Laifang Li
318A Clark Bldg., WHOI, Woods Hole, MA, 02543
Phone: 508-289-3762
E-mail: lli@whoi.edu
EDUCATION
2009-2014
Ph.D., Climate Dynamics
Earth and Ocean Sciences, Nicholas School of Environment and Ocean
Sciences, Duke University
2006-2009
Master of Science, Geophysical Fluid Dynamics
Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Science
2002-2006
Bachelor of Science, Physical Oceanography
Ocean University of China
RESEARCH INTERESTS
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Climate Dynamics and Climate Change
Global and Regional Hydrological Cycle
Climate Modeling
Air-sea Interaction
Bayesian Statistical Inference
RESEARCH EXPERIENCE
Aug.2014-present
Postdoctoral Scholar, Physical Oceanography department, Woods
Hole Oceanographic Institution
Jun. 2014-Aug.2014
Research Associate, Earth and Ocean Sciences, Nicholas School of
Environment and Ocean Sciences, Duke University
Aug. 2009-May 2014
Graduate Research Assistant, Earth and Ocean Sciences, Nicholas
School of Environment and Ocean Sciences, Duke University
Dec. 2011-Jan. 2012
Visiting student, Utah State University
Sep. 2006-Aug. 2009
Graduate Research Assistant, Institute of Atmospheric Physics,
Chinese Academy of Science
Sep. 2004-May 2005
Undergraduate Research Assistant, Ocean University of China
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TEACHING EXPERIENCE
2014 Spring
Graduate Mentor (Tristan Ballad)
2014 Spring
Teaching Assistant for EOS 512: Climate Change and Climate Modeling
2013 Fall
Teaching Assistant for EOS 511: The Climate System
2013 Spring
Teaching Assistant and Lab Lecturer for EOS 204: Evolution of Earth and
Life
2012 Spring
Teaching Assistant for EOS 220: Fluid Dynamics (guest lecturer of
“atmospheric boundary layer”)
PUBLICATIONS
[17] Li, L., and W. Li (2014): Thermodynamic and dynamic contributions to future changes in
regional precipitation variance: Focus on the Southeastern United States. Clim. Dyn.,In Press,
doi: 10.1007/s00382-014-2216-3.
[16] Li, L., W. Li, and J. Jin (2014): Contributions of the North Atlantic subtropical high to
regional climate model (RCM) skill in simulating Southeastern United State summer
precipitation. Clim. Dyn., Conditionally Accepted.
[15] Brown, P. T., W. Li, L. Li, and Y Ming (2014): Top-of-atmosphere radiative contribution to
unforced decadal global temperature variability in climate models. Geophys. Res. Letts., 41,
5175–5183.
[14] Li, L., W. Li, and J. Jin (2014): Improvement in the WRF simulation skills of Southeastern
United State summer rainfall: physical parameterization and horizontal resolution. Clim. Dyn., In
Press, doi: 10.1007/s00382-013-2031-2.
[13] Zhang P., G. Li, X. Fu, Y. Liu, and L. Li (2014): Clustering of Tibetan Plateau vortices by
10-30-day intraseasonal oscillation. Mon. Wea. Rev., 142, 290-300.
[12] Li, L., and W. Li (2013): Southeastern United States summer rainfall framework and its
implication for seasonal prediction. Environ. Res. Lett., 8, 044017 (Highlighted by Environ. Res.
Lett., National Science Foundation, Science Daily).
[11] Li, W., L. Li, M. Ting, Y. Deng. Y. Kushnir, Y. Liu, Y. Lu, C. Wang, and P. Zhang (2013):
Intensification of the Southern Hemisphere Summertime Subtropical Anticyclones in a Warming
Climate, Geophys. Res. Lett., 40, 5959–5964.
[10] Li, W., L. Li, R. Fu, Y. Deng, and H. Wang, (2013): Comments on “Influences of the
Bermuda High and atmospheric moistening on changes in summer rainfall in the Atlanta,
Georgia region, USA”, Int. J. Climatology, In Press, doi: 10.1002/joc.3675.
