Research Interests

I am an atmospheric scientist who researches climate change. I am interested in how much global warming we should expect from increasing greenhouse gases. This inevitably leads to the study of clouds, which cool the planet by reflecting sunlight back to space and warm the planet by reducing the infrared radiation emitted to space. How the balance of these competing effects changes as the planet warms (known collectively as the ‘cloud feedback’) largely determines how much warming accompanies increasing greenhouse gases. I use theory, observations, and global climate models to investigate these challenging questions.
 

Personal Website
 

Professional Activities, Service, & Leadership Roles

• Chair, 2027 Gordon Research Conference on Radiation and Climate
• Vice Chair, 2025 Gordon Research Conference on Radiation and Climate
• Editor, Journal of Climate, Dec 2024–present
• Steering Group, CMIP7 Data Request (Atmosphere Theme), Jul 2024–present
• External Peer Reviewer, NASA Langley Research Center Science Directorate, Nov 2023
• Programme Advisory Group, Uncertainty in Climate Sensitivity due to Clouds (CloudSense) Research Programme, Sep 2023 – present
• CFMIP Scientific Steering Committee, Jul 2023 - present
• Discussion Leader, 2023 Gordon Research Conference on Radiation and Climate
• AGU Global Environmental Change Fellows Committee, Jan 2022 - present
• Contributing Author for IPCC 6th Assessment Report, 2019-2021
• Convener, Extratropical Cloud Feedbacks Session, 2020 CFMIP Meeting
• Discussion Leader, Climate Sensitivity Session, 2019 Gordon Research Conference on Radiation and Climate
• LLNL Physical and Life Sciences Postdoc Committee, Sep 2017 – Jan 2020
• PCMDI Leader Search Committee, Feb 2017 – June 2018
• Section Editor for Current Climate Change Reports Topical Collection on Climate Feedbacks, 2014 – 2017.
• Contributor to Climate Feedback, a worldwide network of scientists who collectively assess the credibility of influential climate change media coverage.
• Participant, DOE Biological and Environmental Research Advisory Committee Grand Challenges II Workshop, 2017
• Co-convener, Climate Sensitivity and Feedbacks: Advances and New Paradigms Session, 2013 – 2016 AGU Fall Meetings
• Discussion Leader, Cloud Feedbacks Session, 2013 Gordon Research Seminar on Radiation and Climate
• Co-convener, Atmospheric Feedbacks and Climate Change: Observations, Theory, and Modeling Session, 2012 AGU Fall Meeting
• Chair, 2011 Gordon Research Seminar on Radiation and Climate
• Organizer, University of Washington Graduate Climate Conferences, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2010
• Senator, University of Washington Graduate and Professional Student Senate, Sep 2006 – Jun 2009
• Member, American Meteorological Society, 2003 – Present
• Member, American Geophysical Union, 2005 – Present
• Proposal reviewer for DOE, European Research Council, NASA, and NSF
• Reviewer for many journals
   

Recent Invited Talks

• UC San Diego, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, 27 Jan 2026
• McGill University, Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences, 21 Oct 2025
• Duke University, Earth & Climate Sciences Division, 3 Oct 2025
• Stanford University, Department of Earth System Science, 2 Apr 2025
• Univ. of Illinois Urbana–Champaign, Dept. of Climate, Meteorology, & Atmospheric Sciences, 22 Oct 2024
• CERES Science Team Meeting, 2 Oct 2024
• LLNL Senior Staff Meeting, 1 Jul 2024
• NASA Ames Research Center, Earth Science Division, 20 Jun 2024
• Yale University, School of the Environment, 25 Apr 2024
• AGU Fall Meeting: The Flows of Energy Through the Climate System Session, 12 Dec 2023
• AGU Fall Meeting: Climate Sensitivity and Feedbacks Session, 11 Dec 2023
• University of Cambridge Centre for Atmospheric Science, Department of Chemistry, 24 October 2023
• Yale University, School of the Environment, ENV 630, 27 Apr 2023
• AGU Fall Meeting: Atmospheric Physics, Radiation, Clouds, and Aerosols Session, 15 Dec 2022
• “Moving the field forward” Panel, Pattern Effect Workshop, 12 May 2022
• Yale University, School of the Environment, ENV 630, 21 Apr 2022
• Aerosol and Cloud, Convection, and Precipitation Webinar Series, 19 Apr 2021
• University of Maryland Baltimore County Department of Physics Colloquium, 24 Feb 2021
• University of Toronto Physics Colloquium, 28 Jan 2021

