Skip to main content
US Flag

An official website of the United States government

Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock ( ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Li (Kate) Zhang
Title
Scientist
Email
kate.zhang@noaa.gov
Phone
303-497-3956
Address
DSRC
325 Broadway
Boulder, CO 80305-3328
Affiliation
CIRES
Awards

Profile

Research Scientist -- CIRES, University of Colorado Boulder


My work focuses on the development of complex coupled modeling systems to simulate atmospheric composition, air quality, weather and their interactions. I am one of the primary developers for 

  • Scientific development of the next generation global aerosol forecast model within the Unified Forecast System (UFS-Aerosols).
  • The development of the operational global aerosol prediction of the Global Ensemble Forecast System (GEFS-aerosols), in NECP operation since September 2020.
  • The inclusion of the direct and semi-direct aerosol feedbacks in GSL’s version of GEFS-aerosols that uses the Common Community Physics Package (CCPP) for coupling.
  • The development of GSL’s FIM-Chem model, which includes simple and complex atmospheric composition modules from WRF-Chem (FIM-Chem was used to provide aerosol optical properties to the Air Force Weather Agency averaged over 10 years of forecasts).

I contribute to the development of the Community Multiscale Air Quality (CMAQ) model as it is coupled with FV3GFS (global and regional) for air quality prediction studies; additionally, I work on atmospheric composition model evaluation, aerosol feedback studies related to S2S forecast, and aerosol data assimilation. I am experienced using WRF-Chem, GEOS-Chem, and the GEOS-Chem adjoint. I assisted the Unified Forecast System (UFS) community through my part in developing workflows and UPP by implementing chemical model related parts.

Research Interests

  • Chemical model development and coupling with atmospheric model
  •  Wildfire and dust forecast in global aerosol model
  • Inverse modeling and aerosol data assimilation
  • Dust scheme of size distribution and its impact on AOD and surface PM2.5
  • Aerosol radiative forcing and feedback on atmosphere
  • Impact of wildfire and lightning emission on tropospheric CO and ozone 
  • Impact of Asian summer monsoon on aerosol distribution and transport
  • Evaluation of Asian summer monsoon simulation

Education

  • 2009, Ph.D. (Meteorology), Institute of Atmospheric Physics (IAP), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS). Beijing, China
  • 2006, M.S. (Meteorology), Institute of Atmospheric Physics (IAP), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS). Beijing, China
  • 2003, B.S. (Atmospheric Sciences), Chengdu University of Information Technology (CUIT). Chengdu, China

Professional Experience

  • Research Scientist III (May 2022 - present), CIRES, University of Colorado Boulder & NOAA ESRL GSL, Boulder, U.S.
  • Research Scientist II (March 2016 - May 2022), CIRES, University of Colorado Boulder & NOAA ESRL GSL, Boulder, U.S.
  • Research Associate (June 2012 - February 2016), University of Colorado Boulder & NOAA ESRL GSL, Boulder, U.S.
  • Postdoctoral Researcher (May 2009 - May 2012), University of California Los Angeles (UCLA), Los Angeles, U.S.
  • Research Assistant (September 2003 - April 2009), Institute of Atmospheric Physics (IAP), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Beijing, China.

Professional Activities

  • Member, Aerosols and Atmospheric Composition Working Group (2019 - present)
  • Member, AGU (2009 - present)
  • Instructor, first small tutorial to help scientists use GSL’s version of the CCPP coupled FV3-atmospheric composition model (December 2020).
  •  Instructor, first small tutorial to help scientists use FV3GFS-Chem (first version of GEFS-Aerosols). NOAA EMC (April 2018).
  • Instructor, WRF-Chem tutorial (2017 - present)

Honors and Awards

  • CIRES Bronze Medal, 2022  (Member in the team awarded the NOAA Bronze medal for the development of the Global Ensemble Forecast System - Aerosols (GEFS-Aerosols) model to support air quality alerts and visibility forecasts, 2021).
  • CIRES Award for outstanding contributions to the new modeling system (Oct. 2020)
  • GSL Team Member of October 2020
 

Related Links

Publications

Zhang, L., Montuoro, R., McKeen, S. A., Baker, B., Bhattacharjee, P. S., Grell, G. A., Henderson, J., Pan, L., Frost, G. J., McQueen, J., Saylor, R., Li, H., Ahmadov, R., Wang, J., Stajner, I., Kondragunta, S., Zhang, X., and Li, F.: Development and evaluation of the Aerosol Forecast Member in the National Center for Environment Prediction (NCEP)'s Global Ensemble Forecast System (GEFS-Aerosols v1), Geosci. Model Dev., 15, 5337–5369, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-15-5337-2022, 2022.

