American Meteorological Society
The American Meteorological Society (AMS) is a scientific and professional organization founded in 1919 by Charles Franklin Brooks at the Blue Hill Observatory, dedicated to advancing the atmospheric and related sciences, technologies, applications, and services for the benefit of society.[1][2] With membership exceeding 13,000 professionals, including scientists, educators, weather broadcasters, and policymakers, the AMS promotes research dissemination, professional development, and public understanding of weather, water, and climate phenomena.[1] The society achieves its objectives through publishing over a dozen peer-reviewed journals, such as the Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society and Monthly Weather Review, which collectively produce tens of thousands of pages of research annually on atmospheric, oceanic, and hydrologic topics.[3] It organizes annual meetings that facilitate collaboration and knowledge exchange among thousands of attendees, offers certifications like the Certified Consulting Meteorologist credential to uphold professional standards, and bestows prestigious awards, including the Carl-Gustaf Rossby Research Medal and Verner E. Suomi Technology Medal, recognizing groundbreaking contributions.[4] These efforts have solidified the AMS's role in fostering empirical advancements in meteorology and related fields.[5] A defining characteristic of the AMS involves its issuance of policy statements on scientific matters, including endorsements of human influence on climate change, yet surveys of its professional members indicate substantial internal diversity, with approximately 52% attributing recent global warming primarily to human activities and notable skepticism among non-climate specialists, underscoring ongoing debates within the organization over causal interpretations and advocacy.[6][7] This tension reflects broader challenges in aligning empirical data with consensus narratives in atmospheric sciences.[7]History
Founding and Early Years (1919–1930s)
The American Meteorological Society (AMS) was established on December 29, 1919, by Charles Franklin Brooks, then director of the Blue Hill Meteorological Observatory in Milton, Massachusetts, during a meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science in St. Louis, Missouri.[8][5] Brooks, who had studied engineering at the University of Minnesota and Harvard, sought to foster professional collaboration among meteorologists amid growing needs in weather forecasting for agriculture, aviation, and commerce.[8] Initial membership numbered approximately 600, comprising mostly professionals from the U.S. Weather Bureau and the Army Signal Corps, alongside some amateurs; annual dues were set at $1 to encourage broad participation.[8][5] In its inaugural year, the AMS launched the Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society (BAMS) in January 1920 as its primary publication outlet, initially appearing as a supplement to the U.S. Weather Bureau's Monthly Weather Review to share research findings, observational data, and professional news.[8][5] Brooks served as the first editor and secretary, using the Bulletin to document early experiments, such as free-balloon ascents for upper-air measurements in 1924 and studies on thunderstorm electricity.[8] Annual meetings were held jointly with the AAAS, focusing on topics like instrumentation improvements and weather service enhancements, reflecting the era's emphasis on empirical data collection amid limited theoretical frameworks.[9] By 1922, dues rose to $2, signaling a shift toward a more professional membership base as aviation demands spurred interest in reliable forecasting.[8] Through the 1920s and 1930s, the AMS expanded its role in disseminating meteorological knowledge, with the Bulletin publishing contributions on phenomena like dust storms and regional climates, alongside reviews of international developments.[9] Membership grew modestly, supported by ties to government agencies, while early training initiatives emerged, including efforts by figures like Carl-Gustaf Rossby to professionalize education in atmospheric dynamics ahead of wartime needs.[5] Specialized conferences began in the 1930s, addressing instrumentation advances such as improved anemometers and radiosondes, which enhanced observational accuracy during a period of economic constraint under the Great Depression.[8][10] These activities laid groundwork for the society's evolution into a key hub for empirical meteorological research, prioritizing data-driven advancements over speculative models.[9]World War II and Postwar Expansion (1940s–1960s)
During World War II, meteorology's role in supporting military aviation, ground operations, and strategic planning drove a surge in professional activity, with the American Meteorological Society (AMS) contributing through specialized meetings, publications, and advocacy for standardized training amid the rapid mobilization of personnel. Large-scale U.S. military programs trained nearly 6,000 officers as weather forecasters, including approximately 100 women in the WAVES program, to meet demands for accurate forecasting in combat theaters.[11] The AMS, under leaders like President Carl-Gustaf Rossby (1944–1945), facilitated knowledge exchange among practitioners, including the launch of the Journal of Meteorology in 1944, which provided a platform for wartime research on synoptic analysis and upper-air dynamics developed by figures such as Rossby at the University of Chicago.