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Atmospheric Horizons

The American Meteorological Society's Legacy in Earth Sciences: Advancing meteorological, oceanic, and hydrologic understanding for a resilient society.

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About AMS

A Century of Scientific Stewardship

The American Meteorological Society (AMS) stands as a preeminent scientific and professional organization in the United States, dedicated to the advancement and dissemination of knowledge across the atmospheric, oceanic, and hydrologic sciences. Established on December 29, 1919, by Charles F. Brooks, and formally incorporated on January 21, 1920, the AMS has cultivated a rich history of fostering scientific excellence and public understanding.

Headquarters and Reach

The AMS maintains its headquarters at 45 Beacon Street in Boston, Massachusetts, a historic building designed by Charles Bulfinch as the third Harrison Gray Otis House in 1806. This landmark was acquired and renovated by AMS in 1958, with staff relocating in 1960. Further expanding its footprint, AMS acquired the adjacent 44 Beacon Street building, also a Bulfinch design, in 2012. Additionally, the society operates an office in Washington, D.C., situated within the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) headquarters, ensuring a presence near key policy-making bodies.

Diverse Membership

With a robust membership exceeding 13,000 individuals, the AMS unites a broad spectrum of professionals and enthusiasts from nearly 100 countries. This diverse community includes weather, water, and climate scientists, practitioners, researchers, educators, students, and general enthusiasts. While initial membership was reserved for professionals and scholars, the society has evolved to offer various categories that accommodate this wide range of individuals, fostering a comprehensive and inclusive scientific dialogue.

Mission

Advancing Earth System Sciences

The core mission of the American Meteorological Society is to vigorously advance the atmospheric and related oceanic and hydrologic sciences. This encompasses not only fundamental research but also the development of associated technologies, the establishment of rigorous specifications, and the application of scientific insights to practical services. The ultimate objective of these endeavors is to benefit society at large, addressing critical challenges related to weather, water, and climate.

Promoting Knowledge and Understanding

Beyond scientific advancement, a significant aspect of the AMS mission involves the effective promotion and dissemination of scientific information. This commitment ensures that cutting-edge research and established scientific understanding are shared widely within the scientific community and with the public. Through various programs and initiatives, the AMS strives to enhance scientific literacy and foster a deeper appreciation for the complexities of Earth's interconnected systems.

Certify

Professional Recognition

The AMS administers five distinct professional certification programs, designed to uphold high standards of competence, ethics, and experience within the meteorological community. These certifications serve as benchmarks of excellence, recognizing individuals who demonstrate exceptional skill and dedication in their respective fields.

  • Certified Broadcast Meteorologist (CBM): Establishes a professional standard for meteorologists delivering weather information on broadcast media.
  • Certified Consulting Meteorologist (CCM): Recognizes consultants who provide expert meteorological advice to the public, ensuring high technical competence and experience.
  • Certified Digital Meteorologist (CDM): Sets standards for meteorologists proficient in effective communication across all forms of digital media.
  • AMS Seal of Approval: Initiated in 1957, this program recognized on-air meteorologists for their clear and accurate delivery of weather information. While succeeded by the CBM, many original Seal holders remain active.
  • Certified AMS Teacher (CAT): A graduate-level certificate program specifically designed for K-12 educators, enhancing their expertise in Earth system sciences.

The AMS provides listings of all certified individuals, allowing the public to consult with recognized experts.

Awards

Honoring Excellence

The American Meteorological Society celebrates outstanding contributions across the atmospheric and related sciences through more than 30 distinct awards. These accolades acknowledge exceptional work ranging from groundbreaking research in specialized domains to exemplary achievements in education, broadcasting, and operational forecasting. The society's highest honor, the Carl-Gustaf Rossby Research Medal, recognizes individuals for their profound and sustained impact on the field.

Supporting Future Leaders

In its commitment to nurturing the next generation of scientific talent, the AMS annually awards over $100,000 in scholarships and fellowships. These financial aids are provided at both undergraduate and graduate levels, supporting students who are pursuing studies in meteorology, oceanography, hydrology, and related Earth system sciences. This investment helps ensure a continuous pipeline of skilled professionals and researchers dedicated to understanding and addressing environmental challenges.

Publish

Scholarly Journals and Monographs

The AMS is a prolific publisher of scientific literature, producing twelve peer-reviewed journals, alongside numerous books and monographs. Collectively, these publications account for over 34,000 pages of scholarly content each year, serving as vital conduits for research findings and theoretical advancements within the Earth system sciences.

