Awards Listed by Year

For technology advancement and leadership.

The Highly Cited Researchers™ list from Clarivate™ represents scientists and social scientists who have demonstrated significant influence through publication of multiple highly cited papers during the last decade. Researchers are selected for their exceptional performance in one or more of 21 broad fields or across several fields. Dr. McPhaden is recognized for his work in the cross-field category.

for “Satellite and Ocean Data Reveal Marked Increase in Earth’s Heating Rate". The Reid award is the highest recognition for a scientific research publication authored by those who support space mission projects at the NASA Langley Research Center.

The Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation recognizes the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) for producing scientific knowledge, alerting society, and informing decision-makers to make better choices for combating climate change and the loss of biodiversity. The IPCC, the Nobel Peace Prize winner in 2007 (in conjunction with Al Gore) is the United Nations organism that has, since 1998, fostered the production of scientific knowledge within the scope of evaluating the climate impacts of human actions and supporting governments as regards their decision-making and the implementation of measures able to combat climate change. The IPCC has played a crucial role in accompanying the commitments made under the Paris Agreement on climate changes through the regular publication of reports and the results of voluntary work undertaken by thousands of scientists all around the world.

For chronicling the great DEIA work that is taking place in the labs, programs and staff offices. This information is used in various reports submitted to the Office of Inclusion and Civil Rights. The information is then included  into NOAA data information for reports to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the Department of Commerce.

For outstanding advances in U.S. Ocean observing and processing of biogeochemical Argo float data, leading to a new era of global oceanography.

For scientific achievement in the design and implementation of the complex Atlantic Tradewind Ocean-atmosphere Mesoscale Interaction Campaign.

For leadership in developing the Ocean, Coastal, and Great Lakes Acidification 2020-2029 Research Plan to advance NOAA’s response to acidification.

The winning paper in Ocean and Great Lakes category. (2019) "The oceanic sink for anthropogenic CO2 from 1994 to 2007". Science, 363(6432), 1193-1199, doi: 10.1126/science.aau5153 or view on NOAA Institutional Repository 

The Oregon State University (OSU) Gladys Valley Marine Studies Building was recognized as a top project by the Structural Engineers Association of Oregon (SEAO) Excellence in Structural Engineering 2021 Awards. The building was built by YGH Architecture with support by Andersen Construction Co, KPFF Consulting Engineers and OSU. The SEAO Excellence in Structural Engineering Awards was created to acknowledge outstanding projects and structural engineering advancement by members. The building currently serves as a Vertical Tsunami Evacuation Structure for the coastal communities of Newport and South Beach, OR. Through a University of Washington-YGH contract in 2018-2019, PMEL and UW CICOES experts (Diego Arcas and Yong Wei) with the Center for Tsunami Research made major contributions in tsunami hazard assessment and the track of large debris for the building design.

For successfully deploying the first MAP-CO2 buoy in a southern hemisphere coral reef to monitor ocean acidification.

For foundational, seminal research in chemical oceanography that raised awareness, scientific study, and public action about ocean acidification.

The group created a robust, reliable Autonomous Surface Vehicle CO2 sensor system (ASVCO2) for long-term deployments, capable of surviving the forces of 50-foot waves, 80 mph winds, and collisions with icebergs in the Southern Ocean. NOAA’s PMEL (Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory) worked with Saildrone Inc. through a cooperative research and development agreement (CRADA) over several years to test and modify the platform, and develop the ASVCO2 so it could collect robust measurements while the Saildrone reached peak speeds of 8 knots in high-wind conditions. The landmark accomplishment will ultimately increase observations and understanding of weather, climate, and ecosystem processes in remote, harsh, and rapidly changing oceanic regions. Preliminary results suggest that there is strong outgassing of CO2 in the austral winter; this finding upends our understanding of the Southern Ocean as a sink for atmospheric carbon.  This public-private partnership demonstrated the deep scientific reach of a Federal research lab, and the ability of American industry to manufacture, test, and pilot world-class USVs. This remarkable achievement truly embodies the spirit and standards held up by Ron Brown. Read the full citation.

This list recognizes world-class researchers selected for their exceptional research performance, demonstrated by production of multiple highly cited papers that rank in the top 1% by citations for field and year in Web of Science. Dr. Richard Feely is recognized for his work in the cross-field category. 

For the first autonomous circumnavigation of Antarctica, allowing three-season observation of carbon dioxide flux in the Southern Ocean.

The Rock Creek produced video on Pacific Western Boundary Currents received the award in the Non-Broadcast/General Government Relations category.

AGU Publications recognizes a number of outstanding reviewers for their work in 2019, as selected by the editors of each journal. Dr. Jessica Cross is recognized for her reviews in Geophysical Research Letters. 

The highly anticipated list identifies scientists and social scientists who produced multiple papers ranking in the top 1% by citations for their field and year of publication, demonstrating significant research influence among their peers. Drs. Richard Feely and Michael McPhaden are recognized for their work in the field of cross-field. 

For creating the nation’s first, comprehensive, underwater sound sensing network including all U.S. coastal regions & several marine national parks.

For key scientific achievements and superior leadership in conducting and communicating the EcoFOCI research, supporting US marine resources in Alaska.

This list recognizes world-class researchers selected for their exceptional research performance, demonstrated by production of multiple highly cited papers that rank in the top 1% by citations for field and year in Web of Science. Dr. Richard Feely is recognized for his work in the geosciences category. 

For the successful establishment, deployment, testing and transfer of the most advanced tsunami detection system (Deep Ocean Assessment and Reporting of Tsunamis, 4th generation, or DART-4G) into operation.

For his contribution to the large-scale circulation, atmospheric convection, and air-sea interaction in the tropics, including leadership in the international field program DYNAMO/CINDY2011.

