Major US awards for 2 Chinese meteorologists

Two Chinese meteorologists have been named recipients of major awards from the American Meteorological Society, marking growing international recognition of China's contributions to climate dynamics and urban meteorology.

The AMS recently announced the recipients of its 2027 awards and honors on its official website. Zhang Renhe, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and a professor in the Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences at Fudan University, will receive the Sverdrup Gold Medal, while Miao Shiguang, president of the Institute of Urban Meteorology in Beijing, will receive the Helmut E. Landsberg Award.

Zhang was honored for his fundamental contributions to understanding Asian monsoon variability in relation to ocean-atmosphere interactions in the northwest Pacific and coupled climate modes such as the El Nino-Southern Oscillation, or ENSO.

Established in 1964, the Sverdrup Gold Medal is awarded annually to a scientist for outstanding contributions to understanding interactions among the oceans, atmosphere, cryosphere and biogeochemical processes.

Zhang has spent decades studying climate dynamics, with research spanning large-scale tropical air-sea interactions, the Asian monsoon and the meteorology of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. His work has advanced scientific understanding of the mechanisms driving climate variability across Asia and beyond.

He currently serves as co-chief scientist of the Asia-Australia-Africa monsoon international scientific program and will lead major international research initiatives proposed by China to promote global collaboration on monsoon research.

Miao will receive the Helmut E. Landsberg Award for pioneering contributions to urban meteorology, climate science and numerical modeling that have advanced weather forecasting, disaster risk reduction and urban resilience, according to the AMS.

His research has focused on both the scientific foundations and operational applications of urban weather monitoring and forecasting. He systematically revealed how urbanization alters local meteorological conditions and developed innovative multi-scale numerical modeling techniques for cities.

Miao also led the development of an advanced high-resolution numerical prediction platform that provides more accurate forecasts for complex urban environments.

Established in 2007, the Helmut E. Landsberg Award recognizes outstanding contributions to the understanding of urban atmospheric processes, the impact of urbanization, numerical modeling and precision forecasting.

The China Meteorological Administration said the awards highlight the growing international influence of Chinese scientists in atmospheric sciences.

zhaoyimeng@chinadaily.com.cn