Indian-Born U.S. Climate Scientist Ramanathan Awarded Crafoord Prize
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Veerabhadran Ramanathan, a leading climate scientist whose work reshaped how the world understands atmospheric pollution and global warming, has been named the 2026 recipient of the Crafoord Prize in Geosciences, one of the most respected awards in science.
The prize was announced by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, which recognized the Indian-origin scientist for research that established the scientific foundation for understanding how small particles and gases in the atmosphere drive climate change.
Ramanathan is a distinguished professor emeritus at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography at the University of California San Diego.
Over several decades, Ramanathan’s work has clarified how aerosols and climate pollutants alter Earth’s energy balance, shaping both global temperatures and air quality. His research showed that human-produced pollutants trap heat in the atmosphere and disrupt the natural flow of energy between Earth and space, accelerating climate warming.
Born in Chennai, India, in 1944, Ramanathan earned his doctorate in 1974 from the State University of New York. In 1975, he discovered the powerful warming effect of chlorofluorocarbons, or CFCs, demonstrating that these chemicals trap heat far more effectively than carbon dioxide. This finding revealed that atmospheric chemistry plays a central role in the climate system and led to the identification of other highly potent climate pollutants, including methane, hydrofluorocarbons, and nitrous oxide.
In the 1980s, Ramanathan was instrumental in advancing satellite measurements at NASA to track Earth’s energy budget. These observations confirmed that greenhouse gases from human activity were increasing the amount of heat retained in the atmosphere.
After joining Scripps Oceanography in 1990, he continued to expand his research, studying how replacement chemicals for CFCs and different forms of aerosols affect climate, weather patterns, and the ozone layer.
His work in the Indian Ocean revealed that pollution can travel vast distances, even far from land. He showed that soot and other dark aerosols absorb radiation, heat the atmosphere, reduce sunlight at the surface, and disrupt rainfall patterns. This research also linked air pollution to the melting of Himalayan glaciers and helped inform international efforts to reduce short-lived climate pollutants.
Beyond research, Ramanathan has played a major role in connecting science with policy and public understanding. He has advised political leaders, worked with religious institutions, and helped launch the University of California’s Bending the Curve initiative to promote climate literacy and practical solutions.
Ramanathan is the second scientist from Scripps Oceanography to receive the Crafoord Prize. The prize includes eight million Swedish kronor, or about $900,000, and will be presented during Crafoord Days events in Lund and Stockholm in May 2026.
Photo: Scripps Institution of Oceanography, UC San Diego