Tim Li

Co-Leader, Asian-Australian Monsoon Research
       and
Professor of Meteorology

International Pacific Research Center
School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology
University of Hawaii
Honolulu, Hawaii  96822

Phone: (808) 956-9427
Fax: (808) 956-9425
Email:
Webpage: http://www.soest.hawaii.edu/~li

Education

  • 1993 - Ph.D. (Meteorology), University of Hawaii, Manoa
  • 1986 - M.S. (Meteorology), Chinese Academy of Meteorological Sciences, China
  • 1983 - B.S. (Meteorology), Beijing University, China

Research Interests

  • Tropical cyclone modeling and data assimilation
  • Asian-Australian monsoon meteorology
  • Climate dynamics
  • Large-scale ocean-atmosphere interactions on seasonal-to-interdecadal timescales

Scientific Work Experience

  • Professor of Meteorology, University of Hawaii, 2004–present
  • Associate Professor of Meteorology, University of Hawaii, March 1999–2004
  • Research Assistant and Associate Professor, Naval Postgraduate School, 1997–1999
  • Research Scientist, Naval Research Laboratory, 1995–1997
  • Visiting Scientist, GFDL, Princeton University, 1993–1995

Current grant and contract awards:

  • NSF, Tropical cyclone energy dispersion and self-maintaining mechanisms for summer synoptic-scale waves in the northwest Pacific. (PI: Tim Li, Co-PI: Y. Wang ), $294,262 (9/1/2001–8/31/2004).
  • NPS, Dynamics of the Indian Ocean dipole (PI: Tim Li) $25,000 (9/1/2001–8/31/2002).
  • NSF, Dynamics of the boreal summer intraseasonal oscillation. (PI: B. Wang, Co-PI: Tim Li), $396,000 (7/1/2000–6/3/2003).
  • NASA, Data-intensive research and model development at the IPRC. (PI: J. McCreary, Co-PI: S.-P. Xie, Tim Li, B. Wang, F. Mitsudera, and T. Waseda), $5,000,000 (10/1/2000–9/30/2005).
  • NSF, Mechanisms for the northward displacement of the Pacific ITCZ. (PI: S.-P. Xie, Co-PI: Tim Li), $279,164 (6/1/2001–5/31/2004).
  • NOAA, Remote forcing of the US warm season precipitation and the eastern Pacific climate. (PI: B. Wang, Co-PI: Tim Li, X. Fu) $365,981 (7/1/2001–6/30/2004).

Grant Pending:

  • NOAA, Mechanisms for the two types of ENSO phase transitions. (PI: Tim Li, Co-PI: R. Wu), $177,079 (10/1/2001–9/30/2004).

