Rising global temperatures, extreme weather events, and air pollution have continued to dominate headlines and affect lives across the globe in 2024.

At the National Centre for Atmospheric Science, our research has been at the forefront of understanding and preparing for changes to our climate, weather, and air quality.

We’re looking back on our top science stories from this year, highlighting the contributions we have made towards atmospheric science.

At the start of the year, we joined forces with a team of international researchers to improve forecasting of extreme storms in Southern Africa. 

Over the coming years, extreme storms are expected to increase due to climate change. We helped evaluate Southern Africa’s current weather services and set up new services better suited to people’s needs, helping communities better predict and prepare extreme weather events.

In February, we started a 6 week study to measure airborne pollutant emissions from domestic wood burning stoves, using a state-of-the-art laboratory in Manchester.

The popularity of using wood burners has increased in recent years. In the UK, wood burning in homes accounts for a high fraction of particles with carcinogenic potential in urban areas to study emissions from domestic heating stoves. Researchers used a wood burner in a controlled environment alongside specialised pollution monitoring equipment to replicate a range of conditions and real-life scenarios.

In the spring, we shared a new research project which aims to create accurate and reliable forecasts for weather one month ahead. 

The Advancing the Frontiers of Earth System Prediction (AFESP) project uses vast quantities of meteorological data to create more accurate predictions in long-term forecasts. Knowing far enough in advance that a particular weather event may occur allows for time to prepare against the event, helping to protect infrastructure, lives and livelihoods.

In April, we introduced the scientific instrument helping to improve weather forecasting in UK cities. 

As part of the ASSURE project, we provided a doppler lidar to measure winds in Bristol. Data collected by the doppler lidar will be combined with data from the other instruments to build a picture of how the wind changes as it blows over Bristol. This will help researchers understand how wind carries weather systems and air pollution across the city.

In May, we demonstrated that artificial intelligence can be used to predict major storms. 

This research showed that weather forecasts using AI can produce predictions of similar accuracy to traditional forecasts, and are faster, cheaper, and use less computational power. Development of AI models could mean artificial intelligence is routinely used in weather prediction in the near future, saving forecasters time and money.

This summer we highlighted the hidden harms of indoor air pollution. 

In countries like the UK, people can spend up to 90% of their time indoors – exposing them to invisible and often ignored sources of air pollution. We shared tips to help reduce emissions and exposure to indoor air pollution in our homes.

In July, we introduced the new 3-D virtual tour of the FAAM Airborne Laboratory. 

This tour allows people to explore our unique BAe 146-301 research aircraft inside and out – including some places that even our scientists can’t get to – and discover the instruments and equipment we use to do science from the skies.

In August, we created a new tool to help visualise air pollution in cities around the world. 

Inspired by the Warming Stripes, the Air Quality Stripes are an infographic using colour to show different levels of air pollution. This tool is highlighting the action needed in certain cities to improve air pollution, but also shows big improvements in air quality in other cities.

At the end of summer, we shared a report examining the influence of various climate and air quality policies on ozone levels in Beijing.

This research showed that while efforts to decarbonise and reduce emissions are crucial for mitigating climate change, they must be carefully managed to avoid unintended consequences – such as increased ozone pollution.

In the autumn, we reported on a group of researchers who spent their summer studying the Greenland Ice Sheet. 

The ICECAPS-MELT project set out to understand what is causing the Greenland Ice Sheet to melt at an increasing rate. We also found out what a typical day looks like for a research scientist working in one of the one of the harshest environments on the planet.

In November, we shared the key findings from the 2024 Global Carbon Budget report. 

The report provides a stark reminder that rapid cuts to fossil fuel emissions are needed to give us a chance of staying well below 2°C warming above pre-industrial levels. Although carbon emissions increased across all fossil fuel sources, there was also encouraging evidence of reductions driven by climate action.

For our final news story of the year, we introduced a new project tackling climate risks across Sub-Saharan Africa. 

The ACACIA project aims to develop more accurate, accessible forecasts to help vulnerable communities better prepare and respond to extreme weather. This collaborative project shows that scientific innovation, when done with and for communities, can be a powerful tool in climate adaptation.

As 2024 comes to an end, we’re looking forward to 2025 and continuing our research to understand our atmosphere and help the world prepare for environmental challenges. 

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