Awards

Nominate Today

Nominations are now being accepted through 1 May 2024.

Start a nomination

View past recipients or update an existing nomination.

AMS invites members and others to help us recognize those whose work and dedication have had a profound impact on the weather, water, and climate science community.

Most awards require the following:

  • nomination letter
  • a proposed citation
  • nominee Curriculum Vitae
  • bibliography
  • three (3) letters of support
     

A committee or commission has the responsibility to select and submit to the Council the names of individuals nominated for the Society's awards listed.

Download a consolidated list of all award descriptions.

AMS Awards

The Charles Franklin Brooks Award for Outstanding Service to the Society
The Charles Franklin Brooks Award for Outstanding Service to the Society

The Charles Franklin Brooks Award for Outstanding Service to the Society is presented to an individual who has made important contributions to the Society, usually over a period of years.

The Robert H. and Joanne Simpson Mentorship Award
The Robert H. and Joanne Simpson Mentorship Award

The Robert H. and Joanne Simpson Mentorship Award recognizes individuals who have spent most of their careers in the government or private sectors and who, over a substantial period of time, have provided outstanding and inspiring mentorship of professional colleagues or students.

The Kenneth C. Spengler Award
The Kenneth C. Spengler Award

The Kenneth C. Spengler Award is presented to an individual, team, or organization whose efforts have contributed to the growth of the weather, water, and climate enterprise while materially fostering a sense of community and creating synergistic linkages among the public, private, and academic sectors, as well as the user community.

The Charles L. Mitchell Award
The Charles L. Mitchell Award

The Charles L. Mitchell Award is given in recognition of long-term service by individuals engaged in weather forecasting activities.

The Carl-Gustaf Rossby Research Medal
The Carl-Gustaf Rossby Research Medal

The Carl-Gustaf Rossby Research Medal is presented to individuals on the basis of outstanding contributions to the understanding of the structure or behavior of the atmosphere.

The Clarence Leroy Meisinger Award - Early Career
The Clarence Leroy Meisinger Award - Early Career

The Clarence Leroy Meisinger Award is given to an individual in recognition of research achievement that concerns the observation, theory, and modeling of atmospheric motions on all scales.

The Editor's Award

The Editor’s Award is given to an individual for outstanding service to the journals, the Glossary of Meteorology, and the Meteorological Monographs.

The Louis J. Battan Author's Award - Adult
The Louis J. Battan Author's Award - Adult

The Louis J. Battan Author’s Award, Adult, is presented to the author(s) of an outstanding book on the atmospheric and related sciences of a technical or non-technical nature published within the last three years, with consideration to those books that foster public understanding of meteorology in adult audiences.

The Award for Outstanding Services by a Corporation

The Award for Outstanding Services by a Corporation is granted to a corporation for contributions to the advancement of the atmospheric and related sciences or their application.

Prior to 2018, The Award for Outstanding Services by a Corporation to Meteorology.

The Cleveland Abbe Award For Distinguished Service to Atmospheric Science
The Cleveland Abbe Award for Distinguished Service to the Atmospheric and Related Sciences

The Cleveland Abbe Award for Distinguished Service to the Atmospheric and Related Sciences by an Individual is presented on the basis of activities that have materially contributed to the progress of the atmospheric and related sciences or to the application of the atmospheric and related sciences to general, social, economic, or humanitarian welfare.

The Edward N. Lorenz Teaching Excellence Award (Prior to January 2013, The Teaching Excellence Award)
The Edward N. Lorenz Teaching Excellence Award

The Edward N. Lorenz Teaching Excellence Award is to be given annually to an individual in recognition of sustained outstanding teaching and mentoring at the undergraduate and/or graduate or post-doctoral levels and the impact this individual has had on students.

Prior to January 2013, The Teaching Excellence Award.

The Louis J. Battan Author's Award - K-12
The Louis J. Battan Author's Award - K-12

The Louis J. Battan Author’s Award, K-12, is presented to the author(s) of outstanding learning materials or book published within the last three years that fosters the understanding of atmospheric and related sciences in K-12 audiences.

