2022 Awards and Honors Recipients

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 2022 recipients who will receive their award or honor at the 102nd AMS Annual Meeting in Houston, Texas. 

The AMS 2022 Awards Brochure is available, which includes bios of the recipients.

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 Recipients  | Lecturers Editor's Award Recipients  |  Fellows

Honorary Members

Harry Glahn

Director, MDL/National Weather Service (retired), NWS, Silver Spring, Maryland

Margaret Leinen

Director, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, UC San Diego, La Jolla, California

Soroosh Sorooshian

Professor, University of California-Irvine, Irvine, California

Award Recipients

THE CARL-GUSTAF ROSSBY RESEARCH MEDAL

Venkatachalam Ramaswamy

Director, NOAA/ Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey

For original and highly influential leadership providing fundamental insight into radiative-climate interaction among greenhouse gases, aerosols and clouds

THE HYDROLOGIC SCIENCES MEDAL

L. Ruby Leung

Chief Scientist, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, Washington

For ingenious, groundbreaking contributions which enhance the modeling of land-atmosphere interactions and the hydroclimate

THE HENRY STOMMEL RESEARCH MEDAL

M. Susan Lozier

Physical Oceanographer, Georgia Tech College of Sciences, Atlanta, Georgia

For theoretical, observational, modeling contributions and leadership in significantly improving our understanding of Atlantic Ocean circulation

THE VERNER E. SUOMI TECHNOLOGY MEDAL

Steven Rutledge

Professor, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado

For exceptional contributions to the development, innovation, and application of radar meteorology and atmospheric electricity technologies

THE SVERDRUP GOLD MEDAL

Shuyi Chen

Professor, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington

For fundamental contributions to understanding of tropical air-sea interactions through innovative use of observations and coupled atmosphere-wave-ocean modeling

THE JULE G. CHARNEY MEDAL

George Kiladis

Research Meteorologist, Physical Sciences Laboratory, NOAA, Boulder, Colorado

For original, insightful contributions in understanding the codependency of tropical dynamics and convection

THE WARREN WASHINGTON RESEARCH AND LEADERSHIP MEDAL

Bruce Wielicki

Senior Scientist, NASA (retired), Hampton, Virginia

For sustained excellence in research and leadership in the understanding and measurement of the Earth’s energy budget and climate

THE DAVID AND LUCILLE ATLAS REMOTE SENSING PRIZE

Kelly Chance

Senior Physicist, Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, Harvard & Smithsonian, Cambridge, Massachusetts

For seminal contributions and extensive collaboration in satellite instrumentation, retrieval algorithm physics, spectroscopy, and measurements to advance the remote sensing of atmospheric trace gases

THE CHARLES FRANKLIN BROOKS AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING SERVICE TO THE SOCIETY

Pamela Emch

Director, Emch & Associates, Redondo Beach, California

For over twenty years of sustained spirited and exemplary leadership in the AMS Weather, Water, and Climate Enterprise Commission and the entire weather community

THE CLEVELAND ABBE AWARD FOR DISTINGUISHED SERVICE TO THE ATMOSPHERIC AND RELATED SCIENCES

Paul Newman

Chief Scientist, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland

For sustained leadership and service to science resulting in strengthened policy development for the Montreal Protocol, including contributions to the Kigali Amendment

THE ROBERT H. AND JOANNE SIMPSON MENTORSHIP AWARD

Thomas Windham, Jr.

Senior Advisor, UCAR-NCAR SOARS, Boulder, Colorado

For visionary and dedicated mentorship of numerous individuals, many from diverse backgrounds, to assist them to realize their full potential

THE EDWARD N. LORENZ TEACHING EXCELLENCE AWARD

Don Thomas Conlee

Professor, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas

For demonstrated excellence and devotion to cultivating student success by providing unique hands-on experiences with meteorological instrumentation, immersive international forecasting experiences, and sustained career mentoring

THE KENNETH C. SPENGLER AWARD

Renee Leduc

Founder & Principal, Narayan Strategy, Arlington, Virginia

For fundamental contributions and leadership connecting the weather enterprise, AMS membership, international community, and policymakers, as well as enhancing awareness of radio spectrum management issues