[09] Li, L., W. Li, and A. P. Barros (2013): Atmospheric moisture budget and its regulation of
the summer precipitation variability over the Southeastern United States. Clim. Dyn., 41, 613631.
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[08] Ye, J., W. Li, L. Li, and F. Zhang (2013): “North drying and south wetting” summer
precipitation trend over China and its potential linkage with aerosol loading. Atmos. Res., 125,
12-19.
[07] Li, W., L. Li, R. Fu, Y. Deng, and H. Wang (2013): Reply to comments on “Changes to the
North Atlantic subtropical high and its role in the intensification of summer rainfall variability in
the Southeastern United States”. J. Climate, 26, 683-688.
[06] Li, L., W. Li, and Y. Deng (2013): Summer rainfall variability over the Southeastern United
States and its intensification in the 21st century as assessed by CMIP5 Models. J. Geophys. Res.,
118, 340-354, doi: 10.1002/jgrd.50136.
[05] Li, W., L. Li, M. Ting, and Y. Liu (2012): Intensification of Northern hemisphere
summertime near-surface subtropical highs in a warming climate. Nature Geosciences, 5, 830834 (Highlighted by Nature Geoscience, Science Daily, etc).
[04] Li, L., W. Li, and Y. Kushnir (2012): Variation of North Atlantic Subtropical High western
ridge and its implication to the Southeastern US summer precipitation. Clim. Dyn., 39,14011412.
[03] Li, L., Y. Liu, and C. Bo (2011): The effect of diabatic heating on the Jan. 2008 snow storm
in Southern China (In Chinese). Climate and Environmental Research, 16, 126-136.
[02] Li, W., P. Zhang, J. Ye, L. Li, and P. A. Baker (2011): Impact of two different types of El
Nino events on the Amazon climate and ecosystem productivity. J. Plant Ecology, 4, 91-99.
[01] Li, W., L. Li, R. Fu, Y. Deng, and H. Wang (2011): Changes to the North Atlantic
subtropical high and its role in the intensification of summer rainfall variability in the
Southeastern United States. J. Climate, 24, 1499-1506 (Highlighted by Nature Climate Change,
Washington Post, Science Daily, etc).
WORK IN PROGRESS
[01] Li, L., Q. Tang, W. Li, P. Zhang, and Y. Liu, (2014): Wintertime tropical SSTA as a
precursor of warm season heavy rainfall events over the Huaihe River Valley. Ready to submit to
Clim. Dyn.
[02] W. Li, Li, L., and Yi Deng (2014): IPO impact on Tropical Cyclone activities over the
North Atlantic and eastern North Pacific. Ready to submit to Nature Communications.
[03] Li, L., W. Li, and P. T. Brown, (2014): Formation of United States summer rainfall dipole:
mechanism and future implication. In Preparation.
[04] Li, L., W. Li, Q. Tang, Y. Liu and P. Zhang (2014): How well can state-of-the-art GCMs
simulate the probability behavior of summer rainfall over the Middle-and-Lower Reach of the
Yangtze River. In Preparation.
[05] Li, W., L. Li, and P. T. Brown, (2014): Interactions between low-level clouds over Canary
and Bermuda High. In Preparation.
[06] Li, W., L. Li, and T. Ballard, (2014): Future Precipitation Change over Ethiopia. In
Preparation.
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PRESENTATIONS
Li, L., (2013 December): Influence of the North Atlantic Subtropical High on climate over the
Southeast: more variable summer rainfall as the climate warms. Invited talk at PO seminar,
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, MA.
Li, L., and W. Li (2013 December): Thermodynamic and dynamic contributions to future
changes in regional precipitation variance: focus on the Southeastern United States. Paper
presented at 2013 AGU fall meeting, San Francisco, CA.
