Peter Thorne
peterthorne.bsky.social
Peter Thorne
@peterthorne.bsky.social

Climate scientist, director ICARUS Climate Research Centre, Maynooth University, Ireland, author IPCC AR6, member Ireland's climate change advisory council, Chair GCOS AOPC. www.peter-thorne.net

Peter William Thorne is a climatologist and professor of physical geography in the Department of Geography, Maynooth University.

Source: Wikipedia
Environmental science 55%
Geography 19%

Reposted by Peter Thorne

Aurora AND lenticulars last night. Be still my beating heart 🤦
I just woke up from a nap and somehow while I was asleep, everyone on the bus has figured out we are not going to the right place
Cat wandered in front of the camera during the #aurora long exposure

Reposted by Peter Thorne

Aurora borealis alert!

There’s a powerful geomagnetic storm taking place, with the possibility of seeing the aurora as far south as Wales, the Midlands and East Anglia.

Unfortunately, cloud breaks are quite limited at the moment.

Look north in the sky.

Image: Aurora Watch UK

Reposted by Peter Thorne

Let’s check in on the solar cosmic ray count at Mawson station following the big CME event and everything looks norm—

Oooooft.

🔭
A fast moving coronal mass ejection (CME) means the northern lights may be visible overnight, and perhaps on Tuesday night too

The arrival time of the CME is uncertain, but aurora sightings are possible in northern Britain and perhaps in southern areas depending on cloud cover.
Loooooong applause - and then a standing ovation - at the European Parliament this evening, as President president @president.europarl.europa.eu says Europe is resolute in defending the status and sovereignty of Denmark and Greenland

Reposted by Peter Thorne

WMO is the authoritative UN specialized agency on weather, climate, and water science. Our activities provide decision-makers with the latest and most robust scientific information to inform policies that save lives and protect livelihoods.

🔗 https://wmo.int/

Reposted by Peter Thorne

"Fully implementing the EU Nature Restoration Regulation is a strategic investment in Europe’s health, security, and economic resilience - not simply a legal obligation - according to a new scientific commentary from the European Academies Science Advisory Council (EASAC)."
easac.eu/publications...
Opportunities in Nature Restoration
This new EASAC Commentary highlights how nature restoration is a strategic investment in Europe’s security, prosperity, and ecological stability.
easac.eu

Reposted by Peter Thorne

Infrastructure for what kind of development?

A single DC in West Dublin (employing a handful of people) uses 10x the energy of a nearby pharmaceutical plant that employs 2000 people, and enough energy for 200,000 homes.

Great work from @lnbdublin.bsky.social

www.irishtimes.com/environment/...
Dublin data centre uses as much power as 200,000 homes
Capacity of Castlebaggot substation ‘completely consumed’ by local data centres
www.irishtimes.com

How can it require careful consideration to say no?
11th January 2026
Vs
18th January 2026

Reposted by Peter Thorne

Meanwhile, Minister Helen McEntee says the US has invited Ireland to join its so-called "Board of Peace" in Gaza.

The Board has been slated by Palestinians, Israel, & many observers for not being representative and undermining the UN

McEntee says "We will need to give this careful consideration."
Multi-layered “look what you made me do” lie.

Because Norway didn’t give a him prize (it doesn’t decide winners) for ending wars (he didn’t end) the US won’t be peaceful anymore (bombing multiple countries) and will take Greenland (part of Denmark, not Norway) to stop Russia (it’d help Russia).
mad king moment

from the PBS Newshour correspondent
mad king moment

from the PBS Newshour correspondent

Reposted by Peter Thorne

Dean et al investigate paleo sea level indicators from Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, USA. They found that in that location, the sea level highstands in MIS 7, 5e and 5c were comparable or slightly above present day sea level. doi.org/10.1016/j.qu...
Redirecting
doi.org
From UM-GPT’s image generating version. You see, the real problem with geocentric models is that they didn’t realize the Sun regularly transforms into the moon.
Norwegian PM Støre says Trump repeatedly raises—complains about, pleads for, and demands—the Nobel Peace Prize every time they meet. Støre gives same answer each time: decision is made independently by Norwegian Nobel Committee, with no role for Norwegian gov—a concept Trump appears unable to grasp.

Reposted by Peter Thorne

It is weird how every plea to pivot away from climate to energy affordability actually ends up just agreeing entirely with the goals of climate.

First it was the way renewables ended up helping reduce power bills, now it's clear opposing massive unchecked gas export build-out does the same
A Boom in Gas Exports is Pushing up U.S. Energy Bills
e360.yale.edu
Deutsche Bank here with the good stuff.
Game on.

Reposted by Peter Thorne

This response from a Greenlandic politician to Trump’s Greenland plans is outstanding youtu.be/DMPe_e-WRMk?...
Greenlandic Politician Shows Mirror To Trump Over Island Invasion Plan: 'He Doesn't Know About...'
YouTube video by Hook Global
youtu.be
Córy Doctorow with another verbal bullseye: pluralistic.net/2026/01/13/n...
Updated for 2026

Reposted by Peter Thorne

A 5 x 7” seascape in oil for @paeartforacause.bsky.social #postcardexhibit26 🙂

Reposted by Peter Thorne, Du Toit

"Observations show that across the globe, the heaviest daily rainfall events are averaging about 8 or 9 per cent more rain today than before the pre-industrial era"
www.abc.net.au/news/2026-01...
As the world warms, extreme rain events are coming hard and fast
When it comes to extreme rainfall, it's hard for climate scientists to say what's natural and what's caused by climate change, but they do know the most extreme events are dropping more rain, more oft...
www.abc.net.au
Here’s a short poem about the power of poetry to change the world.

Reposted by Peter Thorne

One way anyone one of us, can hit back at Trump is at the wallet. Try to use less US goods and services! Here's a database with European alternatives #EUtogether

www.goeuropean.org
Go European — Discover European products and services
Go European is a community-driven directory bringing you European products and services from across the continent.
www.goeuropean.org
Palantir was a warning sign.

Keir Starmer choosing to hand our data and security to US tech companies is an outrageous failure of judgment.

All in the name of "investment." What about national security?
Feels like something cracked today in the transatlantic alliance. Europeans have been swallowing their pride, bitting their tongues, and bending the knee. That strategy may have bought them time but it has now clearly failed. It also had a major cost - it has made the WH think Europe will cave. 1/

Reposted by Peter Thorne

Needed the tranquility of Seaton wetlands today. Dominated by large flocks of lapwing. I finally got a picture of one of the kingfishers! Seeing it hunt was amazing.