2021 Awardee Way
AMS is pleased to recognize outstanding individuals and organizations of the weather, water, and climate community through its Awards and Honors program. Join us in congratulating the 2021 recipients.
A photo gallery of the recipients is available, as well as the AMS 2021 Awards Brochure, which includes bios.
AMS would like to thank its members and friends for nominating colleagues and peers who are so deserving of these awards.
Jump to: Honorary Members | Award Winners | Editor's Award Winners | Fellows
Honorary Members
Sir Robert Watson
Professor, University of East Anglia, Norwich, United Kingdom
Florence Rabier
Director-General, European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts, Reading, United Kingdom
William H. Hooke
Associate Director and Senior Policy Fellow, American Meteorological Society, Washington DC
Award Winners
THE CARL-GUSTAF ROSSBY RESEARCH MEDAL
David S. Battisti
Professor, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
For original, insightful contributions to understanding climate variability for phenomena ranging from the El Niño/Southern Oscillation and the Pacific Decadal Oscillation to paleoclimate
THE HYDROLOGIC SCIENCES MEDAL
Soroosh Sorooshian
Distinguished Professor, University of California Irvine, Irvine, California
For ingenious, groundbreaking work on surface hydrology and the remote sensing of precipitation that has profoundly impacted the field of hydrometeorology
THE HENRY STOMMEL RESEARCH MEDAL
Bo Qiu
Professor, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, Hawaii
For seminal contributions using observations, models, and theory to understand the dynamics of the North Pacific Ocean circulation and its role in the climate system
THE VERNER E. SUOMI TECHNOLOGY MEDAL
Eric A. Smith
Retired Professor / NASA Mission Scientist / CRCES Senior Scientist, Tallahassee, Florida
For innovative technological achievements that fundamentally changed the use of satellite observations in meteorology and hydrometeorology
THE SVERDRUP GOLD MEDAL
Sarah T. Gille
Professor, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California San Diego, San Diego, California
For seminal work on ocean circulation and air-sea interaction in the Southern Ocean and their impact on the cryosphere, ocean ecosystems, and Earth’s climate
THE JULE G. CHARNEY MEDAL
Clara Deser
Senior Scientist, NCAR, Boulder, Colorado
For fundamental insights into the structure, genesis, and predictability of decadal variability in the atmosphere, ocean, and cryosphere
THE WARREN WASHINGTON RESEARCH AND LEADERSHIP MEDAL
James W. Hurrell
Professor, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado
For highly influential climate system research, and a distinguished and impactful record of national and international leadership
THE CHARLES FRANKLIN BROOKS AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING SERVICE TO THE SOCIETY
Xubin Zeng
Professor and Director, Climate Dynamics and Hydrometeorology Center, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona
For skillful and effective service in senior leadership roles that has materially improved the Society’s meetings and other activities
THE CLEVELAND ABBE AWARD FOR DISTINGUISHED SERVICE TO THE
ATMOSPHERIC AND RELATED SCIENCES
Frederick H. Carr
Professor Emeritus, School of Meteorology, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma
For tireless, selfless, wide-ranging service to the community that has had an immeasurable impact on the nation’s weather, water, and climate efforts
THE EDWARD N. LORENZ TEACHING EXCELLENCE AWARD
Sonia G. Lasher-Trapp
Professor, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois
For creating active learning and welcoming classroom environments, expanding student experiences, and advocating for women in science
THE ROBERT H. AND JOANNE SIMPSON MENTORSHIP AWARD
Daphne LaDue
Senior Research Scientist, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma
For generous, thoughtful, and caring mentorship to students and their supervisors during more than 20 years of directing the Oklahoma Research Experience for Undergraduates program
THE KENNETH C. SPENGLER AWARD
Robert G. Goldhammer
IAEM Liaison, NWS and WMO WeatherReady Nation(s) Programs, International Association of Emergency Managers
For forging extensive collaboration and partnerships linking emergency management and the weather, water, and climate enterprise
THE JOANNE SIMPSON TROPICAL METEOROLOGY RESEARCH AWARD
Kerry H. Cook
Professor, Jackson School of Geosciences, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas
For expanding our knowledge of the physics and dynamics of tropical monsoon regimes, especially the West African Monsoon and related phenomena, using observations and models
