The American Geophysical Union (AGU) on Sept 13 awarded the Roger Revelle Medal to An Zhisheng, an academician at the Institute of Earth Environment of the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Xi'an, capital of Northwest China's Shaanxi province.

An Zhisheng is an academician at the Institute of Earth Environment of the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Xi'an. [Photo provided to en.xa.gov.cn]

AGU is the world's largest non-profit scientific organization for Earth and space sciences and is dedicated to promoting research in these fields.

The Roger Revelle Medal was established in honor of renowned oceanographer Roger Revelle, who made significant contributions to the study of global climate change. The medal is awarded annually to a scientist who has made outstanding contributions in atmospheric science, land-atmosphere interactions, biogeochemical cycles, climate, or other Earth system-related areas.

An Zhisheng has long been engaged in research on Earth system science, focusing on the integration of past and present climate change, observations and simulations, and the impacts of natural variations and human activities.

The Roger Revelle Medal recognizes his major breakthroughs in proposing the monsoon control theory of environmental change and studying the Chinese loess, monsoon dynamics, and global climate change.

He is the first Chinese scientist to receive the award since its establishment in 1991.

AGU will present the medal to An at its annual meeting, which will be held in mid-December 2023 in San Francisco. Over 25,000 participants from more than 100 countries and regions are expected to attend the event.