Ning Zeng

Ning Zeng is a Professor at the University of Maryland, affiliated with the Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Science, Earth System Science Interdisciplinary Center, and Department of Geology. He holds a Ph.D. in Atmospheric Sciences from the University of Arizona and has held research positions at MIT, UCLA, NASA, and the Max-Planck Institute. His research focuses on climate change mechanisms, carbon cycle dynamics, and climate policy solutions. Zeng pioneered the 'Wood Vault' concept for durable carbon sequestration via buried biomass, validated by a 3775-year-old log discovery. His work bridges natural and engineered systems to address climate challenges.

Education: B.S. Physics (University of Science and Technology of China), M.S. Physics (University of Arizona), Ph.D. Atmospheric Sciences (University of Arizona).

Research interests emphasize carbon-climate interactions, climate variability across timescales, and policy implications of climate mitigation. Key contributions include modeling atmosphere-land-ocean systems, quantifying CO₂ seasonal cycles, and analyzing climate feedbacks like desert expansion and Sahel droughts. Zeng's work has been recognized by Clarivate's Highly Cited Researchers list and inclusion in Reuters' Top Climate Scientists ranking. He contributed to IPCC reports and co-founded Earth System Dynamics journal.

Notable achievements include identifying the Green Revolution's role in amplifying CO₂ seasonal cycles and demonstrating wood burial's potential for gigaton-scale carbon removal. Current projects explore China's carbon-neutral strategies, urban CO₂ monitoring, and global carbon budget assessments. Collaborations span academic, governmental, and industry partners, including Carbon Lockdown, a company commercializing his research.