Research Interests Education Honors Publications Grants Teaching Activities Service Numerical Weather Prediction TiMREX2008 Asia-Pacific Natural Hazard Conference 2012		Yi-Leng Chen Professor of Atmospheric Sciences, SOEST Department of Atmospheric Sciences School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology University of Hawaii Honolulu, Hawaii 96822 Tel:  (808) 956-2570 Fax:  (808) 956-2877 yileng@hawaii.edu

Research Interests

My research interests are: Island effects on weather, climate, and extreme events over subtropical islands and adjacent coastal waters including: the Hawaiian Islands, Taiwan, Guam/CNMI, American Samoa Islands, Palau, and the Western Pacific. My team also has conducted daily high-resolution (1-3 km) model forecasts for Hawaii, Guam/CNMI, Palau, Republic of Marshall Islands and Micronesia. Our real-time model forecasts are used as input for ocean circulation, wave and coastal environmental models for public safety. Since 2008, our daily high resolution model output has been approved by NCEP to enter the National Weather Service (NWS) AWIPS computer system in the forecast room as high-resolution model guidance in support of NWS daily forecasts. Prof. Chen has been studying the processes related to localized heavy monsoon rainfall over Taiwan and southern China during the early summer rainy season from routine observations and special data collected during international field experiments: Taiwan Area Mesoscale Experiment (TAMEX 1987), Terrain-influenced Monsoon Rainfall Experiment (TIMREX, 2008), South China Sea Two-Island Monsoon Experiment (SCSTIMX-2017, 2018), and Prediction of Rainfall Extremes Campaign in the Pacific (PRECIP 2022), in conjunction with numerical simulations. His team also applies data assimilation to include unconventional data and satellite observations in the model initial conditions. Since 1984, he has been studying island effects on weather and climate over the Hawaiian Islands, and adjacent waters from data analyses of routine observations and data from special field observations (e;g., Hawaiian Rainband Project, 1990 and research cruises), and high- resolution numerical modeling for summer trade-wind weather, high-wind and heavy- rainfall events, wildfires and regional climate. Both Taiwan and the Hawaiian Islands have similar problems with heavy rainfall and island induced airflow and weather. They both are in a subtropical flow regime with orographic influences.

Prof. Chen’s specialty: Island-induced airflow, weather, and climate; localized heavy rainfall, high winds and extreme weather events over subtropical Islands as well as in the monsoon regions; tropical cyclone development over the Western Pacific and the interactions of tropical cyclones with island terrain.


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Education

• Ph.D., University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana, 1980
• M.S., University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana, 1976
• B.S., National Central University, Chungli, Taiwan, 1972

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Honors

• Distinguished Alumni, 2009: Department of Atmospheric Sciences, National Central University, Taiwan
• Chair Professor in Atmospheric Scinces, 2013 - Present: National Central University, Taiwan.
• 2017 Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award.
• Fellow, Meteorological Society of the Republic of China (Taiwan).
• The 2019-2023 Most Cited Article Award, TAO "The relationship between the boundary layer moisture transport from the South China Sea and heavy rainfall over Taiwan" published in TAO Journal (Volume 31, No.2).
• 2025: 114th Special Contribution and Senior Outstanding Meteorologist of the Meteorological Society of the Republic of China (Taiwan).