For continued efforts in improving budgetary policies and procedures relating to memorandum of agreements and reimbursable funds throughout 30 years of service to NOAA.

For outstanding eningeering support in developing ocean observing systems that NOAA mission.

For fundamental contributions to understanding oceanic variability, from equator to poles and surface to abyss, and for pioneering studies of the oceans’ role in climate.

(2015). Basin-scale transport of hydrothermal dissolved metals across the South Pacific Ocean. Nature 523, 200–203.

For fundamental and extensive contributions to the understanding, observing, and forecasting tropical oceanic and atmospheric climate variability.

Nominated by OAR for developing a multi-platform observing array to collect integrated environmental intelligence on ocean acidification in the Gulf of Alaska.

For scientific expertise, leadership and outstanding contributions to the Fifth Assessment report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate change.

For outstanding achievement in marine science.

For scientific excellence in support of national and international policy on climate change in the Arctic.

For her significant role in the organization, creation and implementation of the new Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory Carbon Program website launched in February 2011.

For leadership in collection and evaluation of oceanographic data throughout the global oceans both on ships and from autonomous instruments, and for outstanding scientific analyses of the large-scale ocean circulation and water properties, their variability, and their relation to climate.

For scientific leadership in developing the Global Ocean Observing System for Climate, an international framework for ocean monitoring used to inform policy decisions.

For exceptional service as editors and authors of the NOAA/Smithsonian Sant Ocean Hall companion publication "Hidden Depths: Atlas of the Oceans."

For outstanding leadership in understanding the acidic impacts of increasing levels of carbon dioxide (CO2) absorption by the oceans.

For his work as architect and software development team leader for NOAA's new tsunami forecasting system.

For outstanding accomplishments and interagency collaboration in the Southern Ocean Gas Exchange Experiment of 2008.

For his leadership and administrative/technical support.

For the invention of DART® tsunami technology, which allows NOAA to produce accurate tsunami forecasts and, through a patent and license, generated new U.S. jobs.

For scientific and technical achievements that have advanced NOAA’s ability to detect Arctic climate change and its effect on the Bering Sea ecosystem.

For outstanding administrative and technical support.

(2006). "Submarine venting of liquid carbon dioxide on a Mariana Arc volcano" Geochemistry Geophysics Geosystems, Volume 7, Issue 8, CiteID Q08007.

For development of the NOAA Operational Model Archive and Distribution System, the first operational U.S. National climate and weather model archive.

For developing and successfully implementing a method to measure zooplankton abundance in real time.

For his unique and innovative application of GOOGLE Maps technologies (known as Asynchronous JavaScript and XML or AJAX) to produce an exciting new Web portal to PMEL and other major oceanic and atmospheric observed datasets.

For painstaking observations and groundbreaking research over the past 15 years, showing that the uptake and storage of anthropogenic carbon dioxide by the ocean is causing the pH of the ocean to drop.

(2004). "On the Global Distribution of Hydrothermal Vent Fields." Geophysics. Monogr. Ser. Vol. 148.

For enduring scientific leadership, innovative research into fundamental processes of Earth-ocean interaction, and visionary expansion of NOAA research to a global scale.

For demonstrating exemplary professionalism and dedication during a time of crisis to help NOAA explain its tsunami science to the world.

Interactive Web Access to Historical Weather Data Archives.

Cited for his establishment of the Tropical Atmosphere Ocean (TAO) array as the cornerstone of the climate observing system in the tropical Pacific and for fundamentally advancing our ability to detect, understand, and forecast variations associated with El Niño and La Niña.

For outstanding leadership of the OAR Financial Data Management System, which was critical in facilitating the transition from FIMA to CAMS.

For the creation and use of a new moored buoy system to provide accurate and timely warning information on tsunamis.

Note: The Gold Medal is granted for distinguished contributions and is the highest honorary recognition bestowed by the Department of Commerce. Because so many people contributed to this success, the Gold Medal is presented as an organizational award.

(2000). "Observations of the warm water volume changes in the equatorial Pacific and their relationship to El Niño and La Niña." J. Climate, 12:3551-3559.

In recognition of leadership and engineering development accomplishments as exemplified by the successful deployment of the New Millennium Observatory Network interactive sea floor sampling system.

Grid Computing

Global Ocean Observing Systems meet GIS.

For his pioneering design and implementation of electronic hardware with imbedded software systems for NOAA programs in climate and hydrothermal vents.

For exceptional leadership skills in support of NOAA's Arctic Research Program and development of the interagency Study of Environmental Arctic Change (SEARCH) program.

For scientific achievements that advanced fisheries oceanography and marine ecology, and enabled the US North Pacific fisheries to be managed more efficiently.

Best Technology Transfer to Research.

Near real-time NOAA ship locations and sensor data.

(1999). "Genesis and evolution of the 1997-98 El Niño." Science, 283, 950-954.

For outstanding dedication and teamwork in exceeding the requirements of the Washington state compliance order.

(1998). "Quantification of Decadal Anthropogenic CO2 Uptake in the Ocean Based on Dissolved Inorganic Carbon Measurements".

Best Collaboration Tool (synchronous).

For significant contributions toward the development of the NOAA Server System, which greatly enhances public access to critical environmental information.

(1997). "The Pacific subsurface countercurrents and an inertial model." J. Phys. Oceanogr. 27(11), 2448-2459.

For leadership in the advancement and utilization of information technology for wide availability of environmental information and real time data.

(1995). "Hydrothermal plumes over spreading-center axes: Global distributions and geological inferences." Geophysical Monograph 91, American Geohphysical Union, Washington, DC, 47-71.