The Hydrologic Sciences Medal

The Hydrologic Sciences Medal is granted to researchers who make outstanding contributions to scientific knowledge in hydrology, hydrometeorology, and/or hydroclimatology, including interactions between the land surface and the atmosphere. It represents the highest award the Society can bestow upon an individual in the hydrologic sciences. The award is in the form of a medallion.

The Henry G. Houghton Award - Early Career
The Henry G. Houghton Award - Early Career

The Henry G. Houghton Award is given to an individual in recognition of research achievement in the fields of physical meteorology, physical climatology, atmospheric chemistry, or hydrology.

The Joanne Simpson Tropical Meteorology Research Award
The Joanne Simpson Tropical Meteorology Research Award

The Joanne Simpson Tropical Meteorology Research Award is granted to researchers who make outstanding contributions to advancing the understanding of the physics and dynamics of the tropical atmosphere. Nominations are considered by the STAC Committee on Tropical Meteorology and Tropical Cyclones, which makes a recommendation for final approval by AMS Council.

The Henry Stommel Research Medal
The Henry Stommel Research Medal

The Henry Stommel Research Medal is granted to researchers in recognition of outstanding contributions to the advancement of the understanding of the dynamics and physics of the ocean.

The Syukuro Manabe Climate Research Award
The Syukuro Manabe Climate Research Award

The Syukuro Manabe Climate Research Award is presented to individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the fundamental understanding of Earth’s climate system.

Nominations are considered by a committee of seven members, including the chair of the STAC Climate Variability and Change Committee (CVC), who will lead the committee; three other members of the CVC; and three at-large members selected by the STAC Commissioner, to serve up to three-year terms, to help ensure research across the breadth of Earth’s climate system is represented.  The committee makes a recommendation for final approval by AMS Council.

The Award for Distinguished Science Journalism in the Atmospheric and Related Sciences

The Award for Distinguished Science Journalism in the Atmospheric and Related Sciences recognizes outstanding science journalism about scientific discoveries, principles, advances, and impacts in all media outlets including radio, television, film, newspaper, magazine, social media, and online. The award embraces a broad definition of journalism including, but not limited to reporting, interviewing, humorous blogging, and opinion or commentary pieces, as long as they convey strong, accurate science.

The Nicholas P. Fofonoff Award - Early Career
The Nicholas P. Fofonoff Award - Early Career

The Nicholas P. Fofonoff Award is to be given to an individual in recognition of research achievement in the field of physical oceanography.

The Award for an Exceptional Specific Prediction

The Award for an Exceptional Specific Prediction is given to one or more individuals in recognition of an exceptional prediction of one or more significant events.

The Award for Early-Career Professional Achievement

The Award for Early-Career Professional Achievement recognizes early-career individuals who have demonstrated excellence in their profession. Their work should reflect a deep understanding of their expertise area and its application. 

The Verner E. Suomi Technology Medal
The Verner E. Suomi Technology Medal

The Verner E. Suomi Technology Medal is granted to individuals in recognition of highly significant technological achievement in the atmospheric or related oceanic and hydrologic sciences.

The Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Advance of Applied Meteorology

The Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Advance of Applied Meteorology is granted to an individual for contributions to the direct application of meteorological or climatological knowledge to the fulfillment of industrial or agricultural needs or in research and development of scientific knowledge, which can meet such needs.

The Henry T. Harrison Award for Outstanding Contributions by a Consulting Meteorologist
The Henry T. Harrison Award for Outstanding Contributions by a Consulting Meteorologist

The Henry T. Harrison Award for Outstanding Contributions by a Consulting Meteorologist was established to recognize a consulting meteorologist for outstanding contributions to the profession, clients, and society.

The Sverdrup Gold Medal
The Sverdrup Gold Medal

The Sverdrup Gold Medal is granted to researchers who make outstanding contributions to the scientific knowledge of interactions between the oceans and the atmosphere.

The Jule G. Charney Medal
The Jule G. Charney Medal

The Jule G. Charney Medal is granted to individuals in recognition of highly significant research or development achievement in the atmospheric or hydrologic sciences.

The Charles E. Anderson Award
The Charles E. Anderson Award

The Charles E. Anderson Award is given to an individual in recognition of outstanding contributions to the promotion of diversity in the atmospheric or related sciences and broader communities through education and community service.