Selected Publications

  • Chambers, C.R.S., and T. Li: Simulation of formation of a near-equatorial typhoon Vamei (2001). Meteorology and Atmospheric Physics, in press.
  • Chen, J.-M., T. Li, and C.-F. Shih: Fall persistence barrier of sea surface temperature in the South China Sea associated with ENSO. J. Climate, in press.
  • Ge, X., T. Li, Y. Wang, and M.S. Peng: Tropical cyclone energy dispersion in a three-dimensional primitive equation model: Upper tropospheric influence. J. Atmos. Sci., in press.
  • Ge, X., T. Li, and X. Zhou: Tropical cyclone energy dispersion under vertcial shears. Geophys. Res. Lett., in press.
  • Hong, C.-C., T. Li, J.-J. Luo: Asymmetry of the Indian Ocean Dipole. Part II: Model Diagnosis. J. Climate, in press.
  • Hong, C.-C., T. Li, LinHo, J.-S. Kug: Asymmetry of the Indian Ocean dipole. Part I: Observational analysis. J. Climate, in press.
  • Sui C.-H., P.-H. Chung, and T. Li: Interannual and interdecadal variability of the summertime western North Pacific subtropical high. Geophys. Res. Lett., in press.
  • Zhang, Y., and T. Li: Influence of the sea surface temperature in the Indian Ocean on the in-phase transition between the South Asian and North Australian summer monsoons. Terr. Atmos. Ocean. Sci., in press.
  • Fu, B., T. Li, M.S. Peng, and F. Weng, 2007: Analysis of tropical cyclogenesis in the western North Pacific for 2000 and 2001. Weather and Forecasting, 22, 763–780, doi: 10.1175/WAF1013.
  • Zhang, X., T. Li, F. Weng, C.-C. Wu, and L. Xu, 2007: Reanalysis of western Pacific typhoons in 2004 with multi-satellite observations. Met. and Atmos. Phys., 97, 3–18.
  • Pan, L.-L., and T. Li, 2007: Interactions between the Tropical ISO and midlatitude low-frequency flow. Clim. Dyn., doi: 10.1007/s00382-007-0272-7.
  • Kug, J.-S., T. Li, S.-I. An, I.-S. Kang, J.-J. Luo, S. Masson, and T. Yamagata, 2006: Role of the ENSO-Indian Ocean Coupling on ENSO variability in a coupled GCM. Geophys. Res. Lett., 33, L09710, doi:10.1029/2005GL024916.
  • Li, T., 2006: Origin of the summertime synoptic-scale wave train in the western North Pacific. J. Atmos. Sci., 63 (3),1093–1102.
  • Li, T., and B. Fu, 2006: Tropical cyclogenesis associated with Rossby wave energy dispersion of a pre-existing typhoon. Part I: Satellite data analyses. J. Atmos. Sci., 63 (5), 1377–1389.
  • Li, T., X. Ge, B. Wang, and Y. Zhu, 2006: Tropical cyclogenesis associated with Rossby wave energy dispersion of a pre-existing typhoon. Part II: Numerical simulations. J. Atmos. Sci., 63 (5), 1390–1409.
  • Tam, C., and T. Li, 2006: The origin and dispersion characteristics of the observed tropical summertime synoptic-scale waves over the western Pacific. Mon. Wea. Rev., 134, 1630–1646.
  • Jiang, X., and T. Li, 2005: Re-initiation of the boreal summer intraseasonal oscillation in the tropical Indian Ocean. J. Climate, 18, 3777–3795.
  • Li, T., Y.-C. Tung, and J.-W. Hwu, 2005: Remote and local SST forcing in shaping Asian-Australian monsoon anomalies. J. Meteor. Soc. Japan, 83, 153–167.
  • Li, T., and B. Wang, 2005: A review on the western North Pacific monsoon: synoptic-to-interannual variabilities. Terrestrial, Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences, 16, 285–314.
  • Liu, P., B. Wang, K.R. Sperber, T. Li, and G.A. Meehl, 2005: MJO in the NCAR CAM2 with the Tiedtke Convective Scheme. J. Climate, 18 (15), 3007–3020.
  • Chang, C.-P., Z. Wang, J. Ju, and T. Li, 2004: On the relationship between western maritime continent monsoon rainfall and ENSO during northern winter. J. Climate, 17, 665–672.