[8] This period marked the society's shift toward greater emphasis on applied meteorology, aligning with federal efforts like those of the U.S. Weather Bureau under Francis W. Reichelderfer, who from 1938 onward integrated AMS insights into operational advancements such as radar and teletype networks.[12] Postwar demobilization flooded civilian sectors with trained meteorologists, spurring AMS membership growth from approximately 2,000 in 1946 to sustain expansion through the 1950s and into the 1960s as universities established dedicated meteorology departments and research programs.[13][8] This influx, coupled with Cold War priorities in weather modification, numerical forecasting, and atmospheric research, prompted the society to increase specialized conferences and monograph series, while the Journal of Meteorology evolved by 1962 into separate publications—the Journal of Applied Meteorology and Journal of the Atmospheric Sciences—to accommodate burgeoning subfields.[8] Institutional ties strengthened, with AMS influencing federal initiatives like the 1950s expansion of upper-air observations and early satellite applications, reflecting a broader professionalization driven by empirical advances in data assimilation and model verification rather than isolated theoretical pursuits. By the mid-1960s, the society's reorganization addressed this scale, enhancing governance to support interdisciplinary applications in hydrology and oceanography.[5]Institutional Growth and Specialization (1970s–1990s)
During the 1970s and 1980s, the American Meteorological Society expanded its professional certification initiatives to address growing specialization in applied meteorology. The Certified Consulting Meteorologist (CCM) program, proposed in the early 1980s and formally established by 1983, aimed to certify individuals demonstrating expertise in meteorological consulting, thereby enhancing service reliability for clients in industry and government.[14] [15] This reflected a broader shift toward private-sector roles, with the number of private-sector meteorologists increasing by approximately 20% since 1970, accompanied by proportional declines in government and academic positions.[16] Membership surveys initiated in 1975 documented these demographic changes, including a gradual rise in female representation, underscoring the Society's adaptation to an evolving professional landscape.[17] By the 1990s, the AMS had solidified its role in fostering specialization through expanded publications and conferences. The Society published 10 peer-reviewed scientific journals, an abstract journal, and over 50 monographs, covering advances in atmospheric, oceanic, and hydrologic sciences amid rising research output.[8] It sponsored more than a dozen specialized scientific conferences annually, building on steady growth in annual meetings that incorporated symposia on emerging fields like numerical weather prediction and climate dynamics.[5] Educational efforts intensified during this era, with programs supporting atmospheric sciences curricula and professional development, paralleling federal research funding surges in related disciplines.[18] These developments positioned the AMS as a key hub for interdisciplinary specialization, including increased focus on climate-related studies through the 1970s, where numerous peer-reviewed papers advanced understanding of atmospheric variability.[19] The organization's emphasis on certification and targeted publications helped integrate meteorology with expanding applications in technology and policy, though membership directories from 1990 indicate sustained but not explosive numerical growth, prioritizing quality over rapid expansion.[20]Contemporary Developments (2000s–Present)
In the 2000s, the American Meteorological Society (AMS) sustained steady membership growth, reaching 13,360 members by the end of 2007, with particular emphasis on expanding student participation through targeted recruitment and renewal initiatives.[21] This period saw continued institutional maturation, including the maintenance of annual meetings that evolved to incorporate virtual and hybrid formats following the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, enabling broader global participation.[22] The society also advanced its educational offerings, formalizing certification programs for professional meteorologists, broadcast meteorologists, and applied meteorologists to standardize qualifications amid growing demand for weather services in media, government, and private sectors.[23] A central focus of AMS activities since 2000 has been policy statements on climate and environmental issues, reflecting the society's role in synthesizing scientific consensus for public and governmental audiences. The AMS updated its climate change statement multiple times, with the 2007 version affirming that "global climate change is occurring; since the late 1970s, average surface temperatures have risen across most of the globe" and attributing much of the recent warming to human activities.[24] Subsequent revisions in 2010 and 2012 reinforced this position, while the 2019 iteration stated it is "unequivocal that human influence has warmed the atmosphere, ocean, and land," citing observational records showing approximately 1.1°C of warming since the preindustrial era, predominantly due to greenhouse gas emissions.