Yun Qian will lead a committee focused on understanding the meteorology and oceanography of coastal zones
Yun Qian was elected to chair the Committee on the Coastal Environment at the meeting of the American Meteorological Society in January 2023.
(Photo by Andrea Starr | Pacific Northwest National Laboratory)
Yun Qian, a Laboratory fellow at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, was elected chair of the Committee on the Coastal Environment. Qian, who originally joined the committee in 2020, will lead the group of academic, government, and industrial scientists in facilitating and promoting “awareness of coastal zone oceanographic and meteorological processes.” The committee is part of the American Meteorological Society’s Scientific and Technological Activities Commission, which includes six boards and 30 committees.
Coastal areas have become increasingly important. They represent regions that are sites of large, direct human influences and that are highly vulnerable to the effects of climate change. Developing a better scientific understanding of the richness of coastal areas is a goal across the Earth sciences.
In his role as chair, Qian will organize an annual coastal environment symposium, host monthly committee meetings, coordinate activities with other American Meteorological Society committees, and guide overall committee priorities. The committee brings together researchers from different fields that share a focus on coastal zone research. It provides information, resources, and connections for those interested in the oceanography and meteorology of coastal areas.
“I’m honored to assume this role,” said Qian. “Coastal environment research is one of top priority areas for the Department of Energy’s Biological and Environmental Research program. I’ve found my recent work with the committee very meaningful and valuable, so I’m excited to be able to contribute in a larger way. I look forward to what we can accomplish in the next three years.”
Qian, at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory since 2000, currently leads the Earth System Modeling group of over 80 staff and scientists in the Atmospheric Sciences and Global Change division. He has extensively worked on developing and using models of the atmosphere and land surface. Qian is a leading expert in understanding how atmosphere-land-water interactions modulate the influence of human activities on the environment.
Published: February 17, 2023