Li, L., W. Li, and D. Collins (2013 October): Southeastern United States summer rainfall
framework and its implication for seasonal forecast. Paper presented at 38th NOAA climate
diagnostic and prediction workshop, College Park, MD.
Li, L., W. Li, and A. P. Barros (2013 January): Atmospheric moisture budget and its regulation
of the summer precipitation variability over the Southeastern United States. Paper presented at
93rd AMS annual meeting, Austin, TX.
Li, L., (2012 December): What controls Southeastern US summer precipitation variability in
current and future climate. Invited talk, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources
Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
Li, L., W. Li, and Y. Deng (2012 December): Summer rainfall variability over the Southeastern
United States and its intensification in the 21st century as assessed by CMIP5 Models. Paper
presented at 2012 AGU fall meeting, San Francisco, CA.
Li, L., W. Li, and Y. Kushnir (2011 December): Impact of the North Atlantic subtropical high
variation on the Southeastern U.S. summer precipitation extremes. Paper presented at 2011 AGU
fall meeting, San Francisco, CA.
Li, W., and L. Li (2012 March): Assessment of changes in summer rainfall variability over the
Southeastern United States as simulated by CMIP5 Models. Paper presented at WCRP CMIP5
workshop, Honolulu, HW.
Li, W., L. Li, R. Fu, Y. Deng, and H. Wang (2011 January): Changes to the North Atlantic
subtropical high and its role in the intensification of summer rainfall variability in the
Southeastern United States. Paper presented at 91st AMS annual meeting, Seattle, WA.
HONORS AND AWARDS
2014 Dean’s Award for Best PhD Manuscript ($3,000)
2014 WHOI Postdoctoral Fellowship
2013 CYWater (International Association of Chinese Youth in Water Sciences) Best Paper
Award ($200)
2013 Duke University Library Publication Funding ($1600)
2012 Duke University Graduate School Conference Travel Fellowship ($500)
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RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS
2013 Research highlighted by Environmental Research Letters: Improving summer rainfall
forecasts for the southeastern US (http://environmentalresearchweb.org/cws/article/news/55625)
2013 Research highlighted by Science Daily: Framework could improve Southeast rainfall
forecasts (http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/11/131120133939.htm)
2013 Research highlighted by National Science Foundation: Framework could improve
Southeast rainfall forecasts (http://www.nsf.gov/news/news_summ.jsp?cntn_id=129766)
2012 Research is featured with a commentary at Nature Geoscience -Atmospheric Science:
Future oceans under pressure (http://www.nature.com/ngeo/journal/v5/n11/full/ngeo1623.html)
2012 Research highlighted by Science Daily: Weather-Making High-Pressure Systems Predicted
to Intensify (http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/10/121005123904.htm)
2010 Research highlighted by Nature Climate Change - Atmospheric science: Southeastern
summer extremes (http://www.nature.com/nclimate/2010/101116/full/nclimate1012.html)
2010 Research highlighted by Washington Post: Southeast rainfall more variable as climate
warms
(http://voices.washingtonpost.com/capitalweathergang/2010/11/southeast_summer_rainfall_mor
e.html)
2010 Research highlighted by Science Daily: Variable Summer Rainfall in U.S. Southeast
Linked to Climate Change (http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/10/101027151211.htm)
SERVICE
Journal Reviewer for Climatic Change, Climate Dynamics, Journal of Climate, Journal of
Geophysical Research-Atmosphere, Journal of Applied Meteorology and Climate, International
Journal of Climatology, Meteorology and Atmospheric Physics, Stochastic Environmental
Research and Risk Assessment, and Journal of Hydrology
Guest Lecturer for Duke University Class GS321 (Academic Writing I)
Student President for Duke EOS departmental journal club
SKILLS
Climate Models:
WRF, WRF_CLM3.5, Read University IGCM, SAMIL (LASG
GCM), and FLEXPART trajectory model
Programming Language:
Matlab, NCL, R, GrADS, Fortran, Python, and Linux
Shell scripting
Word Processing:
LaTex and Office
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