Sam Burgess

Sam Burgess

@oceanterra.org

Climate | ocean | science policy & diplomacy | Copernicus Climate Change Service, @ECMWF | Partner to @edhawkins.org | ex 🐼 | Views own | 🌍 🌡🌊 🛰 🪸| Born on Wurundjeri Country | 🇦🇺🇬🇧🇪🇺 | www.pulse.climate.copernicus.eu

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Sam Burgess
@oceanterra.org

The European State of the Climate Report is launched today: 🌐 more than 40 datasets 👩‍🔬 over 100 scientists 🗺️ > 130 charts and graphics 🌍 🌡️ Europe is the fastest warming continent, with temperatures rising at around twice the global average rate Check it out: climate.copernicus.eu/ESOTC

Sam Burgess
@oceanterra.org

Love this time of year and the hunt for new species of fungi - never seen so many honey mushrooms 🍄‍🟫 on one woodland walk

Sam Burgess
@oceanterra.org

Many versions of the current El Niño intensity have been shared… we’ve had to change the colour scale to appropriately show the strength of the anomaly.

Sam Burgess
@oceanterra.org

Drought-affected areas in Europe have expanded substantially in recent decades. ​ By the end of August 2026, meteorological drought affected around 46% of Europe, with 40% of the affected area under extreme drought, a much larger share than in 2025. See more: climate.copernicus.eu/european-sum...

Sam Burgess
@oceanterra.org

7- Hot summer conditions in western Europe has become far more widespread and persistent. The share of the region reaching 30°C on a summer day rose from 9% in the 1970s to 39% in 2026. 60% of the region exceeded 30°C for a record 17 days.

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Sam Burgess
@oceanterra.org

5 - Zooming in on western Europe, the region experienced four of its ten most severe heatwaves between May and August. Severity here reflects duration, intensity and affected area.

Sam Burgess
@oceanterra.org

6 - While August 2003 remains western Europe’s most severe heatwave, 2026 saw a much larger area exceeding 30°C across the season

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Sam Burgess
@oceanterra.org

3 - European seas did not escape the heat this summer 56% of the European ocean was much warmer than average 22% experiencing record-high sea surface temperatures.

Sam Burgess
@oceanterra.org

4 - Europe was impacted by both widespread and prolonged heat stress. A record 52% of Europe was affected by ‘very strong’ heat stress by the end of summer. Heat is now a health emergency

Sam Burgess
@oceanterra.org

#Climate change is not just raising temperatures. It is increasing the likelihood of prolonged periods when heat, water stress and wildfire risk occur simultaneously. Understanding these compound extremes is essential for building resilience across our water, food, energy and health systems.

Sam Burgess
@oceanterra.org

August 2026 was the warmest August ever recorded globally and the warmest month on record El Niño is pushing temperatures higher, but these records are occurring in a climate that has already been fundamentally altered by decades of burning fossil fuels heating our planet #Climate 🧪⚒️🌊

Sam Burgess
@oceanterra.org

A solar eclipse. The Perseids. Two reminders that some of nature's most extraordinary moments happen when we take time to look up. But the highlight may have been discovering this little chap/ette in our garden while perseid watching! With @edhawkins.org

Sam Burgess reposted

Ed Hawkins
@edhawkins.org

We are so fortunate that the geometry of our solar system is aligned to give us the wonderful spectacle of the #eclipse. Although it wasn't a total eclipse in the UK, it was fantastic to see so many people out watching!

Sam Burgess
@oceanterra.org

Western Europe recorded its hottest June-July on record, enduring the fourth heatwave since May with severe drought conditions that contributed to exceptional wildfire activity. Climate signals are becoming increasingly interconnected and increasingly difficult to ignore.

Sam Burgess
@oceanterra.org

June 2026 data from Copernicus ECMWF offered another stark reminder of our changing #climate: - Western Europe recorded its warmest June on record - Globally it was the 2nd warmest June according to ERA5 Our climate system is continuing to accumulate heat .

Sam Burgess
@oceanterra.org

As #LCAW concludes, this warning over most of the UK from the @metoffice.gov.uk is 'yet' another reminder that we will continue to see more of these types of extremes with further #ClimateChange #Heatwaves are hotter, longer and occur more frequently due to the burning of fossil fuels

Sam Burgess reposted

Emma Monk
@monkemma.bsky.social

Replying to @monkemma.bsky.social

35°C is normal, we used to just call that summer! Here's how many summers topped 32°C 70s 4 80s 2 90s 8 2000s 6 2010s all of them 2020s all of them And here's how many summers topped 35°C 70s 1 80s 0 90s 2 2000s 2 2010s 3 2020s 4 (out of 6 so far)

Sam Burgess
@oceanterra.org

The UK temperature record that has held since 1976 of 35.6 degrees, is forecast to be 38-40 degrees in June 2026. Future heatwaves will be more intense in an even warmer world. Europeans are exposed to more heat stress than ever before due to continued burning of fossil fuels

Sam Burgess
@oceanterra.org

🌡️ The unusually early and intense European heatwave demonstrates how quickly climate extremes are becoming the new normal rather than the exception

Sam Burgess
@oceanterra.org

Latest C3S seasonal forecast: - El Niño is increasingly likely in 2026 - Over 50% of the C3S multi-system ensemble now exceed 2.5°C amplitude in Niño3.4 by the end of the forecast If an El Niño does develop in 2026 it will be with much warmer ocean temperatures than the 2023/24 El Niño… 🌊🧪⚒️🌏

Sam Burgess
@oceanterra.org

Peak spring in Oxfordshire! Love this time of year in 🇬🇧 - the fragrance from the bluebells and wisteria is enchanting 🌸☀️ #spring #blossom

Sam Burgess
@oceanterra.org

During February 2026, Europe yet again saw the growing impacts of climate change. 🌧️ A series of atmospheric rivers, together with a south-shifted jet stream led to heavy-to-extreme precipitation, triggering widespread flooding and landslides, particularly across Iberia and western France. 🌍🧪⚒️

Sam Burgess
@oceanterra.org

January 2026 delivered a stark reminder that the climate system can simultaneously deliver very cold weather in one region & extreme heat in another. These recent events highlight that resilience & adaptation to increasing extremes are key to prepare society for heightened climate risk.

Sam Burgess
@oceanterra.org

Delighted that this paper is now out for open review. Thanks to @peterthorne.bsky.social for his leadership on this critical topic and bringing the community together 🧪⚒️

Peter Thorne@peterthorne.bsky.social

New discussion paper just dropped that’s taken shall we say a little work to get this far … essd.copernicus.org/preprints/es... please be kind. Not on an at all sensitive topic in the slightest.

essd.copernicus.orgHow well can we quantify when 1.5 °C of global warming has been exceeded?Abstract. Parties to the 2015 Paris Agreement agreed to limit the long-term increase in global average temperature to well below 2 °C and pursue efforts to keep temperatures below 1.5 °C relative to p...