Article
BAMOS May 2026
11 level sensitivity, ocean circulation changes and Arctic sea ice stability – topics closely aligned with my work on past AMOC shutdown events during the Last Interglacial.
On Day 3, I participated in the Early Career Researcher workshop, which offered a broader perspective on careers in climate science and reminded me that a successful career is shaped not only by publications but also by persistence, collaboration and the ability to connect research with real-world applications.
Day 4 focused on tipping points and Earth system thresholds, including risks associated with AMOC collapse, Amazon dieback and ice sheet instability. There was a particular emphasis on improving the representation of these processes in CMIP7 through overshoot scenarios and more fully coupled Earth system models.
The final day brought the workshop full circle, returning to the four central scientific questions guiding CMIP7. Discussions focused on coordinating future analyses across modelling groups, with an emphasis on integrating new observations, palaeoclimate constraints and large ensemble approaches to better quantify uncertainties.
I also attended some side sessions during the workshop that highlighted ongoing challenges in climate modelling. A HighResMIP session stood out, exploring whether increasing model resolution can reduce key uncertainties in projections – particularly for extreme weather and sea surface temperature patterns – and how these simulations might be integrated with kilometre-scale modelling and observations.
Beyond the formal sessions, I enjoyed the valuable opportunities for discussion and networking that the workshop offered. A memorable highlight was the reception dinner, which featured a traditional Japanese taiko drum performance.
Outside of the workshop, Kyoto itself was unforgettable. The nearby train station displayed a photograph of the Kyoto Protocol signing, reinforcing the historical significance of the location( Figure 2). I also had the chance to explore the city( including wearing a kimono!), visit local gardens and shrines and enjoy Kyoto’ s food scene( Figure 3). These moments provided a welcome balance to the intensity of the workshop.
Overall, I found the CMIP Community Workshop in Kyoto both intellectually stimulating and personally enriching. It offered valuable insight into the future direction of climate modelling while reinforcing the broader significance of our work within the global climate science community.
Figure 3: Exploring Kyoto outside of the workshop, including a visit to Kiyomizu-dera, where some of the season’ s first cherry blossoms were already beginning to bloom. Credit: Himadri Saini
Figure 2: A display at Kyoto Station commemorating the adoption of the Kyoto Protocol, described as " a significant step in combating global warming ". Credit: Himadri Saini