  • Jiang, X., T. Li, and B. Wang, 2004: Structures and mechanisms of the northward propagating boreal summer intraseasonal oscillation. J. Climate, 17, 1022–1039.
  • Li, T., P. Liu, X. Fu, B. Wang, and G.A. Meehl, 2004: Tempo-spatial structures and mechanisms of the tropospheric biennial oscillation in the Indo-Pacific warm ocean regions. J. Climate, 19, (13), 3070–3087 DOI: 10.1175/JCLI3736.1.
  • Wang, B., and T. Li, 2004: East Asian monsoon and ENSO interaction. In C.-P. Chang (Ed.)
    East Asian Monsoon, Singapore, World Scientific Publishing Company, pp.177–212.
  • Zhang, Y., T. Li, and B. Wang, 2004: Decadal change of the spring snow depth over the Tibetan Plateau: The Associated circulation and Influence on the East Asian summer monsoon. Journal of Climate, 17, 2780–2793.
  • Fu, X., B. Wang, T. Li, and J.P. McCreary, 2003: Coupling between northward propagating, intraseasonal oscillations and sea-surface temperature in the Indian Ocean. J. Atmos. Sci., 15, 1733–1753.
  • Li, T., B. Wang, C.-P. Chang, and Y. Zhang, 2003: A theory for the Indian Ocean dipole-zonal mode. J. Atmos. Sci., 60, 2119–2135.
  • Davey M., M. Huddleston, K.R. Sperber, P. Braconnot, F. Bryan, D. Chen, R.A. Colman, C. Cooper, U. Cubasch, P. Delecluse, D. DeWitt, L. Fairhead, G. Flato, C. Gordon, T. Hogan, M. Ji, M. Kimoto, A. Kitoh, T.R. Knutson, M. Latif, H. Le Treut, T. Li, S. Manabe, C.R. Mechoso, G.A. Meehl, J. Oberhuber, S.B. Power, E. Roeckner, L. Terray, A. Vintzileos, R. Voss, B. Wang, W.M. Washington, I. Yoshikawa, J.-Y. Yu, S. Yukimoto, and S.E. Zebiak, 2002: A study of coupled model climatology and variability in tropical ocean regions. Climate Dynamics, 18, 403–420.
  • Fu, X., B. Wang, and T. Li, 2002: Impacts of air-sea coupling on the simulation of the mean Asian summer monsoon in the ECHAM-4 model. Mon. Wea. Rev., 130 (12), 2889–2904.
  • Li, T., and Y. Zhang, 2002: Processes that determine the quasi-biennial and lower-frequency variability of the South Asian monsoon. J. Meteor. Soc. Japan, 80, 1449–1163.
  • Li, T., Y. Zhang, E. Lu, and D.Wang, 2002: Relative role of dynamic and thermodynamic processes in the development of the Indian Ocean dipole: An OGCM diagnosis. Geophys. Res. Lett., 29 (23), 2110, doi:10.1029/2002GL05789.
  • Zhang, Y., T. Li, B. Wang, and G. Wu, 2002: Onset of the Summer Monsoon over the Indochina Peninsula: Climatology and Interannual Variations. J. Climate, 15, 3206–3221.
  • Chang, C.P., and T. Li, 2001: Nonlinear interactions between the TBO and ENSO. East Asian and Western Pacific Meteorology and Climate, Eds.: C.P. Chang et al., Vol. 1, Book Series on East Asian Meteorology, World Scientific Publishing Company, Singapore, 25–38.
  • Li, T., C.-W. Tham, and C.-P. Chang, 2001: A coupled air-sea-monsoon oscillator for the tropospheric biennial oscillation. J. Climate, 14, 752–764.
  • Li, T., B. Wang, and C.-P. Chang, 2001: Theories on the tropospheric biennial oscillation: A review. Dynamics of Atmospheric and Oceanic Circulations and Climate, Eds.: Wang and Huang, China Meteorological Press, Beijing, China, 252–276.
  • Li, T., Y.S. Zhang, C.P. Chang, and B. Wang, 2001: On the relationship between Indian Ocean SST and Asian summer monsoon. Geophy. Res. Lett., 28, 2843–2846.
  • Chang, C.-P., and T. Li, 2000: A theory of the tropical tropospheric biennial oscillation. J. Atmos. Sci., 57, 2209–2224.
  • Chang, C.P., Y.S. Zhang, and T. Li, 2000: Interannual and interdecadal variations of the East Asian summer monsoon and tropical Pacific SSTs: Part II: Meridional structure of the monsoon. J. Climate, 13, 4326–4340.