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Publications

• Huang, M.-Q., P.-L. Lin; C.-C. Tu; S.-W. Hsu and Y.-L. Chen: Effect of low-level jets on the movement of the Mei-Yu front: Mon. Wea. Rev.. (Accepted Pending revisions).
• Chen, C-Y., Y.-L. Chen, F. Hsiao, C-Y. Lin, 2025: A numerical study of the tornado-like vortex event over Oahu, Hawaii on 8 June 2003. Geosci. Lett. 12, 17(2025). (https://doi.org/10.1186/s40562-025-00386-6). SOEST 11922.
• Ke, C.-Y., P.-S. Tsai, C.-S. Kao, Y.-L. Chen, Y.-C. Liou, 2025: Dynamics of the extreme rainfall event on 1–2 June 2017 over Northern Taiwan: Insights from Radar wind retrieval, ensemble simulations, and spatially correlated K-Means clustering. Mon. Wea. Rev. 153, no. 4., 617-635. (https://doi.org/10.1175/MWR-D-24-0142.1) (pdf file). SOEST 11921
• Chen, Y.-L. and C.-C. Tu, 2024: The Mei-Yu Season over the Taiwan Area. Reference Module in Earth Systems and Environmental Sciences, Elsevier, (https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-323-96026-7.00092-8) (pdf file). SOEST 11799
• Li, N., Medina, G. G., Yang, Z., Cheung, K. F., Hitzl, D., Chen, Y.-L., 2023, Multi-decade high-resolution regional hindcasts for wave energy resource characterization in U.S. coastal waters. Renewable Energy, 212, 803-817. (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2023.03.100)
• Frazier, A. G., C. P. Giardina, T. W. Giambelluca, L. Brewington, Y.-L. Chen, P.-S. Chu, L. B. Fortini, D. Hall, D. A. Helweg, V. W. Keener, R. J. Longman, M. P. Licas, A. Mair, D. S. Oki, J. Reyes, S. Yelenik, C. Trauernicht, 2022: A century of Drought in Hawaii: Geospatial Analyis and Synthesis across Hydrological, Ecological, and Socioeconomic Scales. Sustainability, 14(19), 12023,(DOI:10.3390/su141912023). SOEST 11403
• Chen, Y.-L., C.-K. Wang, C.-C. Tu, F. Hsiao, P.-L. Lin, 2022: Revisiting a Mei-Yu Front Associated with Heavy Rainfall over Taiwan During 6–7 June 2003. Atmosphere, 13 Special Issue "Feature Papers in Meteorological Science", 644. (DOI: 10.3390/atmos13050644). SOEST Contribution number 11500.
• Chen, Y.-L., 2022: Low-Level Jets in Heavy Rainfall in Taiwan, Subjects: Meteorology and Atmospheric Sciences, Scholarly Community Encyclopedia. (https://encyclopedia.pub/entry/21104)
• Chen, Y-L, C.-C. Tu, F. Hsiao, C.-S. Chen, P.-L. Lin, and P.-H. Lin, 2022: An Overview of Low-Level Jets (LLJs) and Their Roles in Heavy Rainfall over the Taiwan Area during the Early Summer Rainy Season. Meteorology, 1(1), 64-112. (DOI: 10.3390/meteorology1010006)
• Tu, C.-C., Y.-L. Chen, P.-L. Lin and M.-Q. Huang, 2022: Analysis and simulations of a heavy rainfall event associated with the passage of a shallow front over Northern Taiwan on 2 June 2017. Mon. Wea. Rev., 150, 505-528. (DOI: 10.1175/MWR-D-21-0113.1)
• Hsiao, F., Y.-L. Chen, H. V. Nguyen, D. E. Hitzl, and R. Ballard, 2021: Effects of Trade Wind Strength on Airflow and Cloudiness over Oahu, Mon. Wea. Rev., 149, 3037-3062. (DOI: 10.1175/MWR-D-20-0399.1). SOEST 11405
• Hsiao, F., Y.-L. Chen, and D. E. Hitzl, 2020: Heavy Rainfall Events over Central Oahu under Weak Wind Conditions during Seasonal Transitions, Mon. Wea. Rev., 148, 4117-4141. (DOI: 10.1175/MWR-D-19-0358.1). SOEST 11404
• Hitzl, D.E., Y.-L. Chen and F. Hsiao, 2020: Wintertime easterly and southeasterly airflow in the 'Alenuihaha Channel,Mon. Wea. Rev., 148, 1337-1362. SOEST 10947
• Tu C.-C., Y.-L. Chen, P.-L. Lin, P.-H. Lin, 2020: The relationship between the boundary layer moisture transport from the South China Sea and heavy rainfall over Taiwan, Terr. Atmos. Ocean. Sci., 31, 159-176. SOEST 10948
• Huang, Y.-F., and Y.-L. Chen, 2019: Numerical simulations of seasonal variations of rainfall over the Island of Hawai'i. J. Appl. Meteor. and Climate, 58, No. 6, 1219-1232. SOEST 10712