THE JOANNE SIMPSON TROPICAL METEOROLOGY RESEARCH AWARD

Frank Marks, Jr.
Meteorologist, NOAA/AOML, Hurricane Research Division, Miami, Florida

For outstanding contributions to the understanding and prediction of tropical cyclones through scholarship, field contributions, and community leadership

THE SYUKURO MANABE CLIMATE RESEARCH AWARD

Cecilia Bitz
Professor and Chair, Atmospheric Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington

For fundamental contributions to polar climate science, including numerical modeling, its role in the global climate system, and causes and consequences of polar climate change

THE AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION TO THE ADVANCE OF APPLIED METEOROLOGY

Prabhat Kumar

Professor, MIT World Peace University, Pune, India

For innovative concepts in developing the Pre-Hail Detection Algorithm and cloud seeding techniques to enhance weather modification and mitigation to agriculture and other fields

THE HENRY T. HARRISON AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTIONS BY A CONSULTING METEOROLOGIST

John Toohey-Morales, CBM, CCM

Chief Meteorologist, WTVJ NBC6, Miramar, Florida

For a career of exemplary service as a Certified Consulting Meteorologist

THE CHARLES E. ANDERSON AWARD

Melissa Burt

Assistant Dean for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado

For enduring efforts to broaden awareness, spark creativity, and expand opportunities, while promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion within the geosciences community and beyond

THE HELMUT E. LANDSBERG AWARD

Petra Klein

Executive Associate Dean, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma

For decades of sustained leadership in the field of urban meteorology and exemplary contribution to experimental investigation of flow and turbulence characteristics in urban areas

THE AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN BIOMETEOROLOGY

Rong Fu

Professor, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California

For elucidating the critical role of tropical biosphere feedback mechanisms, exceptional mentorship of underrepresented groups in science, and extraordinary service to scientific societies and policymakers

BANNER I. MILLER AWARD

John Knaff

Research Scientist, NOAA Center for Satellite Applications and Research/CIRA Colorado State Univeristy, Fort Collins, Colorado

For groundbreaking work in developing a new application to significantly improve the prediction of rapid intensification of tropical cyclones in the Western North Pacific

BANNER I. MILLER AWARD

Kate Musgrave

Research Scientist, Cooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado

For groundbreaking work in developing a new application to significantly improve the prediction of rapid intensification of tropical cyclones in the Western North Pacific

BANNER I. MILLER AWARD

Charles Sampson

Meteorologist, NRL Monterey, California

For groundbreaking work in developing a new application to significantly improve the prediction of rapid intensification of tropical cyclones in the Western North Pacific

SPECIAL AWARD

The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality, Wildfire Smoke Forecast

Arizona Department of Environmental Quality

For critical ground-breaking work creating and fielding a platform providing for the health and safety of Arizona residents with early and ongoing wildfire smoke forecasts

 

THE LOUIS J. BATTAN AUTHOR’S AWARD—ADULT

Tim Woollings

Professor, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK

For "Jet Stream", a very readable and scientifically accurate account of large-scale atmospheric dynamics, told from the perspective of a drifting weather balloon

THE LOUIS J. BATTAN AUTHOR’S AWARD—K–12

Jessica Stoller-Conrad

Science Writer and Author, Pasadena, California

For “The Big Book of Weather”, which balances accessible, scientific descriptions with visual and experiential learning, and motivates budding investigators to understand the hows and whys of atmospheric phenomena

THE AWARD FOR DISTINGUISHED SCIENCE JOURNALISM IN THE ATMOSPHERIC AND RELATED SCIENCES

Heather Goss

Editor-in-Chief, Eos, American Geophysical Union, Washington, DC

For illustrating in a scientifically accurate way how advances in lightning detection positively impact public safety through improved forecasting and verification of tornadoes and wildfires

THE JUNE BACON-BERCEY AWARD FOR BROADCAST METEOROLOGY

Danielle Armbrecht

Chief Meteorologist, WKRN-TV 441, Nashville, Tennessee

For exceptional life-saving coverage during the March 2-3, 2020 Middle Tennessee tornado outbreak and sustained efforts to educate the community about severe weather safety