Ph.D., Atmospheric Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 2010

M.Sc., Atmospheric Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 2007

B.S., Meteorology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 2004

First Authored Publications

• Zelinka, M. D., T. A. Myers, Y. Qin, L.-W. Chao, S. A. Klein, S. Po-Chedley, P.-L. Ma, C. Wall, P. Ceppi, A. Gettelman, 2026: Recent cloud trends and extremes reaffirm established bounds on cloud feedback and aerosol-cloud interactions, Commun. Earth Environ., doi:10.1038/s43247-026-03461-8.
• Zelinka, M. D., L.-W. Chao, T. A. Myers, Y. Qin, and S. A. Klein, 2025: Technical note: Recommendations for diagnosing cloud feedbacks and rapid cloud adjustments using cloud radiative kernels, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 25, 1477-1495, doi:10.5194/acp-25-1477-2025.
• Zelinka, M. D., C. J. Smith, Y. Qin, and K. E. Taylor, 2023: Comparison of methods to estimate aerosol effective radiative forcings in climate models, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 23, 8879–8898, doi:10.5194/acp-23-8879-2023.
• Zelinka, M. D., I. Tan, L. Oreopoulos, G. Tselioudis, 2023: Detailing Cloud Property Feedbacks with a Regime-Based Decomposition, Clim Dyn., 60, 2983–3003, doi:10.1007/s00382-022-06488-7.
• Zelinka, M. D., S. A. Klein, Y. Qin, and T. A. Myers, 2022: Evaluating climate models’ cloud feedbacks against expert judgment, J. Geophys. Res., 127, doi:10.1029/2021JD035198.
• Zelinka, M. D., T. A. Myers, D. T. McCoy, S. Po-Chedley, P. M. Caldwell, P. Ceppi, S. A. Klein, and K. E. Taylor, 2020: Causes of higher climate sensitivity in CMIP6 models, Geophys. Res. Lett., 47, doi:10.1029/2019GL085782.
• Zelinka, M. D., K. M. Grise, S. A. Klein, C. Zhou, A. M. DeAngelis, and M. W. Christensen, 2018: Drivers of the Low Cloud Response to Poleward Jet Shifts in the North Pacific in Observations and Models, J. Climate, 31, 7925-7947, doi:10.1175/JCLI-D-18-0114.1.
• Zelinka M. D., D. A. Randall, M. J. Webb, and S. A. Klein, 2017: Clearing clouds of uncertainty, Nature Clim. Change 7, 674–678, doi:10.1038/nclimate3402.
• Zelinka, M. D., C. Zhou, and S. A. Klein, 2016: Insights from a Refined Decomposition of Cloud Feedbacks, Geophys. Res. Lett. 43,9259–9269, doi:10.1002/2016GL069917.
• Zelinka, M. D., T. Andrews, P. M. Forster, and K. E. Taylor, 2014: Quantifying Components of Aerosol-Cloud-Radiation Interactions in Climate Models, J. Geophys. Res., 119, 7599–7615, doi:10.1002/2014JD021710.
• Zelinka, M.D., S.A. Klein, K.E. Taylor, T. Andrews, M.J. Webb, J.M. Gregory, and P.M. Forster, 2013: Contributions of Different Cloud Types to Feedbacks and Rapid Adjustments in CMIP5, J. Climate, 26, 5007–5027, doi:10.1175/JCLI-D-12-00555.1.
• Zelinka, M. D., S. A. Klein, and D. L. Hartmann, 2012: Computing and Partitioning Cloud Feedbacks Using Cloud Property Histograms. Part I: Cloud Radiative Kernels, J. Climate, 25, 3715–3735, doi:10.1175/JCLI-D-11-00248.1.
• Zelinka, M. D., S. A. Klein, and D. L. Hartmann, 2012: Computing and Partitioning Cloud Feedbacks Using Cloud Property Histograms. Part II: Attribution to Changes in Cloud Amount, Altitude, and Optical Depth, J. Climate, 25, 3736–3754, doi:10.1175/JCLI-D-11-00249.1.
• Zelinka, M.D. and D.L. Hartmann, 2012: Climate Feedbacks and their Implications for Poleward Energy Flux Changes in a Warming Climate, J. Climate, 25, 608–624, doi:10.1175/JCLI-D-11-00096.1.
• Zelinka, M.D. and D.L. Hartmann, 2011: The Observed Sensitivity of High Clouds to Mean Surface Temperature Anomalies in the Tropics, J. Geophys. Res., 116, D23103, doi:10.1029/2011JD016459.
• Zelinka, M.D. and D.L. Hartmann, 2010: Why is Longwave Cloud Feedback Positive? J. Geophys. Res. 115, D16117, doi:10.1029/2010JD013817.
• Zelinka, M.D. and D.L. Hartmann, 2009: Response of Humidity and Clouds to Tropical Deep Convection, J. Climate 22, 2389–2404, doi:10.1175/2008JCLI2452.1.
   