• Tu, C.-C., Y.-L. Chen, P.-L. Lin and Y. Du, 2019: Characteristics of marine boundary layer jet over South China Sea during the early summer rainy season of Taiwan. Mon. Wea. Rev., 147 , No. 2, 409-431. SOEST 10639
• Chen, Y.-L., Y.-J. Chu, C.-S. Chen, C.-C. Tu, J.-H. Teng, and P.-L. Lin, 2018: Analysis and Simulations of a Heavy Rainfall Event over Northern Taiwan during 11-12 June 2012. Mon. Wea. Rev., 146, 2697-2715 (https://doi.org/10.1175/MWR-D-18-0001.1). SOEST 11401
• Dorian, T., B. Ward, and Y.-L. Chen, 2018: Tropical Cyclone Amos (2016) forecasting challenges: A model's perspective. Tropical Cyclone Research and Review,DOI: 10.6057/2018TCRR03.03. SOEST 11402
• Storlazzi1 C. D., M. van Ormondt, Y.-L. Chen and E. P. Elias, 2017: Modeling fine-scale coral larval dispersal and interisland connectivity to help design mutually-supporting coral reef Marine Protected Areas: Insights from Maui Nui, Hawaii. Front. Mar. Sci. 4:381. doi: 10.3389/fmars.2017.00381. SOEST 11400
• Li, L. and Y.-L. Chen, 2017: Numerical Simulations of Two Trapped Mountain Lee Waves Downstream of Oahu. J. Appl. Meteor. and Climate,56,1305-1324
• Tu, C.-C., Y.-L. Chen, S.-Y. Chen, Y.-H. Kuo and P.-L. Lin, 2017: Impacts of including rain evaporative cooling in the initial conditions on the prediction of a coastal heavy rainfall event during TiMREX. Mon. Wea. Rev.,145, 253-277 (pdf file)
• Winning, T., Y.-L. Chen, F. Xie, 2017: Estimation of the Marine Boundary Layer Height Over the Central North Pacific Using GPS Radio Occultation. Atmos. Res. 183, 362-370 (doi:10.1016/j.atmosres.2016.08.005). (pdf file)
• Tam, E. K., R. Miike, S. Labrenz, E. Avol, A. J. Sutton, T. Elias, K. Tantisira, Y.-L. Chen, J. Davis, D. Dockery, 2016: Volcanic air pollution over the Island of Hawai¿i: Emissions, dispersal, composition - Association with respiratory symptoms and lung function in Hawaii Island School children. Envir. Inter. 92-93: 543-552. (DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2016.03.025).
• Li, N., K.-F. Cheung, J. S. Stopa, F. Hsiao, Y.-L. Chen, V. Luis, P. Cross, 2016: Thirty-four Years of Hawaii Wave Hindcast from Downscaling of Climate Forecast System Reanalysis. Ocean Modelling, 100 (2016), 78-95
• Du, Y., Y.-L. Chen and Q. Zhang, 2015: Numerical simulations of the Boundary Layer Jet off the southeastern coast of China. Mon. Wea. Rev., 143, 1212-1231
• Hsiao, F., and Y.-L Chen, 2014: Revisiting the Structure and Characteristics of an Early Summer Monsoon Trough over South China in 1975. SOLA, 10, 194-198. (DOI code: 10.2151/sola.2014-041)
• Hitzl, D.E., Y.-L. Chen and H.V. Nguyen, 2014: Numerical simulations and observations of airflow through the 'Alenuihaha Channel, Hawaii. Mon. Wea. Rev., 142, 4696-4718
• Nguyen, H.V., and Y.-L. Chen, 2014: Improvements to a Tropical Cyclone Initialization Scheme and Impacts on Forecasts. Mon. Wea. Rev., 142, 4340-4356
• Du, Y., Q. Zhang, Y.-L. Chen, Y. Zhao, and X. Wang, 2014: Numerical simulations of spatial distributions and diurnal variations of low-level jets in China during early summer. J. Climate., 27, 5747-5767.
• Chen, C.-Y., Y-L. Chen and H. V. Nguyen, 2014: The spin-up process of a cyclone vortex in a tropical cyclone initialization scheme and its impact on the initial TC structure. SOLA , 10, 93-97.(pdf file)
• Zhou, C and Y.-L. Chen, 2014: Assimilation of GPS RO Refractivity data and its Impact on Simulations of Trade Wind Inversion and a Winter Cold Front in Hawaii. Natural Science, 6, 605-614.(DOI code: 10.4236/ns.2014.68060)(Special Issue on "Weather Forecasting")
• Tu, C.-C., Y.-L. Chen, C.-S. Chen, P.-L. Lin and P.-H. Lin, 2014: A comparison of two heavy rainfall events during the Terrain-influenced Monsoon Rainfall Experiment (TiMREX) 2008. Mon. Wea. Rev., 142, 2436-2463
• Chen, Y.-L., P.-L. Lin, F. Hsiao, P.-S. Chu, M.-H. Su, 2013: Asia-pacific natural hazard conference: disastrous weather in a changing climate. Bull. Amer. Meteor. Soc., 94, ES175-ES178. (DOI code: 10.1175/BAMS-D-12-00220.1)
