Photo credit: science.nasa.gov
Pierre Morel, who served as the inaugural director of the World Climate Research Programme (WCRP) and was a founding member of its Global Energy and Water Exchanges (GEWEX) Core project, passed away on December 10, 2024.
Originally trained as a theoretical physicist, Pierre’s doctoral research focused on the properties and existence of a condensed superfluid state of liquid Helium 3 at ultra-low temperatures. His academic journey included teaching fundamental physics, geophysical fluid dynamics, and climate science. Over time, he shifted his focus to understanding atmospheric circulation, dedicating efforts to the development of numerical models for atmospheric flow, which became fundamental to modern climatology.
Morel’s contributions were pivotal in the advancement of methods and tools utilized for atmospheric studies, many of which are still relevant today. Among his significant projects are Project Éole, a pioneering experimental wind energy facility launched in the 1980s in Quebec, Canada, which operated until 1993; the ARGOS satellite, a joint initiative by CNES, NOAA, and NASA that began collecting and transmitting meteorological and oceanographic data globally after its 1978 launch; the Search and Rescue Satellite Aided Tracking (SARSAT) system, developed through a U.S.-Canada-France collaboration, which successfully launched its first satellite in 1982; and the METEOSAT series of geostationary satellites deployed by the European Organization for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites, with ongoing operations that continue today since the initial launch in 1977. Notably, the 2022 launch of Meteosat–12 marked the introduction of the METEOSAT Third Generation (MTG) satellite series.
In the early stages of his career, Pierre directed the French Laboratoire de Météorologie Dynamique (LMD) prior to leading the Centre National d’Études Spatiales (CNES). In 1980, he became the first chairman of the WCRP, where he oversaw an expansive interdisciplinary research agenda that encompassed global climate and Earth system science. This initiative brought together experts from various fields, including atmospheric, oceanic, hydrological, and polar sciences, facilitating an international collaborative approach. Furthermore, Pierre held leadership roles in NASA’s planetary programs, contributing to strategic discussions about the future of NASA’s Earth Observing System (EOS) during the mid-to-late 1990s. For instance, an entry from the Earth Observer journal titled “Minutes Of The Fourteenth Earth Science Enterprise/Earth Observing System (ESE/EOS) Investigators Working Group Meeting” summarizes one of his presentations concerning the mission planning for the proposed EOS “second series,” a concept ultimately set aside in favor of the enduring first series, which produced satellites such as Terra, Aqua, and Aura.
In recognition of his exceptional contributions to the field of geophysical fluid dynamics and his leadership in climate research, Pierre was honored with the 2008 Alfred Wegener Medal and awarded honorary membership for his influential role in advancing the applications of space observation within meteorology and Earth system sciences.
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science.nasa.gov