I will report back when I receive a reply to my FoI request

Wow that’s impressive! We are looking at this region with sub-km ensemble simulations and the sensitivity of the cloudscape to subtle changes in wind speed and direction is fascinating ☁️⛅️☀️

Had a surprisingly sunny mid-afternoon onward here in Verwood today, thanks to some more stable air drawn from the Bristol Channel.

This phenomenon requires just the right wind direction & speed. This is the most pronounced I can ever recall seeing it on satellite imagery.

Perfect name for something you use for your science and not give any credit

Is there not a potential for shifting baseline with these stats? I can claim to be relatively comfortable but deciding to eat out less or go to the pub less than I used to. Or eat out less than I might expect someone in my age/job/income bracket to have been able to 10 years ago.

In 2008 I met a climate scientist from Mali who was advocating for this so long that he looked exhausted. Absolutely amazing man. He was working so hard on this. And then I see numbers like this and my heart just soars. Youba Sokona, you (and your peers) really did it.

www.ipcc.ch/people/youba...

This was part of my first skeet. Today, the FAAM aircraft was towed away for failing to be part of the national growth strategy, whatever that means. Would be nice if the next hedge fund billionaire invests in atmospheric science!

And it's gone. This is a video of the aircraft as it is being moved to another hangar, where we no longer have access to it. We don't really know what will happen to it: will it be sold or scrapped, and it is an emotional moment for many of us.

Goodbye, Atmospheric Research Aircraft ✈️

Oleg, a person with long hair in a ponytail, a short beart & moustache and an eyepatch is standing next to the BAe 146-301 Aircraft - FAAM Airborne Laboratory's Atmospheric Research Aircraft. Oleg's hand is placed on the nose of the aircraft.

Last few weeks, after we were told that FAAM Airborne Laboratory will be closing down, were pretty sad, but at least we got to say goodbye to the aircraft the other day 💔

Introduction to Atmospheric Radar - NCAS Study weather, cloud, and wind radar fundamentals and applications in June 2024, at the Chilbolton Atmospheric Observatory.

FINAL REMINDER

Study weather and cloud radar fundamentals and applications with NCAS!

Our Introduction to Atmospheric Radar course will consist of traditional lectures interspersed with data access/analysis sessions.

🗓️ 8-11 June, Leeds

Apply today: ncas.ac.uk/study-with-u...

On a related note, using uptake of a NERC facility to decide on its axing is rather disingenuous given that uptake is related to funding decisions. If anything, 60% of uptake in the last few years is remarkable given the low success rate of NERC proposals.

Unsurprisingly the government response mostly echoes the UKRI statement, partly using the uptake in 2027-2029 as an excuse, ignoring that the aircraft is to be grounded for much of that period.

Also grateful for Maria Russo who has been leading community efforts to hold UKRI and NERC and DSITs feet to the fire: www.nature.com/articles/d41...

Grateful for @yuanfenyang.bsky.social to have tabled a question on the FAAM decision: questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-ques...

But not holding my breath for a meaningful response 😔

What I'm trying to say is, I'd quite happily be paid £137k a year to provide post-processed bespoke forecasts for Chester Zoo. 🐼 ☔

Sounds like a lot of money. Maybe they should partner with the Met Office to design more bespoke forecast products for their attraction? We have mountain forecasts and beach forecasts, why not zoo forecasts?

Yes, please specialise. No, not by focusing on aircraft measurements. No, not by investing in infrastructure. Yes, work together and share equipment. No, not on international physics programs. Look, there's these three buckets...

Let's just say I'm not a happy bunny. But also read this for Chris's surgical dismantling of the statement announcing the FAAM decision.

Impressive statement from NCAS and FAAM to push back on most of the narrative put out by UKRI without ever losing composure 👏🏻 👏🏻 👏🏻 Leave the swearing to us offline (and potentially in staff meetings 🤫)

Statement on the Mid-Life Upgrade and FAAM closure - FAAM Following the withdrawal of funding by UKRI-NERC, announced on Thursday 26 February 2026, the FAAM Airborne Laboratory will cease operations at the end of this financial year. There is now significant...

... meanwhile the amazing FAAM staff, having only recently found out about their fate, have to scramble to manage the fallout with their many stakeholders involved in their £51m upgrade that has now been cut short: faam.ac.uk/statement-on... (3/3)

... and followed today by a statement from the European Space Agency: www.met.reading.ac.uk/~swrhgnrj/fa... (2/3)

Following hot on the heels of the STFC cuts, the defunding of FAAM by UKRI shows similar "inconsistence" as clearly illustrated by the Royal Meteorological Society in their statement www.rmets.org/news/stateme... (1/3)

... on a cloudy daaaaaaaaaaaaay

These three contributions alone led to a huge financial benefit to UK plc, outweighing the costs of the aircraft.

After spending £50M over the past few years on an mid-life upgrade to the FAAM , the £32M to keep it flying for the next few years seems like a bargain.

A short-sighted decision? (4/4)

During the Eyjafjallajökull eruption in 2010, FAAM flights provided critical evidence to support the Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre. The aircraft also made flights at the request of the Home Office in response to the Buncefield oil depot fire & the Elgin gas platform release, among others. (3/4)

Excellent statement from RMetS questioning the decision to cease funding for the FAAM aircraft: www.rmets.org/news/stateme...

Gorton & Denton by-election, 2026 Source: Britain Elects SIAIS r EFTIES Green GAIN from Labour 40.7 28.7 25.4 1.9 1.8 Grn 427.5 Ref 414.6 Lab 725.4 Con 76.0 Lib 72.0 1.4 Oth 78.9

Starmer:

“If you don’t like our policies you can leave.”

Voters:

Enduring Atmospheric Platforms ARIA’s Enduring Atmospheric Platforms programme aims to develop persistent, autonomous stratospheric flight to unlock the next frontier of global connectivity.

The reference to autonomous platforms seems particularly bizarre given the major ARIA investment in exactly the same area of research: www.aria.org.uk/opportunity-...

£61 million boost for Europe's largest 'flying lab' to tackle climate change from the skies The investment will support research into some of the world's most pressing environmental challenges such as climate change and severe weather events.

I guess we no longer need to "tackle climate change from the skies" after spending £61m the last 6 years:

www.gov.uk/government/n...

Shocking from UKRI: no more aircraft observations, investing in "land-based capabilities and remote sensing equipment."

The atmosphere is not land-based(!) and remote sensing can only provide an approximation of what FAAM could do. And I say that as someone who should gain from such a pivot.