American Meteorological Society announces 2026 weather, water, and climate honorees

Awardees, new AMS Fellows, and Honorary Members will be recognized at the AMS 106th Annual Meeting.

2025-08-27

(Press-News.org) The American Meteorological Society announces its 2026 Awards and Honors, recognizing outstanding contributions to the weather, water, and climate community by individuals and organizations. 2026 recipients will be honored at the 106th AMS Annual Meeting in Houston, 25–29 January, 2026.

“Through its awards AMS recognizes some of the many, many exceptional people working across the Weather, Water, and Climate Enterprise to benefit humanity,” says AMS Past President Anjuli Bamzai, chair of the AMS Awards Oversight Committee. “Even as our community is facing a time of unprecedented upheaval, the role we play in society remains crucial and only grows in importance. From emergency managers and meteorologists on the front lines alerting the public about disasters like Hurricane Helene, to educators and mentors, to researchers making transformative advances in understanding — through empirical analysis and modeling — our atmosphere and its connections within the Earth System, all of our honorees have made vital contributions. We recognize and honor their dedication and passion. Congratulations to this year’s honorees, and thank you to the nominators and members of the Awards Oversight Committee.”

Read about the AMS honorees for 2026 below.

Honorary Members AMS Honorary Members are “persons of acknowledged preeminence in the atmospheric or related oceanic or hydrologic sciences, either through their own contributions to the sciences or their application or through furtherance of the advance of those sciences in some other way.” The following people are named AMS Honorary Members:

Stanley Benjamin Fred Carr Claire Parkinson Science and Technology Medals THE CARL-GUSTAF ROSSBY RESEARCH MEDAL

Awarded to Wayne Schubert, for fundamental and sustained research on the theoretical understanding of moist atmospheric processes, hurricanes, and geophysical fluid dynamics and their representation in numerical models.

THE HYDROLOGIC SCIENCES MEDAL

Awarded to Martha Anderson, for groundbreaking research combining satellite remote sensing and modeling of soil-plant-atmosphere interactions to solve problems in hydrology, agriculture, and climate.

THE SVERDRUP GOLD MEDAL
Awarded to Zhengyu Liu, for fundamental and transdisciplinary advances in our understanding of the dynamics of the coupled ocean–atmosphere system in the present, past, and future.

THE VERNER E. SUOMI TECHNOLOGY MEDAL

Awarded to Zhanqing Li, for fundamental contributions in the application of remote sensing to quantifying Earth's energy budget, including the impacts of aerosols and their interactions with clouds.

THE JULE G. CHARNEY MEDAL

Awarded to Tapio Schneider, for pioneering research on atmospheric dynamics and climate change and for leading a pathbreaking climate model development effort.

THE WARREN WASHINGTON RESEARCH AND LEADERSHIP MEDAL

Awarded to William Brune, for transformational advances in the chemistry of the upper and lower atmosphere, critical leadership at multiple levels, and mentoring of diverse groups.

Science and Technology Prizes THE JAGADISH SHUKLA EARTH SYSTEM PREDICTABILITY PRIZE

Awarded to Siegfried Schubert, for groundbreaking insights into the variability and predictability of droughts and other extremes in the climate system.

THE DAVID AND LUCILLE ATLAS REMOTE SENSING PRIZE
Awarded to Chandra V. Chandrasekar, for advancing remote-sensing measurements of precipitation and applications of weather radar.

Service Awards THE CHARLES FRANKLIN BROOKS AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING SERVICE TO THE SOCIETY

Awarded to Wendy Schreiber-Abshire, for decades of outstanding and enthusiastic service to the Society with significant contributions in promoting earth science education and making AMS a more inclusive Society.

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

Awarded to Renee McPherson, for extraordinary efforts to develop programs, tools, and relationships to translate weather and climate information for use by communities.

Teaching and Mentorship Awards THE EDWARD N. LORENZ TEACHING EXCELLENCE AWARD

Awarded to Jonathan Kahl, for transformative teaching and mentoring, seminal contributions to education literature, and for implementing international learning experiences that inspired generations of atmospheric scientists.

THE ROBERT H. AND JOANNE SIMPSON MENTORSHIP AWARD

Awarded to Harold Brooks, for steadfast mentorship of multiple generations of scholars, especially students, and those working in interdisciplinary and international arenas.

Awards for Outstanding Contributions THE KENNETH C. SPENGLER AWARD

Awarded to Harinder P.S. Ahluwalia, for facilitating the growth of the weather, water, and climate enterprise and for forging mutually beneficial connections across sectors.