[25] These statements draw on data from instrumental records, satellite observations, and climate models, though they have faced critique from some members for potentially underemphasizing natural variability and uncertainties in long-term projections. In 2009, AMS issued a statement on geoengineering, acknowledging potential research value for solar radiation management but stressing unresolved risks and the primacy of emissions reductions.[26] More recently, AMS has prioritized advocacy for enhanced research funding and workforce development in weather, water, and climate services, as outlined in its 2020 statement recommending investments in next-generation experts and observational infrastructure to improve forecasting accuracy and resilience to extreme events.[27] The society's annual State of the Climate report, published in the Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society, has documented trends such as increasing frequency of billion-dollar disasters in the U.S., attributing rises in events like heat waves and heavy precipitation to combined thermodynamic and dynamical factors influenced by warming.[28] In 2019, AMS marked its centennial with historical monographs and reflections on contributions to atmospheric sciences, underscoring advancements in numerical modeling and remote sensing since the late 20th century.[5] Collaborations, such as the 2025 joint effort with the American Geophysical Union on collections supporting U.S. National Climate Assessments, highlight ongoing commitments to data-driven policy amid debates over attribution methodologies.[29]Governance and Membership
Organizational Structure
The American Meteorological Society (AMS) is governed by its Council, which serves as the principal governing body responsible for overseeing the Society's affairs. The Council comprises the President, President-elect, the two most recent past presidents, 15 elected councilors serving staggered three-year terms (with one-third retiring annually), and ex-officio non-voting members including the Executive Director, Secretary, and Treasurer.[30] A quorum requires 11 voting members, and decisions are made by majority vote of at least eight members.[30] The Council meets annually during the AMS Annual Meeting, with provisions for electronic or mail voting on urgent matters requiring full Council approval.[30] Elective officers include the President, who is the immediate past President-elect and serves as the chief elected officer, and the President-elect, elected for a one-year term commencing after the Annual Meeting.[30] Appointed officers consist of the Executive Director, who leads the professional staff at AMS headquarters in Boston, the Secretary, and the Treasurer, all selected by majority Council vote (with a two-thirds majority required for Executive Director removal).[30] An Executive Committee, composed of the President, President-elect, past presidents, and two councilors, handles day-to-day operations, requiring a majority quorum for action.[30] The Council oversees standing committees such as the Awards Nominations Committee, Committee on Ethics, Committee on AMS Positions and Statements, Fellows Committee, and Committee on International Affairs, as well as the Development Board.[30] Broader activities are coordinated through a volunteer-driven framework of six commissions that report directly to the Council and manage over 140 boards and committees focused on scientific, professional, and educational endeavors.[31] These commissions include the Commission on Professional Affairs, Commission on the Weather, Water, and Climate Enterprise, Education and Engagement Commission, Publications Commission, and Scientific and Technological Activities Commission, among others, enabling collaboration across atmospheric and related sciences.[31][32][33][34][35] This structure supports the Society's mission by integrating member expertise from academia, government, and private sectors into governance and programmatic efforts.[31]Membership Categories and Fellows
The American Meteorological Society structures its individual memberships to serve professionals, students, educators, and allied participants in atmospheric and related sciences. Professional membership requires educational credentials or professional experience in weather, climate, or cognate disciplines, granting full access to society resources including journals, meetings, and voting privileges.[36] Student membership applies to undergraduates and graduates enrolled full- or part-time at accredited institutions, with reduced dues and targeted benefits such as career resources and discounted event registration.[36] The society maintains nearly 12,000 individual members across categories as of 2024.[36] Specialized categories address diverse constituencies. Associate membership accommodates individuals in the community lacking qualifications for professional status, providing core benefits like publications and networking at a standard rate of $90 annually.[37] K-12 teacher membership targets full-time educators, offering complimentary online journals, print subscriptions to Weatherwise, and professional development tools for $71 per year.[37] Emeritus membership waives dues for professional members aged 70 or older with 25 or more years of tenure, while affiliate membership extends reduced benefits ($37 annually) to dues-paying members of partner meteorological organizations, such as those in Australia or Canada.[37] Additional provisions exist for professionals from developing economies, charging $20 annually with enhanced digital access.[37] AMS Fellows represent an elite designation for active members who have rendered exceptional, sustained contributions to atmospheric sciences, oceanic or hydrologic fields, or their practical applications.[38] Nominations, initiated by any AMS member, require a detailed packet including support letters and are assessed by the Fellows Committee on equal-weight criteria: advancements in science or service, influence within the weather, water, and climate enterprise, and initiatives fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion.[38] The AMS Council approves a slate limited to 0.2% of total membership annually, typically 20–25 individuals.[38] Election signifies profound, verifiable impact, with 1,368 Fellows as of 2024.[39]Leadership and Presidents
