

Wish I could have been there. Not been to the AAAR in ages, I don't think! My general excuse is that it's at an awkward time of year and is expensive to get to for me.

Conflating emissions and ambient concentrations is one of my biggest pet peeves in science reporting, particularly when it comes to PM2.5.

Discover our Bicentenary PhD Studentships and Fellowships

Applications are now open for 200 new PhD Studentships and Fellowships.

We're investing in early career researchers, in partnership with philanthropic support - to develop the next generation of research leaders.

Share with someone you know!

www.manchester.ac.uk/research/bic...

Mysterious 'warm blob' breaks records in the North Pacific Ocean Temperatures have surged across a large area of the north Pacific - and scientists don't know exactly why.

I've got mixed feelings about the notion that this is because of reduced sulphur emissions. On the one hand, it means rapid short term warming. On the other, it supports the notion that marine cloud brightening might be feasible as a geoengineering technique.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Interesting. Always glad to see the data being used!

Have you seen this? Not sure if this is reflected in the current inventory (need to check).

uk-air.defra.gov.uk/library/repo...

Another example of this in air pollution was the implementation of the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) in parts of the UK. Replacing fossil fuels with biomass is one thing, but if farmers earn money for heating buildings that don't need heating in the first place, something has gone wrong. (6/6)

The Great Hanoi Rat Massacre of 1902 Did Not Go as Planned Instead of disappearing, the pesky rodents proliferated.

This is an example of a 'perverse incentive' in economics, where an incentive inadvertently creates the opposite of the desired effect. The historical example I use in my lectures is the 'Hanoi Rat Massacre', which is worth checking out. (5/6)

www.atlasobscura.com/articles/han...

The data has shown that the PHEV users who drove the most on ICE were the business users, many of whom had bought them for the tax breaks, not because the fuel economy suited their usage. The end result in those cases was the tax break caused more CO2e (and other pollutants), not less. (4/6)