News

[Lab Member] Haoran Hou recently joined the SURF Lab as a postdoctoral researcher. Welcome!

[New Publication] Our new paper on improved urban hydrological and hydrometeorological modeling, "Multi-parameterization of hydrological processes in an urban canopy model", is published in Building and Environment (IF: 7.6). This work was led by Ph.D. student Yuqi Huang. Congratulations, Yuqi!

[New Publication] Our new paper on deep learning-based compressor station mapping, "Regional mapping of natural gas compressor stations in the United States and Canada using deep learning on satellite imagery", is published in Journal of Environmental Management (IF: 8.4).

[New Publication] Our new paper on Antarctic snow, "Heavy metal imprints in Antarctic snow from research and tourism", is published in Nature Sustainability (IF: 27.1).

[New Publication] Our new paper on urban heat and PM2.5 pollution, "Cities as hotspots of compound heat and fine particulate matter pollution: A 23-year urban–rural comparison across the United States", is published in Environmental Research (IF: 7.7). This work was led by M.S. student Jessica Leffel. Congratulations, Jessica!

[Lab Member] Xochitl Hidalgo recently joined the SURF Lab as an M.S. student in Atmospheric Science. Welcome!

[Lab Member] Tianze Luo recently joined the SURF Lab as a Ph.D. student in Geography and Environmental Sustainability. Welcome!

[New Publication] Our new paper on urban water systems, "Building resilient urban water systems: emerging opportunities for solving long-lasting challenges", is published in Hydrological Sciences Journal (IF: 2.5).

[New Publication] Our new paper on urban heat and ozone pollution, "Compound heat and ozone pollution in the urban environment", is published in Urban Climate (IF: 6.9).

[New Publication] Our new paper on high-resolution urban climate modeling, "Ultrafine-resolution urban climate modeling: Resolving processes across scales", is published in Journal of Advances in Modeling Earth Systems (IF: 4.6).

[Lab Member] Cathleen Simatupang recently joined the SURF Lab as a postdoctoral researcher. Welcome!

[New Publication] Our new paper on global forest temperature variability, "Satellite-driven evidence of forest-induced temperature variability and its biophysical and biogeochemical pathways across latitudes", is published in Ecological Indicators (IF: 7.0).

[New Publication] Our new paper on global urban tree cooling, "Enhancing climate-driven urban tree cooling with targeted nonclimatic interventions", is published in Environmental Science & Technology (IF: 10.9).

[New Publication] Our new paper on global forest temperature variability, "Satellite-driven evidence of forest-induced temperature variability and its biophysical and biogeochemical pathways across latitudes", is published in Ecological Indicators (IF: 7.0).

[New Publication] Our new paper on WRF-LES methane plume modeling, "Observation and simulation of methane plumes during the morning boundary layer transition", is published in Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres (IF: 3.8).

[Accomplishment] Liam Thompson was recently selected as the 2025 Goldwater Scholar. His essay was based on the continental-scale model evaluation work recently published in Urban Climate. Congratulations, Liam!

[New Publication] Our new paper on continental-scale urban hydroclimate modeling evaluation, "Assessment of convection-permitting hydroclimate modeling in urban areas across the contiguous United States", is published in Urban Climate (IF: 6.0). This work was led by undergraduate student Liam Thompson. Congratulations, Liam!

[New Publication] Our new paper on CO2 exchanges of urban trees, "Impact of urban trees on carbon dioxide exchange: Mechanistic pathways, environmental controls, and feedback", is published in Journal of Environmental Management (IF: 8.0).

[New Publication] Our new paper on urban weather database, "CHUWD-H v1.0: a comprehensive historical hourly weather database for U.S. urban energy system modeling", is published in Scientific Data (IF: 5.8).

[Accomplishment] Liam Thompson recently won the First Generation Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity (UReCA) Fellowship. Liam will work on a project titled "Investigating the Influence of Convective Severe Weather on Ozone Pollution in Oklahoma City". Congratulations, Liam!

[New Publication] Our new paper on the cooling effect of urban trees, "Cooling efficacy of trees across cities is determined by background climate, urban morphology, and tree trait", is published in Communications Earth & Environment (IF: 8.1).

[Accomplishment] Liam Thompson recently won first place in the GIS Day Undergraduate Poster Competition. He presented his work on continental-scale evaluation of convection-permitting hydroclimate simulation in urban areas. Congratulations, Liam!

[New Publication] Our new paper on Andean snow cover, "Rapid decline in extratropical Andean snow cover driven by the poleward migration of the Southern Hemisphere westerlies", is published in Scientific Reports (IF: 3.8).