Complete List of Publications
 

Google Scholar Profile
 

Honors and Awards

• Richard P. and Linda S. Turco Lectureship, Department of Climate, Meteorology, & Atmospheric Sciences, University of Illinois Urbana–Champaign, 2024-2025
• LLNL Physical and Life Sciences Directorate Award for Excellence in Publication for Lee et al. (2024)
• Zelinka et al. (2020) named “Editor’s Choice Paper” by Editor-in-Chief of Geophysical Research Letters
• American Meteorological Society Henry G. Houghton Award, 2022
• Eos Research Spotlight for Zelinka et al. (2022)
• Editors’ Citation for Excellence in Refereeing - Geophysical Research Letters, 2021
• 2021 LLNL Deputy Director’s S&T Excellence in Publication Award for Zelinka et al. (2020)
• 2021 LLNL Deputy Director’s S&T Excellence in Publication Award for Sherwood et al. (2020)
• Sherwood et al. (2020) named runner-up for Science Magazine’s 2020 Breakthrough of the Year
• Nature Climate Change Research Highlight for Dong et al. (2020)
• LLNL Physical and Life Sciences Directorate Award for Excellence in Publication for Sherwood et al. (2020)
• US CLIVAR Research Highlight for Zelinka et al. (2020)
• Eos Research Spotlight for Zelinka et al. (2020)
• LLNL Outstanding Mentor Award, 2018
• LLNL Early and Mid-Career Recognition Program Award, 2018
• Eos Research Spotlight for Zhou et al. (2017)
• Diablo Magazine 40 Under 40, 2017
• LLNL Physical and Life Sciences Directorate Spot Award for Excellence in Publications, 2017
• LLNL Physical and Life Sciences Directorate Award for Excellence in Publication for Zhou et al. (2016)
• LLNL Physical and Life Sciences Directorate Award for Excellence in Publication for Norris et al. (2016)
• Nature Climate Change Research Highlight for Zhou et al. (2016)
• Eos Research Spotlight for Zelinka et al. (2016)
• 2016 LLNL Deputy Director for Science and Technology Excellence in Publication Award for Santer et al. (2015)
• Eos Research Spotlight for McCoy et al. (2016)
• LLNL Spot Award for “Outstanding Contributions to Climate Science”, 2015
• Award recipient, NASA New Investigator Program in Earth Science, 2013
• Editors’ Citation for Excellence in Refereeing for J. of Geophys. Res., 2012
• AGU Journal Highlight for Zelinka and Hartmann (2010)