  • Chang, C.P., Y. Zhang, and T. Li, 2000: Interannual and interdecadal variations of the East Asian summer monsoon and tropical Pacific SSTs: Part I: Role of subtropic ridges. J. Climate, 13, 4310–4325.
  • Li, T., T.F. Hogan, and C.-P. Chang, 2000: Dynamic and thermodynamic regulation of ocean warming, J. Atmos. Sci., 57, 3353–3365.
  • Li, T., and T.F. Hogan, 1999: The role of the annual mean climate on seasonal and interannual variability of the tropical Pacific in a coupled GCM. J. Climate, 12, 780–792.
  • Li, T., 1997: Air-sea interactions of relevance to the ITCZ: the analysis of coupled instabilities and experiments in a hybrid coupled GCM. J. Atmos. Sci., 54, 134–147.
  • Li, T., 1997: Phase transition of the El Niρo-Southern Oscillation: A stationary SST mode. J. Atmos. Sci., 54, 2872–2887.
  • Li, T., and S.G.H. Philander, 1997: On the seasonal cycle of the equatorial Atlantic Ocean. J. Climate, 10, 813–817.
  • Li, T., and S.G.H. Philander, 1996: On the annual cycle of the equatorial eastern Pacific. J. Climate, 9, 2986-2998.
  • Li, T., and B. Wang, 1996: On the seasonal sea surface temperature variation in the tropical Pacific. Theoret. Appl. Climatology, 55, 113–120.
  • Philander, S.G.H., D. Gu, D. Halpern, G. Lambert, N.-C. Lau, T. Li, and R. Pacanowski, 1996: Why the ITCZ is mostly north of the equator. J. Climate, 9, 2958–2972.
  • Philander, S.G.H., T. Li, and G. Lambert, 1996: Climatic asymmetries relative to the equator. Numerican Simulations in the Environmental and Earth Sciences. Ed.: Garcia Garcia, Cambridge University Press, 126–132.
  • Chang, P., L. Ji, B. Wang, and T. Li, 1995: Interactions between the seasonal cycle and El Niρo-Southern Oscillation in an intermediate coupled ocean-atmosphere model. J. Atmos. Sci., 52, 2353–2372.
  • Wang, B., T. Li, and P. Chang, 1995: An intermediate model of the tropical Pacific ocean. J. Phys. Oceanog., 25, 1599–1616.
  • Chang, P., B. Wang, T. Li, and L. Ji, 1994: Interactions between the seasonal cycle and the southern oscillation: frequency entrainment and chaos in a coupled ocean-atmosphere model. Geophys. Res. Lett., 21, 2817–2820.
  • Li, T., and B. Wang, 1994: A thermodynamic equilibrium climate model for monthly mean surface winds and precipitation over the tropical Pacific. J. Atmos. Sci., 51, 1372–1385.
  • Li, T., and B. Wang, 1994: The influence of sea surface temperature on the tropical intraseasonal oscillation: a numerical study. Mon. Wea. Rev., 122, 2349–2362.
  • Wang, B., and T. Li, 1994: Convective interaction with boundary-layer dynamics in the development of a tropical intraseasonal system. J. Atmos. Sci., 51, 1386-1400.
  • Wang, B., and T. Li, 1993: A simple tropical atmosphere model of relevance to short-term climate variations. J. Atmos. Sci., 50, 260–284.
  • Li, T., and Y. Zhu, 1991: Analysis and modeling of tropical cyclone motion: I: asymmetric structure and sudden change of tracks. Science in China (Series B), 34, 222–233.
  • Li, T., and Y. Zhu, 1991: Numerical experiment of effects of environmental flows on tropical cyclone motion. Act. Meteor. Sinica, 5, 111–117.
  • Li, T., and Y. Zhu, 1989: On the multiple equilibrium of development of tropical cyclones in a nonlinear CISK model. Adv. Atmos. Sci., 6, 447–456.
  • Li, T., and Y. Zhu, 1988: On the dynamics of development of tropical disturbances: Optimum scales. Select Papers in Atmospheric Sciences, Ed: Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Beijing, China, 43–51.