THE SYUKURO MANABE CLIMATE RESEARCH AWARD
Joyce E. Penner
Professor, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
For scientific leadership in merging atmospheric aerosols and their chemistry with climate models to understand the breadth of human activities driving climate change
THE AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION TO THE ADVANCE OF APPLIED METEOROLOGY
David P. Ruth
Division Chief, NOAA, Silver Spring, Maryland
For extraordinary leadership in developing and implementing software for primary National Weather Service systems, including the Interactive Forecast Preparation System and National Digital Forecast Database
THE HENRY T. HARRISON AWARD FOR OUSTANDING CONTRIBUTIONS BY A CONSULTING METEOROLOGIST
Elizabeth J. Austin, CCM
CEO and Founder, WeatherExtreme Ltd., Fallbrook, California
For serving the meteorological profession, her clients, and the Society with integrity and professionalism over the course of an exemplary career
THE CHARLES E. ANDERSON AWARD
Kandis Y. Boyd
Deputy Divisional Director, Division of Grants and Agreements, Office of Weather and Air Quality, National Science Foundation, Alexandria, Virginia
For career-long efforts through mentoring, education, and community service to champion diversity for women and under-represented minorities to promote a more inclusive workforce
THE FRANCIS W. REICHELDERFER AWARD
Chad M. Gravelle
Techniques Development Meteorologist, NOAA/NWS Southern Region Headquarters, Fort Worth, Texas
For leadership, dedication, and the innovative use of technology in preparing forecasters to integrate GOES-R imagery and associated products into NWS operations
THE HELMUT E. LANDSBERG AWARD
Hiroyuki Kusaka
Professor, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki Japan
For advancements in urban canopy modeling, adopted by international research communities, and pioneering contributions to downscaling past, current, and future urban climates
THE AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN BIOMETEOROLOGY
Gabriel G. Katul
Professor, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina
For major theoretical advances in formulating surface-atmosphere exchanges of mass, energy, and momentum, and distilling theory into reduced numerical models to study these exchanges
SPECIAL AWARD
Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI) International Team
For providing a stellar example of international collaboration to produce novel satellite observations that have transformed atmospheric chemistry research, especially air quality and health applications
SPECIAL AWARD
Jason P. Samenow
Weather Editor and Chief Meteorologist, Washington Post, Washington, DC
For years of exemplary, groundbreaking journalism and outstanding articles that entertain, inform, and educate the public about weather, climate, and the environment
LOUIS J. BATTAN AUTHORS’ AWARD – ADULT
Christopher Dewdney
Author, Freelance, Ontario, Canada
For 18 Miles: The Epic Drama of Our Atmosphere and its Weather, a story for broad audiences that weaves the evolution of the atmosphere with the history of civilization from its beginning to today
LOUIS J. BATTAN AUTHORS’ AWARD – K-12
Becca Hatheway, Kerry Zarlengo, and Lisa Gardiner
For What’s Up in the Atmosphere? Exploring Colors in the Sky, a delightful, comprehensive story that walks young children through the scientific process to explore aerosols and air quality measurement
THE AWARD FOR DISTINGUISHED SCIENCE JOURNALISM IN THE ATMOSPHERIC AND RELATED SCIENCES
Jonathan Mingle
Freelance Journalist, Lincoln, Vermont
For transforming an evolving, complex topic into a gripping narrative on the process, progress, and inherent uncertainty of methane’s role in the changing climate system
THE AWARD FOR BROADCAST METEOROLOGY
Ginger Zee, CBM
Chief Meteorologist, ABC News, New York City, New York
For an accomplished broadcasting career, and whose passion has inspired young women to pursue science and whose courage has advanced the cause for mental health
THE AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN SCIENCE REPORTING BY A BROADCAST METEOROLOGIST
Deborah Martorell
Senior Meteorologist, WAPA TV, Guaynabo, Puerto Rico
For going beyond the forecast to explain the effects of hurricanes, droughts, and earthquakes on Puerto Rico
THE CLARENCE LEROY MEISINGER AWARD
Russ S. Schumacher
Associate Professor, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado
For fundamental advances in our understanding of flash-flood-producing storms and other mesoscale weather phenomena through innovative analyses of observations and model simulations
THE HENRY G. HOUGHTON AWARD
Kerri A. Pratt
Associate Professor, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
