The following In Memoriam tribute is provided by Africa Barreto, a close collaborator of Emilio Cuevas and head of aerosol remote sensing at the Izaña station.
It is with profound sadness that we share news of the passing of Dr. Emilio Cuevas Agulló (1961–2026), former Director of the Izaña Atmospheric Research Centre (CIAI-AEMET, Spain). A pioneering atmospheric scientist with over 35 years of dedication, he profoundly shaped global ozone, aerosols and atmospheric composition monitoring.
In Memoriam – Dr. Emilio Cuevas Agulló (1961–2026) IRC member from 2016 to 2024
Dr. Emilio Cuevas Agulló (1961–2026), former Director of the Izaña Atmospheric Research Centre (CIAI-AEMET, Spain), was a pioneering atmospheric scientist whose 35+ years of dedication shaped global ozone and composition monitoring. Trained in Physics (1985) and awarded a PhD in Atmospheric Sciences (1996, Universidad Complutense de Madrid), he joined Izaña in 1989, transforming it from a mountain observatory into a world-leading GAW-WMO hub integrated into BSRN since 2009.
He was the first Spanish member of the International Ozone Commission (IO3C-IAMAS, 2000–2007), he advanced ozone coordination, Brewer spectrophotometer intercomparisons, and Spain’s Vienna Convention reports.
At Izaña’s BSRN station, he pioneered high-quality radiation observations in Izaña, a global reference for radiation measurements.
A key WMO figure, Dr. Cuevas drove Global Atmosphere Watch (GAW) and SDS-WAS (Sand and Dust Storm Warning Advisory System) initiatives, building capacity in Africa and Latin America through twinning programs (e.g., Tamanrasset, Algeria) and ozone sonde networks (Ushuaia, Argentina). He co-authored 201 peer-reviewed papers (7,182 citations; h-index 44), directed eight PhDs, and led 20+ national/EU projects, leaving a strengthened institution upon retiring in 2023.
IRC, IAMAA, and WMO communities remember him as a rigorous scientist, visionary leader, and advocate for precise atmospheric observations serving ozone protection and climate science.
Rest in peace, Emilio.