Zhang, L., Grell, G. A., McKeen, S. A., Ahmadov, R., Froyd, K. D., and Murphy, D.: Inline coupling of simple and complex chemistry modules within the global weather forecast model FIM (FIM-Chem v1), Geosci. Model Dev., 15, 467–491, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-15-467-2022, 2022.

Kim, K.-M., S.-W. KIM, M. Choi, Kim, M., Kim, J., Shin, I., Kim, J., Chung, C.-Y., Yeo, H., Kim, S.-W., Joo, S. J., McKeen, A., S., L. Zhang, 2021: Modeling Asian dust storms using WRF-Chem during the DRAGON-Asia field campaign in April 2012. Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres, 126, e2021JD034793. https://doi.org/10.1029/2021JD034793.

Hammer S. M., A. v Donkelaar, C. Li, A. Lyapustin, A. M. Sayer, N. C. Hsu, R. C. Levy, M. J. Garay, O. V. Kalashnikova, R. A. Kahn, M. Brauer, J. S. Apte, D. K. Henze, L. Zhang, Q. Zhang, B. Ford, J. R. Pierce, and R. V. Martin, 2020: Global Estimates and Long-Term Trends of Fine Particulate Matter Concentrations (1998–2018) Environ. Sci. Technol., doi: https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.0c01764.

Xu, X., J. Wang, Y. Wang, D. K. Henze, L. Zhang, G. A. Grell, S. A. McKeen, and B. A. Wielicki, 2017: Sense size-dependent dust loading and emission from space using reflected solar and infrared spectral measurements: An observation system simulation experiment, J. Geophys. Res. Atmos., 122, 8233–8254, doi:10.1002/2017JD026677.

Zhang, L., D. K. Henze, G. A. Grell, O. Torres, H. Jethva, L. Lamsal, 2017: What factors control the trend of increasing AAOD over the United States in the last decade? J. Geophys. Res. Atmos., 122,1797–1810, doi:10.1002/2016JD025472.

Zhang, L., D. K. Henze, G. A. Grell, G. R. Carmichael, N. Bousserez, Q. Zhang, J. Cao, O. Torres, C. Ahn, Z. Lu, Y. Mao, 2015: Constraining black carbon aerosol over Asia using OMI aerosol absorption optical depth and the adjoint of GEOS-Chem, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 15, 10281-10308, doi:10.5194/acp-15-10281-2015.

Mao, Y. H., Q. B. Li, D. Chen, L. Zhang, W.-M. Hao, and K.-N. Liou, 2014: Top-down estimates of biomass burning emissions of black carbon in the Western United States, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 14, 7195-7211, doi:10.5194/acp-14-7195-2014.

Zhang, L., J. F. Kok, D. K. Henze, Q. B. Li, C. Zhao, 2013: Improving simulations of fine dust surface concentrations over the western United States by optimizing the particle size distributions, Geophys. Res. Lett.,40,3270-3275,  doi: 10.1002/grl.50591

Zhang, L., Q. B., Li, Y., Gu, K. N., Liou, and B. Meland, 2013: Dust vertical profile impact on global radiative forcing estimation using a coupled chemical transport-radiative transfer model, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 13, 7097-7114, doi:10.5194/acp-13-7097-2013.

Chen, D., Q. Li, J., Stutz, Y., Mao, L., Zhang, et al., 2013: Carsten Warneke, Ilana B. Pollack, WRF-Chem simulation of NOx and O3 in the L.A. basin during CalNex-2010, Atmos. Environ., 81, 421-432, DOI: 10.1016/j.atmosenv.2013.08.064.