[New Publication] Our new paper on urban land surface model intercomparison, "The water balance representation in Urban-PLUMBER land surface models", is published in Journal of Advances in Modeling Earth Systems (IF: 4.4).

[New Publication] Our new paper on climate change in South America, "South America is becoming warmer, drier, and more flammable", is published in Communications Earth & Environment (IF: 8.1).

[New Publication] Our new paper on moisture tracking model comparisons, "Unraveling the discrepancies between Eulerian and Lagrangian moisture tracking models in monsoon- and westerly-dominated basins of the Tibetan Plateau", is published in Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics (IF: 5.2).

[New Publication] Our new paper on urban surface temperature estimation, "Improving estimation of diurnal land surface temperatures by integrating weather modeling with satellite observations", is published in Remote Sensing of Environment (IF: 11.1).

[Lab Member] Yu Ding recently joined the SURF Lab as a Ph.D. student in Meteorology. Welcome!

[Lab Member] Bohong Li from the University of Hamburg recently joined the SURF Lab as a visiting M.Sc. student. Welcome!

[Accomplishment] Liam Thompson recently received the Bob Glahn Scholarship in Statistical Meteorology from the National Weather Association Foundation. Congratulations, Liam!

[New Publication] Our new paper on reservoir CH4 emission, "Methane dynamics altered by reservoir operations in a typical tributary of the Three Gorges Reservoir", is published in Water Research (IF: 11.4).

[New Publication] Our new paper on benzene emissions, "A modeling framework to assess fenceline monitoring and self-reported upset emissions of benzene from multiple oil refineries in Texas", is published in Atmospheric Environment X (IF: 3.8).

[Job Ad] We invite applications for two fully funded full-time Postdoctoral Researcher positions focused on the modeling of air quality and/or greenhouse gases (GHGs) in the urban environment. Areas of focus include but are not limited to: (1) Development of new or improved numerical parameterization schemes, (2) Spatial and temporal characterization of air pollution (e.g., ozone and particulate matter) and GHGs, and (3) Assessment of mitigation strategies to reduce air pollutants and GHG emissions. Both positions are based in Norman, OK, and will be working with Dr. Chenghao Wang and Dr. Xiao-Ming Hu. Qualifications: Applicants must have earned a Ph.D. in Atmospheric Sciences, Engineering, Earth Science, Computer Science, or a closely related field by the time of appointment. Candidates should have demonstrated experience with numerical 3D air quality models, such as WRF-Chem, CMAQ, HYSPLIT, GEOS-Chem, and LES models, be proficient in programming languages commonly used in models (Fortran) and data analytics (MATLAB, Python, R, or NCL), and possess strong oral and written communication skills, evidenced by their publication record and presentations at scientific meetings. Applicants are encouraged to apply as soon as possible. Please submit your application through http://apply.interfolio.com/150611 by Sep 30, 2024. Applications will be reviewed as received and will continue until the positions are filled.

[Accomplishment] Dr. Wang was recently awarded the NASA Early Career Investigator Grant (OU News).

[Accomplishment] Yuqi Huang was selected to attend the NCAR Advanced Study Program Summer Colloquium. The topic of this year’s ASP Colloquium is Integrating Atmospheric and Social Approaches to Improve Urban Air Quality. Congratulations, Yuqi!

[New Publication] Our new paper on urban irrigation, "The potential of urban irrigation for counteracting carbon-climate feedback", is published in Nature Communications (IF: 16.6).

[New Publication] Our new paper on the cooling dynamics of urban vegetation, "Enhanced observations from an optimized soil-canopy-photosynthesis and energy flux model revealed evapotranspiration-shading cooling dynamics of urban vegetation during extreme heat", is published in Remote Sensing of Environment (IF: 13.5).

[Lab Member] Kihong Park from Chung-Ang University, Republic of Korea recently joined the SURF Lab as a visiting Ph.D. student. Welcome!

[New Publication] Our new paper on urban causal interactions under heat waves, "Megacities are causal pacemakers of extreme heatwaves", is published in npj Urban Sustainability.

[Lab Member] Jessica Leffel recently joined the SURF Lab as an M.S. student in Meteorology. Welcome!

[New Publication] Our new paper on extreme fire weather, "Extreme fire weather in Chile driven by climate change and El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO)", is published in Scientific Reports (IF: 4.6).

[Lab Member] Liam Thompson recently joined the SURF Lab as an undergraduate researcher. Welcome!

[Accomplishment] Dr. Wang was recently awarded the National Science Foundation (NSF) EPSCoR Fellowship (OU News).

[New Publication] Our new paper on urban waste production, "Worldwide scaling of waste generation in urban systems", is published in Nature Cities.