  • Artificial Intelligence for the Earth Systems (AIES)
  • Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society (BAMS)
  • Journal of the Atmospheric Sciences (JAS)
  • Journal of Applied Meteorology and Climatology (JAMC)
  • Journal of Physical Oceanography (JPO)
  • Monthly Weather Review (MWR)
  • Journal of Atmospheric and Oceanic Technology (JTECH)
  • Weather and Forecasting (WAF)
  • Journal of Climate (JCLI)
  • Journal of Hydrometeorology (JHM)
  • Weather, Climate, and Society (WCAS)
  • Earth Interactions (EI) (co-published with AGU & AAG)
  • Meteorological Monographs

Digital Resources and Collaborations

In addition to its extensive journal portfolio, AMS publishes the authoritative Glossary of Meteorology, a comprehensive reference for terminology in the field. The society also maintains "The Front Page," a dynamic blog offering insights and commentary on current scientific topics, and the scientific database Meteorological and Geoastrophysical Abstracts. The AMS actively participates in key digital infrastructure initiatives, being a member of Crossref, Portico, CHORUS, and CLOCKSS, ensuring broad accessibility and preservation of its scholarly output.

Policy

Informing Public Discourse and Governance

The AMS Policy Program plays a crucial role in bridging the gap between scientific research and public policy. Its primary objective is to enhance public understanding of how scientific information contributes to societal progress and to assist policymakers in basing their decisions on the most robust scientific knowledge available. This involves conducting research, organizing periodic briefings where experts directly inform policymakers, and hosting an annual Summer Policy Colloquium designed to familiarize Earth scientists with the intricacies of the federal policy process. The program also facilitates a Congressional Science Fellowship, placing an AMS scientist on a congressional staff for a full year.

Types of Statements

The AMS issues and regularly updates four distinct categories of statements, each tailored to specific audiences and objectives, all falling within the society's extensive expertise:

  • Information Statements: These provide objective, scientifically current explanations of scientific issues relevant to the general public, such as climate change and drought.
  • Policy Statements: Directed at government and international officials, these statements articulate the current state of scientific understanding, raise awareness of specific scientific issues, or offer policy recommendations grounded in the professional and scientific expertise of the AMS (e.g., Weather, Water, and Climate Priorities; Geoengineering the Climate System; Space Weather).
  • Professional Guidance Statements: These alert AMS members to urgent or significant professional and scientific matters (e.g., Strengthening Social Sciences in the Weatherโ€“Climate Enterprise; Green Meetings).
  • Best Practice Statements: These inform AMS members and the public about endorsed best practices across the weather, water, and climate enterprise, promoting scientifically sound standards and methodologies (e.g., Best Practices for Publicly Sharing Weather Information Via Social Media).

Educate

Nurturing Scientific Literacy

The AMS Education Program is a cornerstone of the society's commitment to fostering scientific literacy and developing the next generation of Earth scientists. Through a comprehensive suite of training initiatives, workshops, and undergraduate course curricula, the program aims to equip individuals with foundational knowledge and advanced skills. The program proudly reports having trained over 100,000 teachers, significantly impacting science education at various levels.

Collaborative Development

In its educational endeavors, the AMS collaborates with leading scientific agencies, including the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), NASA, the National Science Foundation (NSF), and the U.S. Navy. These partnerships facilitate a range of teacher professional development programs, such as the DataStreme courses, Project ATMOSPHERE, and the Maury Project. The textbooks and investigations manuals utilized in AMS DataStreme and undergraduate courses are designed as dynamic eBooks, incorporating web-based features to enhance interactive learning. Many dedicated AMS members contribute their expertise to the creation and ongoing refinement of these valuable educational materials.

Members

Global Community

The American Meteorological Society boasts a vibrant global community of over 13,000 individual members spanning nearly 100 countries. This extensive network fosters international collaboration and the exchange of scientific knowledge. While initially membership was restricted to professionals and scholars in atmospheric and related sciences, the society has broadened its categories to welcome a diverse array of individuals, including students, educators, corporate entities, and general weather enthusiasts, reflecting its inclusive approach to scientific engagement.

Distinguished Fellows

A select group within the AMS membership is recognized as "Fellows." This honor is bestowed upon individuals who have made "outstanding contributions to the atmospheric or related oceanic or hydrologic sciences or their applications during a substantial period of years." New Fellows are elected annually by the AMS Council, with the number limited to no more than 0.2% of all AMS members. As of November 2018, 1195 members had been appointed as Fellows, a testament to their significant and lasting impact on the scientific community.

Presidential Leadership

The AMS has been guided by a distinguished lineage of presidents since its inception. These leaders have steered the society through decades of scientific discovery, technological advancement, and societal engagement. Their vision and dedication have been instrumental in shaping the AMS into the influential organization it is today, fostering growth and maintaining its commitment to scientific integrity and public service.

