PNNL

Yun Qian, an Earth scientist and Laboratory Fellow at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), was named an American Meteorological Society (AMS) Fellow. Qian will officially join the ranks of AMS Fellows in 2024. Fellows will be honored at the 104th AMS annual meeting that will take place from January 28 through February 1 in Baltimore, Maryland. The AMS Awards and Honors program recognizes outstanding individuals and organizations of the weather, water, and climate community.

“Yun is thoroughly deserving of this honor,” said Larry Berg, Director of the Atmospheric, Climate, and Earth Sciences Division at PNNL. “Yun is a brilliant scientist, thoughtful mentor, and generous member of the atmospheric sciences community.”

With over 13,000 members, AMS is a global community focused on weather, water, and climate science. AMS publishes technical journals, provides educational resources for elementary through high school students, and promotes the understanding of science to a range of audiences.

AMS Fellows are selected by a committee of not more than two-tenths of one percent of all AMS members after a nomination and recommendation process. These individuals represent established scientists who have made substantial contributions to weather, water, and/or climate science over an extended period of time.

“I’m absolutely thrilled to be an AMS Fellow,” said Qian. “AMS has been an important part of my career so far, from meetings and publications to committee work. I’m honored to be in the company of the other Fellows.”

Qian has a broad range of research interests across atmospheric science and climate modeling. He has devoted years of service on AMS committees, including as the Chair of the Committee on the Coastal Environment.

At PNNL since 2000, Qian currently leads over 80 staff and scientists the Earth System Modeling group. His research involves developing and using models of the atmosphere and land surface to understand how humans influence the environment. Recent work has focused on modeling coastal areas undergoing urbanization and human influence. These highly populated areas are some of the most vulnerable to the effects of climate change.