Chaim Garfinkel

2025 Israel Award Winner — Faculty

Chaim Garfinkel

Current Position:
Professor, The Fredy & Nadine Herrmann Institute of Earth Sciences

Institution:
The Hebrew University of Jerusalem

Discipline:
Physical Earth Sciences

Recognized for: Advancing our ability to predict climate change on timescales from months to decades, improving weather forecast systems and providing critical insights for climate policy and adaptation strategies.

Areas of Research Interest and Expertise:
Climate dynamics; Subseasonal to seasonal predictability; Stratosphere-troposphere coupling

Previous Positions:

BSc in Applied and Engineering Physics, Cornell University, USA
MSc in Atmospheric Science, University of Washington, USA (Advisor: Dennis Hartmann)
PhD in Atmospheric Science, University of Washington, USA (Advisor: Dennis Hartmann)
Postdoctoral Associate, Johns Hopkins University, USA (Advisor: Darryn Waugh)

Research Summary:

Improving seasonal and long-term climate predictions is essential for mitigating the impact of climate change. Chaim Garfinkel, PhD, is advancing our understanding of atmospheric variability, particularly the role of stratosphere-troposphere interactions and large-scale climate patterns in driving weather extremes. His research has been instrumental in refining climate models and improving seasonal forecasts, providing critical insights into how atmospheric processes shape weather on timescales from weeks to decades. By bridging fundamental research with real-world applications, Garfinkel has enhanced global forecasting systems, helping policymakers and communities better anticipate and respond to climate-related risks.

“Improving predictions and projections of surface weather and climate extremes will allow policy makers and societies to better plan and adapt to the increasingly severe manifestations of climate change. I am humbled to join this cohort of young scientists working to overcome the biggest challenges facing society.”

Key Publications:

  1. CI Garfinkel, D Rostkier-Edelstein, E Morin, A Hochman, C Schwartz, R Nirel. Precursors of summer heatwaves in the Eastern Mediterranean. Quarterly Journal of the Royal Meteorological Society, 2024.
  2. CI Garfinkel, B Keller, O Lachmy, IP White, EP Gerber, M Jucker, O Adam. Impact of parameterized convection on the storm track and near-surface jet response to global warming: implications for mechanisms of the future poleward shift. Journal of Climate, 2024.
  3. CI Garfinkel, EP Gerber, O Shamir, J Rao, M Jucker, I White, N Paldor. A QBO cookbook: Sensitivity of the Quasi-Biennial Oscillation to resolution, resolved waves, and parameterized gravity waves. Journal of Advances in Modeling Earth Systems, 2022.
  4. CI Garfinkel, IP White, EP Gerber, M Jucker. The building blocks of Northern Hemisphere wintertime stationary waves. Journal of Climate, 2020.

Other Honors:

2023 AMS Editor's Award winner for Journal of Climate 
2017 AGU Editors' citation for excellence in refereeing 
2014 Best Poster Award, SPARC General Assembly (Queenstown, New Zealand) 
2013 Golda Meir Fellow, The Hebrew University 

In the Media:

Website