For pioneering field and theoretical studies that have significantly advanced the understanding of atmospheric chemistry in the Arctic boundary layer
THE NICHOLAS P. FOFONOFF AWARD
Eleanor Frajka-Williams
Principal Research Scientist, National Oceanography Centre, England, United Kingdom
For innovative contributions to observing and understanding the physical mechanisms responsible for variability of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation
THE AWARD FOR EARLY-CAREER PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENT
Lawrence C. Gloeckler, III
Product Manager, Resilience360/Riskpulse, San Marcos, California
For exceptional efforts to advance private-sector applications of meteorology, and a passionate commitment to bridge the gap between academic training and the needs of industry
THE CHARLES L. MITCHELL AWARD
John M. Brown
Meteorologist, Earth Prediction Advancement Division, NOAA/Global Systems Laboratory, Boulder, Colorado
For selfless dedication during more than four decades of service in developing forecast techniques, advancing model performance, training forecasters, and forecasting for large field programs
THE AWARD FOR EXCEPTIONAL SPECIFIC PREDICTION
Bryan T. Smith
Mesoscale/Outlook Forecaster, Storm Prediction Center, Norman, Oklahoma
For a highly specific and accurate prediction of a strong supercell event with long lead time that saved lives
LOCAL CHAPTER OF THE YEAR AWARD
North Florida Local Chapter
For expanding its professional development and networking opportunities for members, while strengthening its presence in both the community and with the national organization
LOCAL STUDENT CHAPTER OF THE YEAR AWARD
University of Oklahoma Student Chapter
For providing students with unique career, education, and service opportunities, and expanding the reach of the chapter to benefit members, alumni, and the local community
Lecturers
BERNHARD HAURWITZ MEMORIAL LECTURER
Rong Zhang
Senior Scientist, NOAA/GFDL, Princeton, New Jersey
For advancing scientific understanding of the causes and impacts of Atlantic multidecadal variability and Arctic sea ice variations through insightful analysis of models and observations
THE ROBERT E. HORTON LECTURER IN HYDROLOGY
Wade Crow
Research Physical Scientist, USDA ARS Hydrology and Remote Sensing Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland
For developing data analysis techniques that enabled important advances in the scientific and operational application of terrestrial remote sensing products
THE WALTER ORR ROBERTS LECTURER
Abigail L. S. Swann
Associate Professor, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
For fundamental, interdisciplinary advancements in discovering the processes by which terrestrial ecosystems influence climate, and for outstanding communication between the atmospheric and biological sciences
Editor's Award Winners
Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society
Kelly Mahoney
Research Meteorologist, NOAA/Physical Sciences Laboratory, Boulder, Colorado
For insightful, thorough, and constructive reviews that contributed to improving impactful manuscripts
Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society
Blair Trewin
Senior Research Scientist, Australian Bureau of Meteorology, Melbourne, Australia
For exemplary, thoughtful reviews that significantly improved manuscripts through careful attention to critical details
Earth Interactions
Trenton Ford
Illinois State Climatologist, University of Illinois' Prairie Research Institution, Champaign, Illinois
For providing thorough and quality reviews that were helpful for the authors and resulted in improved manuscripts
Journal of Applied Meteorology and Climatology
Alex Cannon
Research Scientist, Climate Research Division of Environment and Climate Change Canada, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
For consistently producing great reviews and exemplifying consistent, selfless service to the discipline
Journal of Atmospheric Science
Edmund Chang
Professor, School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York
For numerous constructive, insightful, and thorough reviews
Journal of Climate
Dietmar Dommenget
Associate Professor, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
For providing timely and constructive reviews on a wide range of topics
Journal of Climate
Francis Zwiers
Director, Pacific Climate Impacts Consortium, University of Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
For consistently insightful reviews on some of the journal’s most challenging papers
Journal of Climate
Qinghua Ding
Associate Professor, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, California
For providing numerous constructive reviews on various topics in climate dynamics
