Royal Meteorological Society Masterclass: The Role of Aerosols in Capturing European Extremes

This masterclass explores how aerosols - tiny particles and liquid droplets in the atmosphere - influence clouds, air quality and climate. It looks at both natural sources, such as deserts and volcanic eruptions, and human sources, such as fossil fuel burning, and explains why aerosols remain one of the most important uncertainties in human-caused climate change.

The session examines how aerosols are represented in climate models, how their impacts differ across regions, and what they reveal about major climate changes over the last century. It also considers the role of aerosols in regional climate modelling and the possible effects of more stringent air quality policies worldwide.

The event is part of the Royal Meteorological Society’s spring 2027 Masterclass series and features Laura Wilcox of the University of Reading, delivered virtually via Zoom.