Mark Pagani elected fellow of American Geophysical Union

Mark Pagani, a professor in the Department of Geology and Geophysics, has been elected a fellow of the American Geophysical Union (AGU), the largest and most influential geophysical organization in the world.

“This special honor recognizes scientific eminence in the Earth and space sciences. It acknowledges fellows for their remarkable contributions to their research fields, exceptional knowledge, and visionary leadership,” the AGU noted in its announcement. Only 0.1% of AGU’s 62,000 members receive this recognition in any given year.

Pagani’s research focuses on the study of ancient climates by reconstructing patterns of regional and global temperature change, hydrological conditions, and the evolution of atmospheric carbon dioxide.

“Mark is a world leader in paleoclimate research and his election as an AGU fellow is a well-deserved honor,” said Jay Ague, chair of the Department of Geology and Geophysics. “If we are to understand changes happening in the world today, it is crucial that we understand the natural climate variability of the past.”

Pagani’s many discoveries include the variability of sensitivity of global temperatures to atmospheric CO2 content throughout geologic time, the effects of drought on Mayan civilization, the history of El Niño, the impact of falling CO2 levels 25-34 million years ago on forming the Antarctic ice sheet, and the synchronous evolution of plants highly sensitive to CO2.

Pagani is former director of the Yale Climate and Energy Institute. He joined the Yale faculty in 2002.

This year’s AGU fellows come from 18 states and 8 countries. They will be recognized during an honors tribute Dec. 14 during the 2016 AGU fall meeting in San Francisco.