Chinese scientists honored with American Meteorological Society awards

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 at Fudan University's Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences, 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 recognized for his fundamental contributions to understanding Asian monsoon variability in connection with ocean-atmosphere interactions in the Northwest Pacific and coupled modes such as the El Nino-Southern Oscillation, or ENSO.

The Sverdrup Gold Medal, established in 1964, is awarded annually to one 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 helped improve 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 advance global collaboration on monsoon research.

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

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

He also led the development of an advanced high-resolution numerical prediction platform designed to provide more precise forecasts for complex urban environments.

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

The recognition highlights the growing influence of Chinese scientists in atmospheric sciences, according to the China Meteorological Administration.