A comprehensive list of past presidents who have served the American Meteorological Society:

  • Robert DeCourcy Ward, 1920โ€“21
  • Robert Frederic Stupart, 1922โ€“23
  • Willis Isbister Milham, 1924โ€“25
  • Charles Frederick Marvin, 1926โ€“27
  • William Jackson Humphreys, 1928โ€“29
  • John M. Patterson, 1930โ€“31
  • Herbert Harvey Kimball, 1932โ€“33
  • Isaac Monroe Cline, 1934โ€“35
  • Joseph Burton Kincer, 1936โ€“37
  • Willis Ray Gregg, 1938
  • Robert Elmer Horton, 1938โ€“39
  • Francis Wilton Reichelderfer, 1940โ€“41
  • Bernhard Haurwitz, 1943
  • Edward Hall Bowie, 1942โ€“43
  • Carl-Gustaf Arvid Rossby, 1944โ€“45
  • Henry Garrett Houghton, 1946โ€“47
  • Howard T. Orville, 1948โ€“49
  • Donald Norton Yates, 1950โ€“51
  • Horace Robert Byers, 1952โ€“53
  • Arthur Francis Merewether, 1954โ€“55
  • Robert D. Fletcher, 1956โ€“57
  • Sverre Petterssen, 1958โ€“59
  • Thomas F. Malone, 1960โ€“61
  • Morris Neiburger, 1962โ€“63
  • Philip Duncan Thompson, 1964โ€“65
  • Louis Joseph Battan, 1966โ€“67
  • Verner Edward Suomi, 1968
  • George S. Benton, 1969
  • Eugene Bollay, 1970
  • Alfred Kimball Blackadar, 1971
  • Richard J. Reed, 1972
  • William Welch Kellogg, 1973
  • David Simonds Johnson, 1974
  • David Atlas, 1975
  • Charles Luther Hosler, 1976
  • Werner A. Baum, 1977
  • George Cressman, 1978
  • Chester Whittier Newton, 1979
  • Robert M. White, 1980
  • Robert Guthrie Fleagle, 1981
  • Richard E. Hallgren, 1982
  • Earl George Droessler, 1983
  • Eugene W. Bierly, 1984
  • Clifford J. Murino, 1985
  • Joseph Smagorinsky, 1986
  • Albert J. Kaehn Jr., 1987
  • Roscoe R. Braham, 1988
  • Joanne Simpson, 1989
  • James R. Mahoney, 1990
  • William D. Bonner, 1991
  • Donald R. Johnson, 1992
  • Robert T. Ryan, 1993
  • Warren M. Washington, 1994
  • David D. Houghton, 1995
  • Paul D. Try, 1996
  • Ronald D. McPherson, 1997
  • Eugene M. Rasmusson, 1998
  • George L. Frederick Jr., 1999
  • James F. Kimpel, 2000
  • Robert J. Serafin, 2001
  • Richard D. Rosen, 2002
  • Elbert W. Friday Jr., 2003
  • Susan K. Avery, 2004
  • Walter Andrew Lyons, 2005
  • Franco Einaudi, 2006
  • Richard A. Anthes, 2007
  • Walter F. Dabberdt, 2008
  • Thomas R. Karl, 2009
  • Margaret Anne LeMone, 2010
  • Jonathan T. Malay, 2011
  • Louis W. Uccellini, 2012
  • J. Marshall Shepherd, 2013
  • William B. Gail, 2014
  • Alexander E. MacDonald, 2015
  • Frederick H. Carr, 2016
  • Matthew J. Parker, 2017
  • Roger M. Wakimoto, 2018
  • Jenni L. Evans, 2019
  • Mary Glackin, 2020
  • Michael R. Farrar, 2021
  • Richard Dale Clark, 2022
  • Bradley R. Colman, 2023
  • Anjuli Bamzai, 2024
  • David J. Stensrud, 2025
  • Alan Sealls, 2026 president elect

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References

References

  1.  Historical Essays on Meteorology, 1919รขย€ย“1995: The Diamond Anniversary History Volume of the American Meteorological Society, ed. by James Fleming (American Meteorological Society, 2016) p. v
A full list of references for this article are available at the American Meteorological Society Wikipedia page

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Disclaimer

Important Notice

This page was generated by an Artificial Intelligence and is intended for informational and educational purposes only. The content is based on a snapshot of publicly available data from Wikipedia and may not be entirely accurate, complete, or up-to-date.

This is not professional scientific or policy advice. The information provided on this website is not a substitute for consulting official AMS documentation, peer-reviewed scientific literature, or seeking advice from qualified meteorologists, oceanographers, hydrologists, or policy experts. Always refer to authoritative sources and consult with professionals for specific research, operational, or policy needs. Never disregard professional advice because of something you have read on this website.

The creators of this page are not responsible for any errors or omissions, or for any actions taken based on the information provided herein.