Professor Zong-Liang Yang Elected an AGU Fellow

September 24, 2025

Zong-Liang Yang, a professor at the Jackson School of Geosciences, was elected as an AGU fellow, joining a distinguished group of 52 individuals in the 2025 Class of Fellows. AGU, the world’s largest Earth and space science association, bestows this honor annually to a select number of individuals who have made exceptional contributions.

Since the program’s inception in 1962, less than 0.1% of AGU members have been selected as fellows each year.

Yang was selected for his exemplary leadership and outstanding scientific achievements, which have significantly advanced the understanding of land surface interactions and how they are represented in regional and global climate models.

Yang’s models are used at a number of leading research institutions. This includes the U.S. NSF National Center for Atmospheric Research, NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, and the U.S. National Water Center. This August, Yang convened a land modeling workshop that was attended by more than 250 scientists that explored the science behind extreme weather events, with a particular focus on coastal hazards.

In addition to improving models, Yang’s research has led to insights on how extreme weather events are currently unfolding. For example, an analysis of soil moisture measurements from global hydroclimate data revealed that “flash droughts” — where soil dries out in a matter of days to weeks — are coming on faster. Yang has also examined how climate interacts with urban environments. He is a co-author of a recent study that found that cities, particularly in hotter and wetter climates, receive more rain than surrounding rural areas.

“I am deeply honored to be named an AGU fellow. This recognition is especially meaningful as it comes in the same year and the same city — New Orleans — where I was elected a fellow of the American Meteorological Society. In Mandarin, New Orleans is 新奥尔良 (Xīn Ào’ěrliáng), and its final character 良 (Liáng) is the same as in my given name, 宗良 (Zōng-Liáng), which conveys the idea of goodness and virtue. This coincidence makes the honor feel even more personal,” Yang said. “I thank God, my family, and the Jackson School of Geosciences, which hired me in 2001 and gave me the opportunity to develop my career here. I am also grateful to my home Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, and to my mentors, colleagues, students, postdocs, and visitors whose support, collaboration, and inspiration have made this journey possible.”

AGU fellows are recognized for their scientific eminence, demonstrated through breakthroughs, discoveries or innovations that advance the Earth and space sciences. Fellows act as external experts, advising government agencies and other organizations outside the sciences upon request.

Honorees will be recognized at AGU25, which will convene in New Orleans, Louisiana on Dec. 15-19, 2025.