Message of Condolence for Professor Lord Julian Hunt of Chesterton
24th April 2026
It is with great sadness that the Centre for Polar Observation and Modelling (CPOM) learned of the passing of Professor Lord Julian Hunt of Chesterton. We write to convey our deepest condolences to his family and all who were close to him.
Julian was an early and influential member of CPOM when the Centre was established at University College London, and his involvement in those early years left an enduring mark on what it became. He brought to CPOM a wealth of experience that few could match. Having served as Director General and Chief Executive of the Met Office from 1992 to 1997 — one of the most senior scientific leadership roles in British science — he arrived at UCL with an exceptional command of atmospheric dynamics, environmental fluid mechanics, and the practical demands of weather and climate prediction at the highest level. It was this breadth, spanning fundamental theory and real-world application, that made his contribution to CPOM’s early meteorological programme so distinctive.
At CPOM, Julian led research into polar atmospheric boundary layer processes and mesoscale meteorology — the complex dynamics of atmospheric flows over polar surfaces, coastlines, and topography that are so critical to understanding the cryosphere. This work was both theoretically rigorous and of direct practical relevance to polar forecasting. He collaborated widely, producing research that made a lasting contribution to the field. His work included studies of Coriolis effects in mesoscale flows with sharp changes in surface conditions as well as investigations into the influence of coastal geometry and surface discontinuities on polar wind patterns. Together they also advanced understanding of how changing surface heat fluxes affect atmospheric boundary-layer flow, work carried out with colleagues across several institutions and reflective of Julian’s natural gift for building international scientific collaborations.
Those of us fortunate enough to work alongside Julian remember him not only for his formidable intellect, but for the tremendous energy and kindness he brought to everything he did. He was warm and thoughtful in equal measure, and made those around him feel both challenged and supported. He had an inexhaustible enthusiasm for ideas and for the people pursuing them. Beyond his science, Julian stood apart for his fierce commitment to social justice and his deep conviction that science must serve the public good. These values animated his work and his public life in equal measure. He was also a man who spoke openly and proudly of his family, and it was clear to all who knew him that they were his greatest source of pride.
Julian’s legacy lives on in the work of CPOM and in the many researchers whose careers and thinking he shaped. He will be greatly missed, and fondly remembered.
With our sincere condolences,
Professor Andrew Shepherd, CPOM Director Professor Sir Duncan Wingham, Founding CPOM Director Dr Andrew Orr Professor Danny Feltham Ms Leisa Clemente