The Warren Washington Research and Leadership Medal
The Warren Washington Research and Leadership Medal

The Warren Washington Research and Leadership Medal is presented to individuals who are recognized for the combination of highly significant research and distinguished scientific leadership in the atmospheric and related sciences.

The Francis W. Reichelderfer Award
The Francis W. Reichelderfer Award

The Francis W. Reichelderfer Award is given in recognition of distinguished contributions to the provision of operational environmental services to the public.

The Helmut E. Landsberg Award
The Helmut E. Landsberg Award

The Helmut E. Landsberg Award recognizes an individual or team for exemplary contributions to the fields of urban meteorology, climatology, or hydrology, including, but not restricted to, achievements through measurements or modeling that provide an improved understanding of atmospheric processes in urban environments, enhanced urban meteorological or air quality forecasting capabilities, advances in identifying and quantifying beneficial and adverse impacts in urban areas, or in recognition of service or applications in the field.

The Award for Outstanding Achievement in Biometeorology

The Award for Outstanding Achievement in Biometeorology is given to an individual who has made outstanding contributions to the theory, teaching, and/or application of knowledge about interactions between the atmosphere and biological systems.

Banner I. Miller Award
Banner I. Miller Award

The Banner I. Miller Award is given for an outstanding contribution to the science of hurricane and tropical weather forecasting published in a journal with international circulation during the 48 months prior to the deadline for nominations. 

The Award for Outstanding Contributions to Boundary-Layer Meteorology

The Award for Outstanding Contributions to Boundary-Layer Meteorology is conferred to an individual who has made exceptional contributions to the fundamental understanding and/or applications of air flow and turbulence in the atmospheric boundary layer, its exchanges with underlying surfaces, or its pivotal role in the Earth system.

Special Award

Special Awards are presented to individuals, teams of individuals, or organizations not appropriately recognized by more specifically defined awards and who have made important contributions to the science or practice of meteorology or related aspects of oceanography or hydrology, or to the Society.

The June Bacon-Bercey Award for Broadcast Meteorology
The June Bacon-Bercey Award for Broadcast Meteorology

(prior to 2021, The Award for Broadcast Meteorology)

The June Bacon-Bercey Award for Broadcast Meteorology recognizes a broadcast meteorologist for sustained long-term contributions to the community, or for outstanding work during a specific weather event. Nominations must be made in writing by an individual or group, and if possible, should be accompanied by an example(s) of the individual's work. Single event nominations must be based on extraordinary work during a demanding weather event. Although the Award is normally intended for an individual, it may be awarded in recognition of a team effort under special circumstances.

Nominations are considered by the Professional Affairs Commission’s Board on Broadcast Meteorology, which makes a recommendation for final approval by AMS Council.

The Award for Excellence in Science Reporting by a Broadcast Meteorologist

The Award for Excellence in Science Reporting by a Broadcast Meteorologist is open to all AMS Certified Broadcast Meteorologists and AMS Sealholders. The award is for excellence in showcasing station scientist material that is accessible and interesting to the general public, recognizing that an informed, scientifically literate population is essential for meaningful public discourse and decision-making. Excellence can be demonstrated through a single report or series or an overall body of work. Material can be either on-air, online, or within public and professional speaking engagements. Short television or radio pieces, in-depth stories, and recurring segments are all eligible. Those who promote station scientist messages within blog content and presentations, both public and within professional conferences, are also eligible. The award honors individuals rather than institutions. The award is presented at the AMS Annual Meeting and is also acknowledged at the AMS Conference on Broadcast Meteorology.

Local Chapter of the Year Award

The Local Chapter of the Year Award is presented to recognize chapters for their efforts to support chapter membership and its growth, their community through educational outreach and service, and the national Society through volunteerism and other activities. The award consists of a banner for the chapter and a certificate for each serving officer.

Student Chapter of the Year Award

The Student Chapter of the Year Award is presented to recognize chapters for their efforts to support chapter membership and its growth, their community through educational outreach and service, and the national Society through volunteerism and other activities. The award consists of a banner for the chapter and a certificate for each serving officer.