The leadership of the American Meteorological Society (AMS) is exercised through its Council, the principal governing body responsible for overseeing the Society's affairs and ensuring fulfillment of its objectives, and the Executive Committee, which manages operations between Council meetings. The Council consists of the elective officers—including the president, president-elect, secretary, and treasurer—the two most recent past presidents, and fifteen councilors serving staggered three-year terms (with no consecutive reelection), supplemented by non-voting members such as the executive director.[30] The Executive Committee comprises the president as chair, the president-elect as vice-chair, the two immediate past presidents, and two council-elected members serving two-year terms, with the executive director, secretary, and treasurer attending as non-voting participants; a quorum requires a majority of voting members, including the president or president-elect, and decisions are made by majority vote.[30] The president acts as the chief elected officer, chairing the Executive Committee, representing the Society externally, and guiding strategic direction. The president-elect position is filled annually via election by full AMS members, initiated by the Nominating Committee (composed of eight to twelve members with three-year terms and required sectoral diversity), which solicits recommendations from the membership, assembles a slate of candidates, and forwards it for voting; the term begins at the close of the AMS Annual Meeting and lasts approximately one year, after which the president-elect automatically becomes president for a subsequent one-year term.[40][30] This sequential structure ensures continuity in leadership. The inaugural AMS president was Robert DeC. Ward, a Harvard University geographer who served from 1920 to 1921 and helped establish the Society's early focus on professional standards in meteorology.[41] Over its history, presidents have included influential figures such as Carl-Gustaf Rossby (1944–1945), who laid groundwork for the Society's first scientific journal amid postwar expansion in atmospheric research.[41][8] As of 2025, David J. Stensrud, a professor of meteorology at Pennsylvania State University specializing in mesoscale modeling and forecasting, serves as president (2025–2026 term), having been elected president-elect in 2024; Alan Sealls, a meteorologist with expertise in broadcast and operational weather services, was elected president-elect for the 2025–2026 term, positioning him to assume the presidency in 2026.[42][41][43]Scientific Publications
Peer-Reviewed Journals
The American Meteorological Society publishes 12 peer-reviewed scientific journals covering research in atmospheric, oceanic, and hydrologic sciences, producing over 37,000 pages annually.[3] These journals employ a single-anonymous peer review process and are ranked highly in impact factors within meteorology and atmospheric sciences categories, reflecting their influence in advancing empirical understanding of weather, climate, and related phenomena.[44] [45]| Journal | Abbreviation | Scope | 2024 Impact Factor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society | BAMS | Flagship publication featuring peer-reviewed articles, reviews, and news on weather, water, and climate topics of broad interest. | 5.9[46] |
| Artificial Intelligence for the Earth Systems | AIES | Applications of AI, machine learning, and data science to meteorological, hydrological, and oceanographic problems; fully open access. | N/A |
| Earth Interactions | EI | Interdisciplinary studies of Earth system interactions, including atmosphere-land-ocean feedbacks; fully open access. | 1.1 |
| Journal of Applied Meteorology and Climatology | JAMC | Applied research on meteorological phenomena, climate variability, and their societal impacts. | 2.2 |
| Journal of Atmospheric and Oceanic Technology | JTECH | Instrumentation, observational techniques, and methodologies for atmospheric and oceanic data collection and analysis. | 1.9 |
| Journal of the Atmospheric Sciences | JAS | Fundamental research on the physics, dynamics, and chemistry of planetary atmospheres. | 2.8[47] |
| Journal of Climate | JCLI | Dynamics, physics, and variability of the climate system, including long-term patterns and forcings. | 4.0[48] |
| Journal of Hydrometeorology | JHM | Processes related to water and energy fluxes, precipitation, and hydrological forecasting. | 2.9[49] |
| Journal of Physical Oceanography | JPO | Physical processes in the ocean and ocean-atmosphere interactions. | 3.0 |
| Monthly Weather Review | MWR | Atmospheric circulation, numerical prediction models, and data assimilation techniques. | 3.0[50] |
| Weather and Forecasting | WAF | Operational forecasting methods, model verification, and prediction improvements. | 3.1[51] |
| Weather, Climate, and Society | WCAS | Societal dimensions of weather and climate risks, policy, and decision-making. | 1.9 |