THE AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN SCIENCE REPORTING BY A BROADCAST METEOROLOGIST

Anthony Yanez

Meteorologist, KPRC2 Television, Houston, Texas

For combining journalism, science, and advanced technology to explain and gain interest in weather and ocean topics pertaining to Southern California

THE CLARENCE LEROY MEISINGER AWARD

Isla Simpson

Scientist, Climate and Global Dynamics Laboratory, National Center for Atmospheric Research, Boulder, Colorado

For advancing scientific understanding through studies of the fundamental mechanisms that govern tropospheric and stratospheric circulation influences on surface climate variability and change

THE AWARD FOR EARLY-CAREER PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENT

Joseph Trujillo Falcón

Graduate Research Assistant, CIWRO/NOAA NSSL/NWS SPC, Norman, Oklahoma

For innovative and extensive collaboration in risk communication for Spanish-speaking communities and leadership as an exceptional student member across multiple AMS boards and committees

THE NICHOLAS P. FOFONOFF AWARD—EARLY CAREER

Andrew Stewart

Associate Professor, University of California, Los Angeles, California

For his pioneering research discoveries regarding the dynamics of oceanic currents, eddies, and sea ice in polar regions

THE HENRY G. HOUGHTON AWARD—EARLY CAREER

Mark Zelinka

Atmospheric Scientist, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California

For innovative advances in understanding the critical involvement of clouds to achieve a better understanding of climate interactions

THE CHARLES L. MITCHELL AWARD

Daniel Kottlowski

Senior Meteorologist, AccuWeather Inc., State College, Pennsylvania

For exceptional forecast services provided to stakeholders for over 40 years, as exemplified through his unwavering support of the broadcast sector and training of meteorologists

LOCAL STUDENT CHAPTER OF THE YEAR AWARD

Northern Vermont University - Lyndon

NVU - Lyndon AMS/NWA, [email protected]

For finding new and creative ways to provide community service, professional development, and social opportunities to its members

Lecturers

THE WALTER ORR ROBERTS LECTURER

Allison Steiner

Professor, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan

For outstanding research in biosphere-atmosphere interactions and their influence on atmospheric chemistry, weather, and climate

THE BERNHARD HAURWITZ MEMORIAL LECTURER

Isla Simpson

Scientist, Climate and Global Dynamics Laboratory, National Center for Atmospheric Research, Boulder, Colorado

For novel approaches in advancing fundamental knowledge of the dynamics of stratosphere-troposphere coupling and the response of atmospheric circulation and variability to climate forcing

THE ROBERT E. HORTON LECTURER IN HYDROLOGY

Francina Dominguez

Associate Professor, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois

For outstanding contributions to terrestrial hydrometeorology and expanding understanding of land-atmosphere interactions, significantly closing the gap between the atmospheric and hydrologic sciences

Editor's Award Winners

Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society

Robert Trapp

Professor and Head, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois

For numerous thorough and insightful reviews that resulted in substantially improved manuscripts

Journal of Applied Meteorology and Climatology

Sharon Zhong

Professor, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan

For providing multiple, timely, thorough reviews and thoughtful advice as an Associate Editor

Journal of Atmospheric Sciences

Manuela Lehner

Postdoc Researcher, University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
 
For providing constructive and thorough reviews that improved the organization, clarity, and content of manuscripts

Journal of Atmospheric Sciences

Maria Gehne

Associate Scientist, CIRES, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado

For multiple concise, thoughtful, and thorough reviews

Journal of Climate

Russell Blackport

Postdoc Research Scientist, Canadian Centre for Climate Modelling and Analysis, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Victoria, Canada

For consistently delivering detailed, informative and timely reviews

Journal of Climate

Antonietta Capotondi

Physical Oceanographer, University of Colorado, CIRES and NOAA/PSL, Boulder, Colorado

