Climate Systems Research Cluster

The Climate Systems research cluster aims to build on research excellence in three areas: physical climate and biogeochemical processes; impacts and adaptation to climate change; and mitigation policy and science.

The cluster includes varied themes - such as food, water and energy - as well as policy related to any of those issues. It also encompasses hydrology and climate science.

Physical climate and biogeochemical processes	Research focuses on improving our understanding of fundamental processes in key Earth-system tipping elements and climate change hotspots, including mineral aerosols in the land-surface-atmosphere system, biogeochemical cycling and ecosystem dynamics in tropical forest systems, processes of variability and change in African climate, changes in global and regional hydrological cycles, and climate processes in the Himalaya and Andes.
Impacts and adaptation to climate change	Research aims to improve the scientific basis for impacts/adaptation assessment and decision-making. This includes climate downscaling, development of novel methods for assessment of impacts of climate change, especially biodiversity and water resources, and adaptation, with a focus on robust decision-making and challenges posed by extreme events.
Mitigation policy and science	Attention is on more radical carbon reductions and shorter time scales, with major implications for both energy systems and management of carbon sinks, and on establishing stronger socio-political theoretical understanding of mitigation and governance at a range of scales from Earth-system to local community.

African Climate

The Climate Cluster has a major focus on African climate led by Richard Washington. We research historical African climate from the instrumental and satellite record as well as the ability of models to simulate this complex climate system.

Radcliffe Meteorological Station

The School of Geography and the Environment (SoGE) maintains the Radcliffe Meteorological Station on behalf of the University of Oxford. Meteorological records commenced here in 1772 and these are the longest single-site weather records in the United Kingdom, and amongst the longest in the world.

Oxford Net Zero

The world has a goal to reach net zero emissions. Our platform, informed by leading climate researchers and hosted by the University of Oxford, brings together principles and policies, practical tools, and progress tracking to help businesses and policymakers achieve that goal.

ONE: Oxford Climate Research Network

The Oxford Climate Research Network (OCRN) is a cross-divisional research community, harnessing Oxford’s diverse strengths to address the challenge of managing climate change in a complex and uncertain world.

ONE: Oxford Energy Network

The Oxford Energy Network brings together researchers across the University of Oxford who are working to address the major technical, social, economic and policy challenges of providing secure, affordable and sustainable energy for all.

ONE: Oxford Water Network

The Oxford Water Network is a multi-disciplinary research community, harnessing the University of Oxford’s diverse research to address the challenge of managing water (both salt and freshwater) in a complex and uncertain world.

Key research initiatives closely associated with the cluster include several national and international programmes including UK Infrastructure Transitions Research Consortium; climateprediction.net, including weather@home and World Weather Attribution; climateeducation.net; the MaRIUS project (Managing the Risks, Impacts and Uncertainties of drought and water Scarcity); and components of major research programmes focused on Africa (e.g. CLIVAR VACS African Climate Atlas).