THE JOANNE SIMPSON TROPICAL METEOROLOGY RESEARCH AWARD

Awarded to Adam Sobel, for advancing understanding of tropical meteorology through transformative approaches, including the weak temperature gradient approximation and moisture-mode theory.

THE SYUKURO MANABE CLIMATE RESEARCH AWARD

Awarded to Bette Otto-Bliesner, for groundbreaking contributions to modeling past climate change across time scales and transformative insights into dynamic interactions within Earth’s climate system.

THE AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION TO THE ADVANCE OF APPLIED METEOROLOGY

Awarded to Timothy Loftus, for pioneering AI methods to create value-added meteorological datasets, significantly enhancing business and stakeholder decision-making and operational efficiency.

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

Awarded to Timothy Hall, CCM, for achievements supporting the public sector, leadership strengthening the Certified Consulting Meteorologist program, and a career of service to the meteorological community.

THE CHARLES E. ANDERSON AWARD

Awarded to Bradford Barrett, for fostering collaborations through courageous personal engagement with scientists and students in both the U.S. and Latin America.

THE HELMUT E. LANDSBERG AWARD

Awarded to Elie Bou-Zeid, for outstanding contributions to understanding urban climates and transports, including the development of large-eddy-simulation models.

THE AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN BIOMETEOROLOGY

Awarded to Lawrence Hipps, for many insightful and innovative contributions as a scientist, teacher, and mentor that address the fundamental and practical challenges facing the biometeorological community.

THE AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTIONS TO BOUNDARY-LAYER METEOROLOGY
Awarded to John Finnigan, for transformative contributions to our understanding of surface and boundary layer flows over vegetated and complex terrain through innovative uses of observations and simulations.

THE FRANCIS W. REICHELDERFER AWARD

Awarded to Michael Cosh for advances in large-scale in situ monitoring and remote sensing validation of soil moisture, facilitating more effective weather information for the public.

THE BANNER I. MILLER AWARD

Awarded to Xiaomin Chen, Andrew Hazelton, Frank Marks, Ghassan Alaka, and Chunxi Zhang, for developing a high-wind boundary-layer parameterization scheme that advances the intensity, including rapid intensification, and forecast skill of NOAA’s operational hurricane forecast model, HAFS.

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

Awarded to Lois Parshley, for translating Earth system science into impactful reporting that reveals changing climate impacts on human lives in vulnerable and underreported regions.

Broadcast Meteorology Awards THE JUNE BACON-BERCEY AWARD FOR BROADCAST METEOROLOGY

Awarded to Andrew Humphrey, for extensive contributions to the field of broadcast meteorology — including dedication to promoting diversity in the weather community — over an expansive, nearly 30-year career.

THE AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN SCIENCE REPORTING BY A BROADCAST METEOROLOGIST

Awarded to Elisa Raffa, for unique and relatable storytelling over the last decade that captures climate change impacts on a broad range of subjects affecting multiple audiences.

Early-Career Awards THE CLARENCE LEROY MEISINGER AWARD

Awarded to Timothy Cronin, for advances in fundamental understanding of the roles of atmospheric convection and radiation in climate.

Awarded to Malte Stuecker for fundamental advances to our understanding of climate dynamics and its impacts.

THE AWARD FOR EARLY-CAREER PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENT

Awarded to Carlos Martinez, for pioneering research, transformative leadership in bridging science and society, and exceptional service fostering inclusive dialogue and action across weather, water, and climate enterprise.

THE NICHOLAS P. FOFONOFF AWARD

Awarded to Jacob Wenegrat, for pioneering insights into the role of topography, boundary layers, and air-sea interactions in submesoscale ocean dynamics.

THE HENRY G. HOUGHTON AWARD

Awarded to Dan Li, for foundational contributions to understanding how urbanization interacts with the climate system.

Forecaster Awards THE AWARD FOR AN EXCEPTIONAL SPECIFIC PREDICTION

Awarded to NWS Weather Prediction Center, for exceptional forecasting and messaging of Hurricane Helene's devastating flooding and associated impacts.

AMS Chapter Awards LOCAL CHAPTER OF THE YEAR AWARD

Awarded to the Chicago Chapter of the AMS, for unwavering dedication to professional development, service, education, and public awareness for meteorology and climatology.

LOCAL STUDENT CHAPTER OF THE YEAR AWARD

Awarded to the University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez Chapter, for outstanding commitment to its members, the community, and the AMS through innovative activities in service, outreach, and professional development.

Lectureship Awards The Society’s lectureships recognize outstanding mid-career scientists. Lectures will be delivered at AMS meetings in 2026.