For numerous high-quality and thorough reviews

Journal of Climate

Kazuaki Nishii

Associate Professor, Graduate School of Bioresources, Mie University, Mie, Japan

For particularly insightful and careful reviews

Journal of Hydrometeorology

Romina Ruscica

Research Assistant, Research Centre for the Sea and the Atmosphere, CIMA, Buenos Aires, Argentina

For thorough and insightful reviewing of multiple Journal of Hydrometeorology manuscripts

Journal of Hydrometeorology

Lawrence Mudryk

Research Scientist, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Toronto, Canada

For thorough and constructive reviews of highly technical manuscripts

Journal of Physical Oceanography

Leah Johnson

Postdoc Research Associate, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island

For several very perceptive and helpful reviews in a variety of sub-disciplines

Journal of Atmospheric and Oceanic Technology

Bruce Ingleby

Senior Scientist, European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts, Reading, UK

For timely and excellent reviews provided over the years

Monthly Weather Review

Andrew Winters

Assistant Professor, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado

For consistently providing constructive, insightful and timely reviews for a large number of manuscripts

Weather and Forecasting/Monthly Weather Review/Journal of Applied Meteorology and Climatology

Ryan Lagerquist

Research Scientist, CIRA and NOAA GSL/NOAA's Global Systems Laboratory (GSL), Boulder, Colorado

For contributing numerous rigorous and constructive reviews in the areas of machine learning and artificial intelligence across three journals

Weather and Forecasting/Monthly Weather Review/Journal of Applied Meteorology and Climatology

John Allen

Associate Professor, Central Michigan University, Mt. Pleasant, Michigan

For contributing an exceptional number of excellent reviews spanning a broad range of scientific areas and across several AMS journals

Weather and Forecasting

Michael Brennan

Branch Chief, Hurricane Specialist Unit, NOAA/National Hurricane Center, Miami, Florida

For providing numerous superb reviews over many years in areas relating to tropical meteorology and operational prediction

Weather, Climate, and Society

Castle Williams

Social Science Contractor, Cherokee Nation Strategic Solutions, Athens, Georgia

For thoughtful and thorough reviews, always delivered from an encouraging and positive perspective

Weather, Climate, and Society

Ashlinn Quinn

Research Scientist, Berkeley Air Monitoring Group, Fort Collins, Colorado

For helping the authors write an outstanding paper by providing a review that identified the salient issues

Fellows

Dennis Baldocchi

Professor, University of California, Berkeley, California

Mian Chin

Physical Scientist, NASA/GSFC, Greenbelt, Maryland

Jennifer Collins

Professor, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida

Paul Douglas

Meteorologist, AerisWeather, Praedictix and Climatrends LLC., Eden Prairie, Minnesota

Andreas Fink

Professor, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Institute of Meteorology and Climate Research, Karlsruhe, Germany

Bob (Robert) Goldhammer

Certified Emergency Manager, International Association of Emergency Managers, Falls Church, Virginia

Stephen Harned, CCM

Stephen Harned CCM Consulting, Leland, North Carolina

Andrew Heymsfield

Senior Scientist, National Center for Atmospheric Research, Boulder, Colorado

Gerald Monroe Heymsfield

Senior Scientist, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland

Faisal Hossain

Professor, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington

Everette David Joseph

Director, National Center for Atmospheric Research, Boulder, Colorado

Troy Kimmel, Jr., CBM

Senior Lecturer, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas

Valliappa Lakshmanan

Director for Data Analytics and AI Solutions, Google LLC, Kirkland, Washington

Xin-Zhong Liang

Professor, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland

Julie Lundquist

Associate Professor, University of Colorado Boulder, Renewable and Sustainable Energy Institute, Boulder, Colorado

Gudrun Magnusdottir

Professor, University of California Irvine, Irvine, California

Sara Pryor

Professor, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York

Elizabeth Ritchie

Professor and Associate Dean (Education), University of New South Wales Canberra, Canberra, New South Wales

Hui Su

Principal Scientist, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California

Guiling Wang

Professor, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut

Qin Xu

Senior Scientist, National Severe Storms Laboratory, Norman, Oklahoma

Sepi (Sepideh) Yalda

Professor and Director of the Center for Disaster Research and Education, Millersville University, Millersville, Pennsylvania