Dr Finnigan is an authority on atmospheric turbulence over complex and vegetated surfaces. He is a primary author of the standard model of large and fine scale turbulent structure over plant canopies. Using theoretical and physical models, he has led the extension of these theories to complex topography with profound implications for measurements and modeling of land-air exchange. He is the author of the standard set of equations universally applied to analyze flows in plant canopies and over topography. He has pioneered the understanding of gravity wave-turbulence interaction in the boundary layer with major implications for atmospheric diffusion at night.