Connection between oceans, atmosphere drive climate scientist’s work

The ocean has always had a special appeal to atmospheric sciences professor Amy Clement. Growing up in coastal Massachusetts, and on Long Island, New York, she often spent free time exploring the beach, or swimming in the Atlantic Ocean. Her love for the outdoors piqued her interest in science, and today Clement bikes to work at the Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Science, so she can appreciate the beauty of Biscayne Bay-and do her part to reduce carbon emissions. But through her career, Clement has become acutely aware of the complex mechanisms at work under the ocean's surface, as well as how they interact with our atmosphere as a climate scientist. She published research that challenged past beliefs about the earth's changing climate and broadened scientific knowledge about the role that the atmosphere, clouds, and phenomena like the El Ni ñ o/La Ni ñ a effect play in long-term weather patterns. Along the way, she developed a network of colleagues and learned to advocate for more climate research through the American Geophysical Union (AGU). Now, Clement will help support the growth of this community internationally, as president-elect of the atmospheric sciences division of the AGU, one of the largest organizations for earth and space scientists.