Zhang, L., Q. B. Li, L. T. Murray, M. Luo, H. Liu, J. H. Jiang, Y. Mao, D. Chen, M. Gao, and N. Livesey. 2012: A tropospheric ozone maximum over the equatorial Southern Indian Ocean, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 12, 4279-4296, doi:10.5194/acp-12-4279-2012.

Zhang, L., Q. B. Li, J. Jin, H. Liu, N. Livesey, J. H. Jiang, Y. Mao, D. Chen, and M. Luo, Y. Chen. 2011: Impacts of 2006 Indonesian fires and dynamics on tropical upper tropospheric carbon monoxide and ozone, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 11, 10929-10946, doi:10.5194/acp-11-10929-2011.

Mao, Y., Li, Q. B., L. Zhang, Y. Chen, J. T. Randerson, D. Chen, and K.-N., Liou, 2011: Biomass burning contribution to black carbon in the western United States mountain ranges, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 11, 11253-11266, doi:10.5194/acp-11-11253-2011. 

Neelin, J. D., B. Lintner, B. Tian, Q. B. Li, L. Zhang, P. Patra, M. Chahine, and S. Stechmann. 2010: Long tails in deep columns of natural and anthropogenic tropospheric tracers, Geophys. Res. Lett., 37, L05804, doi:10.1029/2009GL041726.

Zhang L., H. Liao, J. Li, 2010: Impacts of Asian summer monsoon on seasonal and interannual variations of aerosols over Eastern China. J. Geophys. Res., 115, D00K05, doi:10.1029/2009JD012299.

Zhang L., H. Liao, J. Li, 2010: Impact of the Southeast Asian summer monsoon strength on the outflow of aerosols from South Asia. Annales Geophysicae, 28, 277-287.

Zhang L., J. Li, 2010: Twice wind onsets of monsoon over the Western North Pacific and their simulations in AMIP models. International Journal of Climatology, 30, 582-600, DOI: 10.1002/joc.1908. 

Li J., and L. Zhang, 2009: Wind onset and withdrawal of Asian summer monsoon and their simulated performance in AMIP models. Climate Dynamics, 32(7-8): 935-968, DOI: 10.1007/s00382-008-0465-8.

Zhang L., and J. Li, 2008: Seasonal rotation features of wind vectors and application to evaluate monsoon simulations in AMIP models. Climate Dynamics, 31(4): 417-432, DOI: 10.1007/s00382-007-0327-9.

Zhang L., and J. Li, 2008: The variation of wind direction and its application on evaluating monsoon simulation. Chinese Journal of Atmospheric Sciences, 32(1), 53-66.

Fang Z. F., and L. Zhang, 2006: NCAR-NCEP data quality and abrupt changes of East Asian low in 1970th during summer, Chinese Journal of Plateau Meteorology, 25(2), 179-189. 

Fang Z. F., and L. Zhang, Y. J. Cheng, 2005: The decrease of the Arctic sea ice and the abrupt changes of Sea ice in 1990th, Chinese Journal of Arid Meteorology, 23(3), 1-11.  

Book Chapter:
Li, J. P., and L. Zhang, 2011: Seasonal Rotation Features of Monsoon and the Association to Thermodynamic Contrast. In J. P. Li, G. X. Wu and D. X. Hu (eds.), Ocean-Atmosphere Interaction over the Joining Area of Asia and Indian-Pacific Ocean and Its Impact on the Short-Term Climate Variation in China (Volume I). Beijing: China Meteorological Press, pp.258-268. 

Li, J. P., and L. Zhang, 2011: Climatological Characteristics of Wind Onset and Withdrawal of Asian Summer Monsoon. In J. P. Li, G. X. Wu and D. X. Hu (eds.), Ocean-Atmosphere Interaction over the Joining Area of Asia and Indian-Pacific Ocean and Its Impact on the Short-Term Climate Variation in China (Volume I). Beijing: China Meteorological Press, pp.269-281.

Fang Z. F., and L. Zhang, 2003: Abrupt Changes of East Asia Low in 1970th during Summer. In China Meteorological Society (eds.), New Century Meteorological Technology Innovation and Atmospheric Sciences Progress, Beijing: China Meteorological Press, pp.268-274.