Journal of Hydrometeorology
Jackson Tan
Associate Scientist, Universities Space Research Association at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland
For insightful and timely reviews of numerous manuscripts in the field of precipitation remote sensing
Journal of Physical Oceanography
Jörn Callies
Assistant Professor, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California
For deeply constructive reviews in a wide variety of subdisciplines
Journal of Physical Oceanography
Daniel Whitt
Project Scientist, Climate and Global Dynamics Laboratory, NCAR, Boulder, Colorado
For well thought-out reviews of some particularly difficult papers, as well as many other high-quality reviews
Journal of Atmospheric and Oceanic Technology
John Abraham
Thermal Scientist, University of St. Thomas, Saint Paul, Minnesota
For exceptionally prompt reviews of a number of papers
Journal of Atmospheric and Oceanic Technology
Gabriel Diaz-Hernandez
Professor and Senior Researcher, Institute of Environmental Hydraulics of Cantabria, Spain
For reviewing numerous papers in a timely fashion
Monthly Weather Review
Rachel Mauk
Research Scientist, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio
For providing insightful, timely, and constructive reviews that helped authors to improve the quality of their manuscripts
Monthly Weather Review
Michael Scheuerer
Data Scientist, Norwegian Computing Center, Oslo, Norway
For providing a large number of high-quality reviews extremely quickly
Weather and Forecasting/Monthly Weather Review/Journal of Applied Meteorology and Climatology
John Knaff
Meteorologist, NOAA/NESDIS/Center for Satellite Applications and Research, Fort Collins, Colorado
For providing multiple rigorous, timely, and constructive reviews across three AMS journals, and also for contributing consistently excellent reviews over a period of many years
Weather and Forecasting
Michael Coniglio
Research Meteorologist, National Severe Storms Laboratory, Norman, Oklahoma
For consistently providing high quality, constructive, and rigorous reviews that help to uphold the high standards of AMS journals
Weather, Climate, and Society
Graham Clarkson
Senior Research Fellow and Project Manager, University of Reading, Reading, United Kingdom
For exceptionally thorough, insightful, and committed reviews of a challenging manuscript
Fellows
Uma S. Bhatt
Professor, University of Alaska Fairbanks,
Fairbanks, Alaska
Kandis Y. Boyd
Deputy Divisional Director, Division of Grants and Agreements, Office of Weather and Air Quality, National Science Foundation, Alexandria, Virginia
Brian A. Colle
Professor, Stony Brook University,
Stony Brook, New York
Sarah Gille
Professor, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California San Diego, San Diego, California
Rebecca Haacker
Director of Education and Outreach, NCAR, Boulder, Colorado
Marika M. Holland
Senior Scientist, Climate and Global Dynamics Laboratory, NCAR, Boulder, Colorado
William Hsieh
Professor Emeritus, Deptartment of Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia
Jean-Francois Lamarque
Senior Scientist, NCAR, Boulder, Colorado
Maureen McCann, CCM, CBM
Meteorologist, Spectrum News 13, Orlando, Florida
Amy McGovern
Professor, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma
Laura L. Pan
Senior Scientist, NCAR, Boulder, Colorado
Kyaw Tha Paw U
Professor, Department of Land, Air and Water Resources, University of California, Davis, California
Walter A. Petersen
Deputy Chief of the Science Research and Projects Division, NASA Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, Alabama
Bo Qiu
Professor, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, Hawaii
Danny E. Satterfield, CBM
Chief Meteorologist, WBOC TV, Salisbury, Maryland
Adrian J. Simmons
Consultant, European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts, United Kingdom
Janet Sprintall
Research Physical Oceanographer, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California
W. James (Jim) Steenburgh
Professor, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah
Yukari N. Takayabu
Professor, Atmosphere and Ocean Research Institute of the University of Tokyo, Chiba, Japan
Robert J. (Jeff) Trapp
Profesor, Department of Atmospheric Sciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois
Huug M. van den Dool
Consultant, NOAA/NWS/NCEP, College Park, Maryland
Susan C. van den Heever
Professor, Department of Atmospheric Science, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado
Junhong Wang
Professor, University at Albany, State University of New York, Albany, New York
Matthew C. Wheeler
Principal Research Scientist, Bureau of Meteorology, Melbourne, Australia
Robert Wood
Professor, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington