Hui

SU

蘇慧

PhD, University of Washington

BS (summa cum laude), Peking University

Biography

Dr Hui Su is a Global STEM Professor at the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, HKUST. She obtained a PhD degree in Atmospheric Sciences from the University of Washington and B.Sc. from Peking University. She was a principal scientist and weather discipline program manager at NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory before joining the HKUST. She received NASA Exceptional Scientific Achievement Medal in 2010 and again in 2022, and a number of awards at JPL. She is an Editor of Geophysical Research Letter and a fellow of American Meteorological Society. Her research interests are primarily in tropical convection and climate change.  

Open Positions

Applications for multiple research staff positions from the rank of Research Assistant to Research Assistant/Associate Professor in Prof. Hui Su’s lab are available. The lab aims to develop retrieval algorithms for a series of synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellites. The candidates are expected to work with Prof. Hui Su to develop methods and algorithms for extracting application-focused information from SAR in the areas of land mapping, urban monitoring, forestry, agriculture, disaster assessment (such as earthquake, landslide, flooding, fire), ocean wave and winds, glaciology, and other fields. The candidates are expected to publish in peer-reviewed journals and present at the scientific meetings. For more details, please view HERE.

Applications for multiple postdoctoral positions in Prof. Hui Su’s JC STEM Lab of Convection and Precipitation are available. The goal of the lab is to advance the understanding of convection and precipitation processes and improve prediction skills of precipitation, especially extreme precipitation. The research tasks include 1) create a comprehensive dataset of convection and precipitation structures and associated thermodynamic and dynamic environments using ground-based instruments on the campus of HKUST, which include cloud radar, rain radar, aerosol lidar, microwave radiometer of temperature and humidity sounding, 2D video disdrometer, wind lidar, etc; 2) analyze the observations to study the lifecycles of convection and precipitation; 3) perform high-resolution WRF model simulations of convection and precipitation events and improve model physics for better precipitation forecast; 4) examine the impacts of climate change on extreme precipitation. The appointees will carry out research in collaboration with the advisor and publish in peer-reviewed journals. For more details, please view HERE.

Fully funded PhD student positions are available. Interested candidates are encouraged to send your CV, unofficial transcripts, and one-page research statement (including experience, interest, and fit for the research group), with the subject “Prospective PhD Candidate - HKUST” to Prof. Hui Su (cehsu@ust.hk). More details can be found HERE.

Selected Publications

Millán, L., M. L. Santee, A. Lambert, N. J. Livesey, F. Werner, M. J. Schwartz, H. C. Pumphrey, G. L. Manney, Y. Wang, H. Su, L. Wu, W. G. Read, L. Froidevaux, The Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai Hydration of the Stratosphere, Geophysical Research Letters, Volume 49, Issue 13, e2022GL099381, https://doi.org/10.1029/2022GL099381, 2022.

Siyu, Z., Rong, F., Michael, L. A., Jeanine, J., Chakraborty, S., Jonathan, J., Hui, S., and Yu, G., Extended Seasonal Prediction of Spring Precipitation over the Upper Colorado River Basin, Climate Dynamics, (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00382-022-06422-x, 2022.

Darko, J., L. Folsom, H. Park, M. Minamide, Masahiro Ono, H. Su, A sampling-based path planning algorithm for improving observations in tropical cyclones, Earth Space Science, https://doi.org/10.1029/2020EA001498, 2022.

Li, Yun, Ruixin Yang, Hui Su, Chaowei Yang, Discovering Precursors to Tropical Cyclone Rapid Intensification in the Atlantic Basin using Spatiotemporal Data Mining, Atmosphere, atmosphere-1719757, 2022.

Jiang, J.H., H. Su, L. Wu, C. Zhai, K. A. Schiro, Improvements in cloud and water vapor simulations over the tropical oceans in CMIP6 compared to CMIP5, Earth Space Science, doi:10.1029/2020EA001520, 2021.

Su, H., L. Wu, J. H. Jiang, R. Pai, R., A. Liu, A. J. Zhai, P. Tavallali, and M. DeMaria, Applying satellite observations of tropical cyclone internal structures to rapid intensification forecast with machine learning. Geophysical Research Letters, 47, e2020GL089102, http://dx.doi.org/10.1029/2020GL089102, 2020.

Schiro, K. A., S. C. Sullivan, Y.-H. Kuo, H. Su, P. Gentine, G. S. Elsaesser, J. H. Jiang, J. D. Neelin, Environmental controls on tropical mesoscale convective system precipitation intensity, J. Atmos. Sci., doi:10.1175/JAS-D-20-0111.1, 2020.

Jiang, X., E. Maloney, H. Su, Large-scale controls of propagation of the Madden-Julian Oscillation, npj Climate and Atmospheric Science, 3, 29 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41612-020-00134-x, 2020.

Wang, Y., H. Su, J. H. Jiang, F. Xu, Y. L.Yung, Impact of Cloud Ice Particle Size Uncertainty in A Climate Model and Implications for Future Satellite Missions, doi:10.1029/2019JD032119, J. Geophys. Res. - Atmospheres, doi:10.1029/2019JD032119, 2020.

Su, H., Wu, L., Zhai, C., Jiang, J. H., Neelin, J. D., & Yung, Y. L. (2020). Observed tightening of tropical ascent in recent decades and linkage to regional precipitation changes, doi:10.1029/2019GL085809, Geophysical Research Letters, 2020.

Wang, Y., T. Le, G. Chen, Y. L. Yung, H. Su, J. H. Seinfeld, J. H. Jiang, Reduced European aerosol emissions suppress winter extremes over northern Eurasia, doi:10.1038/s41558-020-0693-4, Nature Climate Change, 2020.

Jiang, X., H. Su, and D. E. Waliser, A Damping Effect of the Maritime Continent for the Madden-Julian Oscillation, doi:10.1029/2019JD031503, 124, 24, J. Geophys. Res. - Atmospheres, 2019.

Schiro, K. A., H. Su, Y. Wang, B. Langenbrunner, J. H. Jiang, and J. D. Neelin, Relationships between tropical ascent and high cloud fraction changes with warming revealed by perturbation physics experiments in CESM, Geophys. Res. Lett., doi:10.1029/2019GL083026, 2019.

Su, H., C. Zhai, J. H. Jiang, L. Wu, J. D. Neelin, Y.-L. Yung, A dichotomy between model responses of tropical ascent and descent to surface warming, npj Climate and Atmospheric Science, doi:10.1038/s41612-019-0066-8, 2019.

Su, H., C. Zhai, J. H. Jiang, L. Wu, J. D. Neelin, Y.-L. Yung, A dichotomy between model responses of tropical ascent and descent to surface warming, npj Climate and Atmospheric Science, doi:10.1038/s41612-019-0066-8, 2019.

Allen, R., T., T. Hassan, Cynthia A. Randles, and H. Su, Enhanced land–sea warming contrast elevates aerosol pollution in a warmer world, Nature Climate Change, doi:10.1038/s41558-019-0401-4, 2019.

Liu, R., H. Su, K.-N. Liou, J. H. Jiang, Y. Gu, S.-C. Liu, and C.-J. Shiu, An assessment of tropospheric water vapor feedback using radiative kernels, J. Geophy. Res., 123, 1499-1509, doi: 10.1002/2017JD027512, 2018.

Su, H., J. H. Jiang, J. David Neelin, T. Janice Shen, C. Zhai, Qing Yue, Zhien Wang, Lei Huang, Yong-Sang Choi, Graeme L. Stephens, Yuk L. Yung, Tightening of tropical ascent and high clouds key to precipitation change in a warmer climate, Nature Communications, 8, 15771, doi: 10.1038/ncomms15771, 2017.

Brown, P., W. Li, J. H. Jiang, H. Su, Spread in the magnitude of climate model interdecadal global temperature variability traced to disagreements over high-latitude oceans, Geophys. Res. Lett., doi: 10.1002/ 2016GL071442, 2016.

Su, H., J. H. Jiang, C. Zhai, T. J. Shen, J. D. Neelin, G. L. Stephens, and Y. L. Yung, Weakening and strengthening structures in the Hadley Circulation change under global warming and implications for cloud response and climate sensitivity, J. Geophys. Res., 119, 5787–5805, doi:10.1002/2014JD021642, 2014.

Su, H., J. H. Jiang, C. Zhai, V.S. Perun, J.T. Shen, A. Del Genio, L.S. Nazarenko, L.J. Donner, L. Horowitz, C. Seman, C. Morcrette, J. Petch, M. Ringer, J. Cole, M. Mesquita, T. Iversen, J.E. Kristjansson, A. Gettelman, L. Rotstayn, S. Jeffrey, J.L. Dufresne, M. Watanabe, H. Kawai, T. Koshiro, T. Wu, E.M. Volodin, T. L'Ecuyer, J. Teixeira, and G.L. Stephens, Diagnosis of Regime-dependent Cloud Simulation Errors in CMIP5 Models Using “A-Train” Satellite Observations and Reanalysis Data, J. Geophys. Res, 118, 7, 2762-2780, 10.1029/2012JD018575, 2013.

Su, H., and J.H. Jiang, Tropical Clouds and Circulation Changes During the 2006-07 and 2009-10 El Niños, J. Climate, 26, 399–413, doi:10.1175/JCLI-D-12-00152.1, 2013.

Su, H., J. H. Jiang, G.L. Stephens, D.G. Vane, and N.J. Livesey, Radiative effects of upper tropospheric clouds observed by Aura MLS and CloudSat, Geophys. Res. Lett., 36, L09815, doi:10.1029/2009GL037173, 2009.

Su, H., J.H. Jiang, D.G. Vane, and G.L. Stephens, Observed Vertical Structure of Tropical Oceanic Clouds Sorted in Large-scale Regimes, Geophys. Res. Lett. 35, doi:10.1029/2008GL035888, 2008.

Su, H., J. H. Jiang, G.L. Stephens, D.G. Vane, and N.J. Livesey, Radiative effects of upper tropospheric clouds observed by Aura MLS and CloudSat, Geophys. Res. Lett., 36, L09815, doi:10.1029/2009GL037173, 2009.

Su, H., J. H. Jiang, Y. Gu, J. D. Neelin, B. H. Kahn, D. Feldman, Y. L. Yung, J. W. Waters,  N.  J. Livesey, M. L. Santee, and William G. Read, Variations of tropical upper tropospheric clouds with sea surface temperature and implications for radiative effects, J. Geophys. Res., doi:10.1029/2007JD009624, 2008.

Fovell, R., and H. Su, Impact of cloud microphysics on hurricane track forecasts, Geophys. Res. Lett. 34, L24810, doi:10.1029/2007GL031723, 2007.

Su, H., W.G. Read, J. H. Jiang, J.W. Waters, D.L. Wu, and E.J. Fetzer: Enhanced positive water vapor feedback associated with tropical deep convection: New evidence from Aura MLS, Geophys. Res. Lett., 33, L05709, doi:10.1029/2005GL025505, 2006.

Su, H., D.E. Waliser, J.H. Jiang, J-L. Li, W.G. Read, J.W. Waters, and A.M. Tompkins, 2006: Relationships of upper tropospheric water vapor, clouds and SST: MLS observations, ECMWF analyses and GCM simulations, Geophys. Res. Lett. 33, L22802, doi:10.1029/2006GL027582, 2006.

Neelin, J. D., M. Munnich, H. Su, J. E. Meyerson, and C. Holloway: Tropical drying trends in global warming models and observations, Proc. Nat. Acd. Sci., 103, 6110-6115, 2006.

Su, H., J. D. Neelin and J. E. Meyerson: Mechanisms for lagged atmospheric response to ENSO SST. J. Climate, 18, 4195-4215, 2005.

Su, H. and J. D. Neelin: Dynamical mechanisms for African monsoon changes during the mid-Holocene. J. Geophys. Res., 110, D19105, doi:10.1029/2005JD005806, 2005.

Neelin, J. D., and H. Su: Moist teleconnection mechanisms for the tropical South American and Atlantic sector during El Niño, J. Climate, 18, 3928-3950, 2005.

Su, H., J. D. Neelin and J. E. Meyerson: Sensitivity of tropical tropospheric temperature to sea surface temperature forcing. J. Climate, 16, 1283-1301, 2003.

Neelin, J. D., C. Chou, and H. Su: Tropical drought regions in global warming and El Niño  teleconnections. Geophys. Res. Lett., 30(24) 2275, doi:10.1029/2003GLO018625, 2003.

Su, H., and J. D. Neelin: The scatter in tropical average precipitation anomalies. J. Climate, 16, 3966-3977, 2003.

Su, H., and J. D. Neelin: Teleconnection mechanisms for tropical Pacific descent anomalies during El Niño. J. Atmos. Sci., 59, 2682-2700, 2002.

Su, H., J. D. Neelin and C. Chou: Tropical teleconnection and local response to SST anomalies during the 1997-1998 El Niño. J. Geophys. Res., 106, 20,025-20,043, 2001.

Chou, C., J. D. Neelin and H. Su: Ocean-atmosphere-land feedbacks in an idealized monsoon. Quart. J. Roy. Meteor. Soc., 127, 1869-1891, 2001.

Su, H., C. S. Bretherton and S. S. Chen: Self-aggregation and large-scale control of tropical deep convection. J. Atmos. Sci., 57, 1797-1816, 2000.

Su, H., S. S. Chen and C. S. Bretherton: Three dimensional week-long simulation of TOGA-COARE convective systems using PSU/NCAR mesoscale model MM5. J. Atmos. Sci., 56, 2326-2344, 1999.

Honors and Awards

Fellow of American Meteorological Society (2022)

JPL Edward Stone Award (2021)

JPL Voyager Award (2021, 2018)

NASA Group Achievement Award (2017, 2015, 2014, 2011, 2006)

AGU Editor’s Citation for Excellence in Refereeing for Earth and Space Science (2015)

NASA Exceptional Scientific Achievement Medal (2010)

JPL Lew Allen Award for Excellence (2008)