THE WALTER ORR ROBERTS LECTURER: Armin Sorooshian

For outstanding contributions to the development of instrumentation for, new knowledge in, and novel public health applications of atmospheric chemistry and physics.

THE ROBERT E. HORTON LECTURER IN HYDROLOGY: Amir AghaKouchak

For fundamental and innovative contributions to understanding and characterizing hydrologic extremes and compound hazards under a changing climate.

THE BERNHARD HAURWITZ MEMORIAL LECTURER: Tiffany Shaw

For fundamental advances in climate dynamics and understanding of how atmospheric circulation responds to climate change.

Editor's Awards The Editor’s Award is given to an individual for outstanding service to the AMS journals, the Glossary of Meteorology, and the Meteorological Monographs. Services may include providing exceptional reviews in a timely fashion, providing consistently helpful reviews, or providing reviews of difficult submissions, as well as other assistance to the publication. Editor’s award winners for 2026 are:

Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society

Sharanya Majumdar Andrew Molthan Artificial Intelligence for the Earth Sciences

Daniel Rothenberg Journal of Applied Meteorology and Climatology

Scott Landolt Gert-Jan Duine Journal of the Atmospheric Sciences

Rosimar Rios-Berrios Pablo Zurita-Gotor Journal of Climate

Shoichiro Kido Osamu Miyawaki Journal of Climate AND Monthly Weather Review

Ben Schenkel Journal of Hydrometeorology

Ali Tokay Journal of Physical Oceanography

Mara Freilich Journal of Atmospheric and Oceanic Technology

Fraser King Monthly Weather Review

James Marquis Weather and Forecasting AND Monthly Weather Review

Matthew Brown Weather and Forecasting

Feimin Zhang Weather, Climate, and Society

Shubhechchha Sharma Cross-Journal

Steven Cavallo New AMS Fellows AMS Fellows are elected by the AMS Council based on “outstanding contributions to the atmospheric or related oceanic or hydrologic sciences or their applications during a substantial period of years." New AMS Fellows in 2026 are:

Emmanouil Anagnostou Kristen Averyt Elizabeth Barnes Mona Behl Suzana Camargo John Chiang Huilin Gao Sundararaman Gopalakrishnan Pierre Kirstetter Kimberly Klockow McClain Paul Kushner Todd Lane John Lanicci Peter May Renee McPherson Arthur J. Miller Gerald Mulvey Hisashi Nakamura Steven Quiring Jens Redemann Ramalingam Saravanan Tapio Schneider Bruce Telfeyan Darin Toohey Zhuo Wang Shaocheng Xie Xuguang Wang Learn more about AMS Awards and Honors here. View this year’s awardees online here.

About the American Meteorological Society The American Meteorological Society advances the atmospheric and related sciences, technologies, applications, and services for the benefit of society. Founded in 1919, AMS has a membership of more than 12,000 professionals, students, and weather enthusiasts. AMS publishes 12 atmospheric and related oceanic and hydrologic science journals—in print and online; sponsors more than 12 conferences annually; and offers numerous programs and services. Visit us at https://www.ametsoc.org/.

END

ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:

Transcutaneous vagal nerve stimulation for gastrointestinal disorders

2025-08-27

Imbalanced autonomic function, characterized by reduced vagal activity and sympathetic dominance, is increasingly recognized in various gastrointestinal (GI) disorders. The vagus nerve, a key component of the parasympathetic nervous system, plays a critical role in regulating upper GI motility, inflammation, and pain perception. Transcutaneous vagal nerve stimulation (tVNS) offers a non-invasive method to modulate vagal activity, presenting a promising therapeutic approach for GI conditions. This review synthesizes evidence from clinical trials on the efficacy of tVNS—including transcutaneous ...

WSU study suggests returning students didn’t drive COVID-19 outbreaks in town

2025-08-27

PULLMAN, Wash. – Across the United States, the return of students to college campuses during the COVID-19 pandemic in the fall of 2020 sparked widespread fears that local communities would be overwhelmed by the virus. While some university towns experienced surges in caseloads linked to those returning students, a new study of Pullman, Washington — home to Washington State University — found that was not the case universally. Published in the journal Epidemiology, the study found “outbreaks” ...

CURE GABA-A announces GABRA1 proof-of-concept for nanolipid particle therapy with Grann Pharmaceuticals

2025-08-27

Malibu, CA, August 26, 2025 CURE GABA-A (https://curegabaa.org/) is proud to announce a major new partnership with Grann Pharmaceuticals. CURE GABA-A is a nonprofit patient advocacy group founded by Monica Joanna Elnekaveh, mother to Eleanor Elnekaveh. Grann Pharmaceuticals has completed the initial safety regimen of RTT-1 (ELEANOR) in Eleanor as its very first patient. Together with COMBINEDBrain, Agustina Fernandez, Sarah Poliquin, Amber Freed, and Roberto Gomez, CURE GABA-A is expanding into a truly global network connecting families, researchers, and industry partners to accelerate the development of life-changing ...

