Faculty and Staff

Biography

Dr. Xiaomin Chen’s research focuses on understanding the boundary layer processes that influence the intensity and structural changes of tropical cyclones, as well as the associated wind hazards during and after landfall. To achieve this, he integrates multi-platform (including aircraft and ground-based Doppler radars) observations with turbulence-resolving large-eddy simulations to improve the modeling of boundary-layer processes under hurricane conditions. His recently developed boundary layer scheme has been implemented into NOAA’s next-generation hurricane forecast model, Hurricane Analysis and Forecast System.

Curriculum Vitae

Personal Website

Honors & Awards

• University Distinguished Research, Creative Achievement, and Scholarly Performance Award, UAH, 2025
• College Outstanding Faculty Award, UAH, 2025
• Faculty Research Excellence Award, UAH/CoS, 2025

Expertise

• Tropical cyclones
• Boundary layer parameterizations in high-wind conditions
• Numerical modeling (global, mesoscale, and LES models)

Recent Publications

• Chen, X. and C. M. Rozoff, 2025: Large-eddy simulation of internal boundary layers and near-surface wind estimation during hurricane landfalls. Geophys. Res. Lett., 52, e2025GL114816. [Media coverage]

  Chen, X. and F. D. Marks, 2024: Parameterizations of boundary layer mass fluxes in high-wind conditions for tropical cyclone simulations. J. Atmos. Sci., 81, 77-91.

  Rios-Berrios, R., P. M. Finocchio, J. J. Alland, X. Chen, M. S. Fischer, S. N. Stevenson, and D. Tao, 2024: A review of the effects of vertical wind shear on tropical cyclone structure and intensity. J. Atmos. Sci., 81, 713-741.

  Hazelton, A., X. Chen, G. J. Alaka, Jr., G. Alvey, S. Gopalakrishnan, and F. D. Marks, 2024: Sensitivity of HAFS-B tropical cyclone forecasts to planetary boundary layer and microphysics parameterizations, Wea. Forecasting, 39, 655-678.

  Chen, X., A. Hazelton, F. D. Marks, G. J. Alaka, and C. Zhang, 2023: Performance of an improved TKE-based eddy-diffusivity mass-flux (EDMF) PBL scheme in 2021 hurricane forecasts from Hurricane Analysis and Forecast System. Wea. Forecasting, 38, 321-336.

  Fischer, M. S., P. D. Reasor, B. H. Tang, K. L. Corbosiero, R. D. Torn, and X. Chen, 2023: A tale of two vortex evolutions: Using a high-resolution ensemble to assess the impacts of ventilation on a tropical cyclone rapid intensification event. Mon. Wea. Rev., 151, 297-320.

  Chen, X., C. M. Rozoff, R. F. Rogers, K. L. Corbosiero, D. Tao, J.-F. Gu, F. Judt, E. A. Hendricks, Y. Wang, M. M. Bell, D. P. Stern, K. D. Musgrave, J. A. Knaff, and J. Kaplan, 2023: Research advances on internal processes affecting tropical cyclone intensity change from 2018-2022. Tropical Cyclone Research and Review.

  Ko, M.-C., X. Chen, M. Kubat, and S. Gopalakrishnan, 2023: The development of a consensus machine learning model for hurricane rapid intensification forecasts with Hurricane Weather Research and Forecasting (HWRF) data. Wea. Forecasting, 38, 1253-1270.

  Chen, X., 2022: How do planetary boundary layer schemes perform in hurricane conditions: A comparison with large‐eddy simulations. J. Adv. Model. Earth Syst., 14, e2022MS003088.

  Chen, X., G. H. Bryan, A. Hazelton, F. D. Marks, and P. Fitzpatrick, 2022: Evaluation and improvement of a TKE-based eddy-diffusivity mass-flux (EDMF) planetary boundary layer scheme in hurricane conditions. Wea. Forecasting, 37, 935-951.

  Chen, X. and G. H. Bryan, 2021: Role of advection of parameterized turbulence kinetic energy in tropical cyclone simulations. J. Atmos. Sci., 78(11), 3559-3574.

  Chen, X., G. H. Bryan, J. A. Zhang, F. D. Marks, and J. J. Cione, 2021: A framework for simulating the tropical-cyclone boundary layer using large- eddy simulation and its use in evaluating PBL parameterizations. J. Atmos. Sci., 78(11), 3593-3611.

  Chen, X., J.-F. Gu, J. A. Zhang, F. D. Marks, R. F. Rogers, and J. J. Cione, 2021: Boundary layer recovery and precipitation symmetrization preceding rapid intensification of tropical cyclones under shear. J. Atmos. Sci., 78, 1523-1544.

  Chen, X., M. Xue, B. Zhou, J. Fang, J. A. Zhang, and F. D. Marks, 2021: Effect of scale-aware planetary boundary layer schemes on tropical cyclone intensification and structural changes in the gray zone. Mon. Wea. Rev., 149, 2079-2095.

  Chen, X., J. A. Zhang, F. D. Marks, 2019: A thermodynamic pathway leading to rapid intensification of tropical cyclones in shear. Geophys. Res. Lett., 46, 9241– 9251.

  Chen, X., M. Xue, and J. Fang, 2018: Rapid intensification of Typhoon Mujigae (2015) under different sea surface temperatures: Structural changes leading to rapid intensification. J. Atmos. Sci., 75, 4313-4335.

  Chen, X., Y. Wang, J. Fang, and M. Xue, 2018: A numerical study on rapid intensification of Typhoon Vicente (2012) in the South China Sea. Part II: Inner-core processes. J. Atmos. Sci., 75, 235-255.