Richard Blane Alley (born 1957) is an American geologist and Evan Pugh Professor of Geosciences at Pennsylvania State University.[5] He has authored more than 170 refereed scientific publications about the relationships between Earth's cryosphere and global climate change,and is recognized by the Institute for Scientific Information as a "highly cited researcher."He had win the 2014 BBVA Foundation Frontiers of Knowledge Award in Climate Change category for his “pioneering research” into the “mechanics of ice and its implications for abrupt climate change,” in the words of the jury’s citation.