Syukuro Manabe

Syukuro Manabe was born on September 21, 1931, in Ehime Prefecture, Japan. He later became a pioneering climate scientist known for his work on climate modeling and the impact of carbon dioxide on global warming. Manabe's contributions to understanding climate change have been recognized worldwide, and he is considered one of the leading figures in the field.

In 1958, Syukuro Manabe began his career at the Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory (GFDL) of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), which was affiliated with Princeton University at the time. Manabe's research at GFDL focused on the development of numerical models to simulate climate and weather patterns, laying the groundwork for future climate research.

In 1967, Syukuro Manabe co-authored a groundbreaking paper with Richard T. Wetherald titled 'Thermal Equilibrium of the Atmosphere with a Given Distribution of Relative Humidity.' This paper introduced one of the first climate models that incorporated the effects of carbon dioxide on global warming, demonstrating the connection between atmospheric CO2 concentrations and surface temperatures.

In the 1970s, Manabe played a key role in the development of the first comprehensive general circulation model of the Earth's climate, which included interactions between the atmosphere and the ocean. This model was among the first to simulate climate change due to various factors, including greenhouse gases, and became a fundamental tool for climate study.

Syukuro Manabe, along with collaborators, introduced the first coupled ocean-atmosphere model in the 1980s. This model allowed scientists to better understand the complex interactions between the ocean and the atmosphere, providing deeper insights into climate dynamics and long-term weather predictions. It laid the groundwork for many future climate models.

In 2005, Syukuro Manabe was elected to the National Academy of Sciences in recognition of his outstanding contributions to climate science and his pioneering work in the development of climate models. Membership in the Academy is one of the highest honors that a scientist can receive in the United States, acknowledging distinguished achievements in original research.

In 2015, Syukuro Manabe was awarded the Blue Planet Prize, which is one of the world's most prestigious awards for scientific contributions to solving global environmental problems. This award recognized his pioneering research in climate science and his efforts to improve understanding of global climate dynamics, particularly through the development of sophisticated climate models.

In 2018, Syukuro Manabe played a crucial role in the prioritization and enhancement of climate modeling efforts in Japan. He advocated for the expansion of research facilities and resources dedicated to the development of cutting-edge climate models. His efforts significantly bolstered Japan’s contributions to global climate research and fostered international collaborations.

On October 5, 2021, Syukuro Manabe was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics for his pioneering work in climate science, specifically for his contributions to understanding the physical modeling of Earth's climate and reliably predicting global warming. Shared with Klaus Hasselmann and Giorgio Parisi, this recognition underscores the significance of Manabe's work for contemporary climate research.

In April 2022, Syukuro Manabe received an honorary doctorate from the University of Tokyo in recognition of his monumental contributions to the field of climate science. The university praised his dedication to advancing our understanding of Earth's climate system and his innovative approaches that have influenced generations of climate researchers worldwide.