Sergej Zilitinkevich Award 2025 for Mathias Rotach

Professor Mathias W. Rotach of the University of Innsbruck has been selected as the recipient of the 4th Sergej Zilitinkevich Memorial Award for his outstanding contributions to the field of boundary-layer meteorology.

Professor Rotach, based in the Department of Atmospheric and Cryospheric Sciences at the University of Innsbruck is internationally recognized for his pioneering research on atmospheric boundary layer processes over complex terrains, including urban and mountainous environments. His work uniquely integrates theoretical development, observational campaigns, and numerical modelling, advancing both fundamental understanding and applied solutions in areas such as carbon cycling, snow science, hydrology, weather prediction, and public health.

Mathias Rotach on being selected for the award:

In times when scientific facts are denied by highest politicians, to be honoured in the memory of a truly great scientist, who would not shut his mouth when necessary, is even more flattering than it is for a boundary layer meteorologist to be honoured in the memory of Sergej Zilitinkevich in the first place.

Award Lecture: The Mountain Boundary Layer (MoBL) – Do We Need Yet Another Variety?

The award ceremony and lecture will take place at Annual Meeting of the EMS in Ljubljana, Slovenia, 7 – 12 September 2025.

About Mathias Rotach

Professor Rotach has played a leading role in several high-impact community research programs and field campaigns, which substantially advanced treatment, understanding and modeling of the urban boundary layer (e.g., BUBBLE) and ABL processes over complex, in particular mountainous, terrain (MAP, TEAMx). These research programs have significantly contributed to our understanding of turbulent exchange and surface-atmosphere interactions over heterogeneous terrain and their impact on the boundary layer structure. With this, his work addresses some of the most challenging topics in boundary-layer science and continues to influence the direction of research and policy in environmental and atmospheric sciences. The title of one of his key publications (‘The World is not Flat – implications for the global carbon balance’) may illustrate this exemplarily.

With more than 130 scientific publications, almost 9000 citations, and an H-index of 49 (Web of Science), Professor Rotach exemplifies scientific excellence and leadership in his field.

About the Sergej Zilitinkevich Memorial Award

The Sergej Zilitinkevich Memorial Award is an international honor granted annually to a creative and influential scientist who has made significant breakthroughs in atmospheric or oceanic boundary-layer research. The award is supported by a distinguished group of institutions, including the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), European Meteorological Society (EMS), Atmosphere and Climate Competence Center (ACCC), Institute for Atmospheric and Earth System Research (INAR), Finnish Network for Atmospheric Sciences, Finnish Geophysical Society, and the Finnish Foundation for Aerosol Research. More on Sergej Zilitinkevich Memorial Award at https://www.acccflagship.fi/?s=Zilitinkevich