Remembering Jorge Sarmiento

The global climate science community mourns the passing of Dr. Jorge Sarmiento in May 2026. In addition to co-authoring the first decadal U.S. Carbon Cycle Science Plan (Sarmiento and Wofsy, 1999) and leading the historic push to develop the U.S. Carbon Cycle Science Program and its carbon science coordination entities, Ocean Carbon and Biogeochemistry (OCB) program and the North American Carbon Program (NACP), Jorge stood as a pioneering "giant" in ocean biogeochemistry whose visionary leadership fundamentally shaped the trajectory of Earth system science. From his early steering of Joint Global Ocean Flux Study (JGOFS)  to his profound contributions within OCB and his groundbreaking work heading the Southern Ocean Carbon and Climate Observations and Modeling (SOCCOM) initiative, Jorge unraveled the critical complexities of the Southern Ocean and global marine ecosystems.
Beyond his extraordinary scientific accolades, including his shared recognition in the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize, his ultimate legacy lives on through his selfless mentorship, his infectious enthusiasm for new ideas, and the generations of brilliant scientists he inspired and guided. We owe an immeasurable debt of gratitude to Jorge for his career of profound discovery, collaborative spirit, and enduring dedication to understanding our planet. He will be deeply missed, but his scientific legacy remains a guiding light for all future carbon cycle research.

See also ‘Remembering Jorge Sarmiento, a ‘giant’ in climate studies’

Photo credit: Princeton University, Denise Applewhite (2011).