[Job Ad] We are seeking multiple self-motivated doctoral students who are willing to pursue research in the following areas (2024 Fall admission). (1) Urban Air Pollution Modeling: develop and apply an integrated high-resolution pollutant dispersion model over complex terrain, funded through the U.S. Department of Energy. (2) Building Energy Modeling: numerical simulations of building energy use and associated carbon emissions in the urban environment. (3) Urban Climate Modeling and Analytics: multiscale urban climate models and/or urban climate data analytics. If you are interested, please contact Dr. Chenghao Wang (chenghao.wang@ou.edu) by Nov 25, 2023 and attach (1) a copy of your CV, (2) a brief statement that highlights your interest (and skills and previous research experience, if applicable) relevant to the position description, and (3) a copy of unofficial academic transcripts. Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled.

[New Publication] Our new paper on N2O emissions from urban wastewater-influenced estuaries, "Wastewater-influenced estuaries are characterized by disproportionately high nitrous oxide emissions but overestimated IPCC emission factor", is published in Communications Earth & Environment (IF: 7.9).

[New Publication] Our new paper on urban building energy use, "Impacts of climate change, population growth, and power sector decarbonization on urban building energy use", is published in Nature Communications (IF: 16.6).

[New Publication] Our new paper on urban land surface model intercomparison, "Evaluation of 30 urban land surface models in the Urban-PLUMBER project: Phase 1 results", is published in Quarterly Journal of the Royal Meteorological Society (IF: 8.9). This paper is one of the outcomes of the second international urban land surface model intercomparison project.

[Lab Member] Yuqi Huang recently joined the SURF Lab as a Ph.D. student majoring in Meteorology. Welcome!

[Job Ad] We are seeking two self-motivated doctoral students who are willing to pursue research in the following areas (2024 Spring or Fall admission). (1) Urban Air Pollution Modeling: develop and apply an integrated high-resolution pollutant dispersion model over complex terrain, funded through the U.S. Department of Energy. (2) Urban Climate: multiscale urban climate models and/or urban climate data analytics. If you are interested, please contact Dr. Chenghao Wang (chenghao.wang@ou.edu) by Sep 1, 2023 and attach (1) a copy of your CV, (2) a brief statement that highlights your interest (and skills and previous research experience, if applicable) relevant to the position description, and (3) a copy of unofficial academic transcripts. Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled.

[Accomplishment] Sarah Henry has recently accomplished a successful National Weather Center REU project. Throughout a 10-week journey, she investigated the spatial and temporal patterns of compound heat wave and particle pollution episodes in the urban environment across the contiguous U.S. Congratulations, Sarah!

[New Publication] Our new paper on compound urban heat–ozone pollution, "Compound climate-pollution extremes in Santiago de Chile", is published in Scientific Reports (IF: 4.996).

[New Publication] Our new paper on causal networks of precipitation, "Finding causal gateways of precipitation over the contiguous United States", is published in Geophysical Research Letters (IF: 5.576).

[New Publication] Our new paper on moisture sources of precipitation in the Tibetan Plateau, "Spatial distribution of oceanic moisture contributions to precipitation over the Tibetan Plateau", is published in Hydrology and Earth System Sciences (IF: 6.617).

[New Publication] Our new paper on vegetation response to climate change and human activities, "Vegetation dynamics influenced by climate change and human activities in the Hanjiang River Basin, central China", is published in Ecological Indicators (IF: 6.263).

[Teaching] Dr. Chenghao Wang will teach a new course, GEOG/METR 4970/5970-004: Urban Climatology, in spring 2023.

[New Publication] Our new paper on urban thermal stress modeling, "Realistic representation of city street-level human thermal stress via a new urban climate-human coupling system", is published in Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews (IF: 16.799).

[Job Ad] We are seeking self-motivated doctoral students who are willing to pursue research in the areas of urban climate and urban meteorology. If you are interested, please contact Dr. Chenghao Wang (chenghao.wang@ou.edu) by Oct 15, 2022 and attach (1) a copy of your CV, (2) a brief statement that highlights your interest (and skills and previous research experience, if applicable) relevant to the SURF Lab, and (3) a copy of unofficial academic transcripts. Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled.

[Other] We are organizing a Special Issue "Using Remote Sensing and GIS Technique/Methods to Address Current Urbanization Issues" with the journal Remote Sensing. The submission deadline is April 30, 2023.

[New Publication] Our new paper on causal urban climate network, "Detecting the causal influence of thermal environments among climate regions in the United States", is published in Journal of Environmental Management (IF: 8.910).

[Lab Member] The Sustainable URban Futures (SURF) Lab is established!