On January 18, Dr. Wallace S. Broecker, Columbia University Newberry Professor of Earth and Environmental Sciences and principal investigator (PI) with the Cooperative Institute for Climate Applications and Research (CICAR) was awarded the Crafoord Prize in Geosciences for 2006 by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences. Broecker is the lead PI on the CICAR project “The Consortium on Oceans Role in Climate (CORC): AbRupt Climate CHangE Studies” (ARCHES) funded by the NOAA Climate Program Office through CICAR – one of twenty-one Cooperative Institutes (CI) currently within the NOAA CI network (http://www.nrc.noaa.gov/ci/index.html).

In the announcement of the prize, Dr. Broecker was cited “for his innovative and pioneering research on the operation of the global carbon cycle within the ocean – atmosphere – biosphere system, and its interaction with climate.” Dr. Broecker’s research has shown that the earth’s climate has shifted abruptly many times in the past. His ARCHES work aims to understand how ocean circulation has changed over the last 20,000 years and how these changes have impacted climate. Dr. Broecker is probably best known for his identification of a “great conveyor belt” of ocean currents that plays a critical role in earth’s climate.

Background. The Crafoord Prize in astronomy and mathematics, biosciences, geosciences or polyarthritis research is awarded by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences annually. Its US$500,000 monetary reward makes the Crafoord one of the world’s most lucrative scientific prizes. The Anna-Greta and Holger Crafoord Fund was established in 1980 and the first prize was awarded in 1982. The prize is intended to promote international basic research in disciplines that complement those for which the Nobel Prize is awarded. Recipients are announced in mid-January each year, and the prize is presented in April on “Crafoord Day” by His Majesty the King of Sweden. In connection with Crafoord Day, a symposium in the recipient’s discipline is arranged by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences.

Significance. Beyond his many research accomplishments, Dr. Broecker is also active in training future generations of climate change researchers. Through his association with the late Gary Comer, the originator of Lands’ End clothing company and friend to abrupt climate change science, Dr. Broecker has been instrumental in selecting many of the “Comer Fellows,” a global group of 31 abrupt change researchers who mentor young, recent Ph.D. recipients studying climate change. Dr. Broecker’s research supports NOAA Mission Goal 2 - Understand Climate Variability and Change to Enhance Society's Ability to Plan and Respond.

Contact information
Name: Laura Barry-Biss
Tel: (845) 365-8526
laurabb@ldeo.columbia.edu