Global Virus Network announces 2025 Rising Star Mentorship Program Awardees

2025-08-27

GLOBAL VIRUS NETWORK ANNOUNCES 2025 RISING STAR MENTORSHIP PROGRAM AWARDEES Five early-career virologists selected for prestigious two-year mentorship and research program Tampa, FL, August 27, 2025 – The Global Virus Network (GVN), a worldwide coalition of animal and human virologists spanning 80+ Centers of Excellence and Affiliates across more than 40 countries dedicated to advancing pandemic preparedness, announced today the five distinguished recipients of its 2025 Rising Star Mentorship Program. Now in its third cohort, the program is designed to identify and support early-career ...

SEOULTECH researchers develop smart adhesive system based on starfish for aquatic applications

2025-08-27

Soft robotics, which uses flexible and deformable materials, is an emerging field in autonomous systems. It has recently been applied to next-generation tasks such as deep-sea sampling with soft robotic grippers—requiring strong adhesion and autonomous detachment. Bioinspired adhesion offers a promising solution. In nature, gecko feet, mussel proteins, and octopus suction cups achieve efficient, reversible adhesion for underwater tasks like object pickup, movement in tight spaces, and surface attachment. Inspired by these, researchers have developed ...

SEOULTECH researchers develop smarter, more controllable hydrogel pores

2025-08-27

Hydrogels are soft, water-rich polymeric materials that can swell or shrink in response to environmental stimuli. This ability to change shape makes them valuable in miniaturized devices for flexible electronics, microrobotics, intelligent surfaces, and biomedical applications such as drug delivery. For example, hydrogel pores can be engineered to trap and release tiny drug particles on demand. However, most current hydrogel pores use circular designs, which limit control over shape change and lead to unpredictable, slow actuation. They often close unevenly and recover poorly, reducing their precision and reliability. To address ...

New material design strategy unlocks magnetic tunability in quasicrystal approximants

2025-08-27

In stoichiometric compounds (compounds with fixed ratios of elements), the elemental ratios are dictated by chemical stability, which constrains how much the composition, and consequently the number of valence electron-per-atom (e/a) ratio, can be adjusted. Tuning e/a has been proved to be a promising strategy to architecture magnetic properties in many intermetallic compounds, especially those with complex structures including quasicrystals (QCs) and their structurally related approximant crystals (ACs). Owing to their structural complexity, their electronic properties are sensitive to the number of valence electron-per-atom (e/a). Stoichiometric ...

SEOULTECH researchers develop game-changing wireless technology that could transform mobile communications

2025-08-27

In recent decades, communication technology has advanced at unprecedented speed. A key breakthrough is semantic communications—a shift from transmitting raw data to conveying semantic meaning. For example, in image transmission, meaning takes priority over pixel-level accuracy. By integrating user tasks into the communication process, semantic communications improve both efficiency and user experience. While deep learning has accelerated progress, a transition from analog to digital modulation is essential for compatibility ...

Online therapy can help treat bulimia, offering hope for women lacking access to care

2025-08-27

Bulimia nervosa (BN), or bulimia, is a mental health disorder characterized by binge eating and a fear of gaining weight, which drives people to try and avoid weight gain, usually by compensatory (vomiting etc.). Over time, this binge–purge cycle harms both physical and mental health of the individual, leading to problems like dehydration, low blood pressure, depression, and even self-harm. BN mostly affects young women and often begins in their teenage years, with studies showing that up to three percent of women may experience BN at some point in their lives, putting them at higher risk if left untreated. BN is thought to develop ...

Reinventing fiber-based pressure sensors

2025-08-27

Pressure sensors are crucial in many emerging applications, but traditional designs are often bulky or inflexible. In a recent study, researchers from Japan developed a fiber-shaped pressure sensor that overcomes this limitation by increasing—rather than decreasing—its resistance when compressed. Owing to a unique multi-walled conductive core made from graphene nanoplatelets, these fibers could enable fine-tuned tactile sensing for next-generation smart textiles and robotic grippers. The need for pressure sensors has been steadily increasing across diverse applications, from robotic grippers that need accurate tactile ...

American Meteorological Society announces 2026 weather, water, and climate honorees

ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:

LAST 30 PRESS RELEASES: