Scientists Taro Matsuno of the Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology and Daniel Sperling of the University of California, Davis, have been awarded the 2013 international Blue Planet Prize by the Asahi Glass Foundation.

The foundation announced Tuesday that Matsuno, 78, was recognized for his contributions to raising awareness of global warming and climate change by his leadership in climatology research.

His research includes predictions of climate change by using the Earth Simulator supercomputer. He also played an important role in discovering the causes of weather phenomenon known as El Nino.

Sperling, 62, was credited for contributing to urban environmental policies through his research on the environmental impact of traffic systems.

The Blue Planet Prize has been awarded annually since 1992. This year's winners will be awarded a certificate of merit, a commemorative trophy and ¥50 million at a ceremony Oct. 30 in Tokyo.