Rossby is being recognized for his “innovative and influential contributions to the technology of oceanographic instruments and methods that have profoundly improved the understanding of ocean circulation and processes.” The Suomi Award is given to individuals in recognition of highly significant technological achievement in the atmospheric or related oceanic and hydrologic sciences. The award will be presented Feb. 1 at the 86th annual meeting of the Society in Atlanta.
Rossby, a resident of Saunderstown, has been a professor at URI since 1975. During his extensive career, his research has focused on understanding ocean circulation and how it impacts weather and climate around the world. He has published countless papers and earned numerous awards for his work, including the Munk Award from The Oceanographic Society. He is a Fellow of the American Meteorological Society and the American Geophysical Union and a member of the American Academy of the Arts and Sciences.
A native of Boston, Rossby earned his engineering degree in Applied Physics at the Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden, and a Ph.D. in oceanography at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Founded in 1919, the AMS has a membership of more than 11,000 professionals, professors, students, and weather enthusiasts. AMS publishes nine atmospheric and related oceanic and hydrologic journals, sponsors multiple conferences annually, and directs numerous education and outreach programs and services. For more information see www.ametsoc.org.