BER-Funded Scientists Receive 2004 Norbert-Gerbier Mumm International Award From the World Meteorological Organization for “Most Outstanding Original Publication of the Year”

Summary

Dr. Beverly E. Law from Oregon State University and co-authors funded by BER’s Carbon Cycle Research program and/or the European Union’s CarboEurope Research Program, received the award for a synthesis paper titled Environmental Controls over Carbon Dioxide and Water Vapor Exchange of Terrestrial Vegetation. Dr. Law received the award on behalf of 33 co-authors at a ceremony at WMO Headquarters in Geneva Switzerland on June 16 that was attended by the Secretary-General of the WMO and the Ambassador of the United States. The scientific paper was recognized as the most outstanding original publication of the year on the influence of meteorology on the physical, natural, or human sciences. The paper is based on a synthesis of data from the application of a micrometeorological method used to measure the flux of energy, water, and trace gases, such as carbon dioxide, between the atmosphere and terrestrial ecosystems. The data synthesis, which resulted from application of the method at 37 different locations in North America and Europe with different vegetation types, demonstrated a robust relationship between carbon uptake and water vapor exchange across all of the vegetation and ecosystem types where fluxes were measured. Dr. Law is the science team leader of the U.S. AmeriFlux Network that is about 60% funded by DOE’s Office of Science.