Dr. Yongkang Xue

Biography

Yongkang Xue is a professor at the Institute of the Environment and Sustainability at UCLA. His research focuses on a variety of topics in atmospheric and oceanic sciences, particularly biophysical processes related to land surface modeling. He has developed a four-generation process-based land surface model, known as the Simplified Simple Biosphere Model (SSiB), which is instrumental in understanding photosynthesis processes, dynamic vegetation, and the interactions between urban environments and natural landscapes. Xue's research spans areas such as hydrometeorological prediction and the impact of land-surface processes on climate variability, with specific emphasis on monsoon systems. He leads several international climate and weather projects, including the West African Monsoon Modeling Evaluation (WAMME) and the GEWEX/Impact initialized land temperature snowpack subseasonal seasonal prediction (LS4P). His recent work has highlighted how Tibetan Plateau soil temperatures can have significant effects on climate both regionally and globally. Xue actively contributes to the understanding of climate mechanisms impacting flooding and extreme weather patterns across continents, including the U.S., East Asia, and South America.

Research Interests

Experience