• Chen, C.-Y., Y.-L. Chen, C.-S. Chen, P.-L. Lin, and C.-L. Liu, 2013: Revisiting the heavy rainfall event over northern Taiwan on 3 June 1984. Terr. Atmos. Ocean. Sci., 24, 999-1020. (DOI code: 10.3319/TAO.2013.07.04.01(A))
• Giambelluca, T. W., Q. Chen, A. G. Frazier, J. P. Price, Y.-L. Chen, P.-S. Chu, J. K. Eischeid, D. M. Delparte, 2013: Online rainfall atlas of Hawai'i. Bull. Amer. Meteor. Soc.,94,313-316. (http://dx.doi.org.eres.library.manoa.hawaii.edu/10.1175/BAMS-D-11-00228.1)
• Stopa, J. E., J.-F. Filipot, N. Li, K. F. Cheung, Y.-L. Chen, and L. Vega, 2013: Wave energy resources along the Hawaiian Island chain. Renewable Energy., 55, 305-321.(pdf file)
• Xu, W., E. J. Zipser, Y.-L. Chen, C. Liu, .-C. Liou, W.-C. Lee and B. Jou, 2012 :An orography-associated extreme rainfall event during TiMREX: triggering, storm evolution, and maintenance. Mon. Wea. Rev., 140, 2555–2574.
• Jayawardena, S., Y.-L. Chen, A.J.Nash and K. Kodama, 2012: A comparison of three prolonged periods of heavy rainfall over the Hawaiian islands. J. Appl. Meteor. and Climate, 51, 722-744.
• Stopa, J. E., K. F. Cheung , Y.-L. Chen, 2011: Assessment of wave energy resources in Hawaii. J. Renewable Energy., 36, 554-567.
• Lin, P.-L., Y.-L. Chen, C.-S. Chen, C.-L. Liu, and C.-Y. Chen, 2011: Numerical experiments investigating the orographic effects on a heavy rainfall event over the northwestern coast of Taiwan during TAMEX IOP 13. Meteorol Atmos Phys, 114, 35-50.
• Tu, C.-C., and Y.-L. Chen, 2011: Favorable conditions for the development of a heavy rainfall event over Oahu during the 2006 wet period . Wea. Forecasting , 26, 280-300.
• Nguyen, H. V., and Y.-L. Chen, 2011: High resolution initialization and simulations of typhoon Morakot (2009). Mon. Wea. Rev., 139, 1463-1491
• Hartley, T. and Y.-L. Chen, 2010: Characteritics of summer trade-wind rainfall over Oahu. Wea. Forecasting, 25, 1797-1815.(pdf file)
• Carlis, D., L., Y.-L. Chen, and V. Morris, 2010: Numerical simulations of island-scale airflow and the Maui vortex during summer trade-wind conditions. Mon. Wea. Rev. 138, 2706-2736. (pdf file)
• Nguyen, H. V., Y.-L. Chen, and F. Fujioka, 2010: Numerical Simulations of island effects on airflow and weather during the summer over the Island of Oahu. Mon. Wea. Rev. 138, 2253–2280. (pdf file)
• Kerns, B., Y.-L. Chen and M.-Y. Chang 2010: The diurnal cycle of winds, rain and clouds over Taiwan during the Mei-Yu, Summer, and Autumn regimes. Mon. Wea. Rev. 138,  497-516. (pdf file)
• Chen, C.-S., Y.-L. Chen, P.-C. Lin, P.-L. Lin, C.-L. Liu, C.-J. Su, and W.-C. Peng, 2008: An investigation of extremely heavy rainfall events over southwestern Taiwan during the Mei-Yu season from 1997-2006. Atmos. Sci., 35, 287-304 (In Mandarin with English Abstract). (Available from Meteor. Soc. of the Rep. of China, 64 Kung-Yuan Road, Taipei, Taiwan)
• Yang, Y., Y.-L. Chen, and F. M. Fujioka, 2008: Effects of trade-wind strength and direction on the leeside circulations and rainfall of the Island of Hawaii. Mon. Wea. Rev. 136, 4799-4818.
• Yang, Y., and Y.-L. Chen, 2008: Effects of terrain heights and sizes on island-scale circulations and rainfall for the island of Hawaii during HaRP. Mon. Wea. Rev. 136, 120-146. (pdf file)
• Esteban, M. A., and Y.-L. Chen, 2008: The Impact of Trade-wind Strength on Precipitation over the Windward Side of the Island of Hawaii. Mon. Wea. Rev. 136, 913-928. (pdf file)
• Chen, C.-S., Y.-L. Chen, W.-C. Chen, and P.-L. Lin, 2007: The Statistics of Heavy Rainfall Occurrences in Taiwan. Wea. Forecasting. 22, 981-1002. (pdf file)
• Zhang, Y., Y.-L. Chen, and K. Kodama, 2005: Validation of the coupled NCEP Mesoscale Spectral Model and an advanced Land Surface Model over the Hawaiian Islands. Part II: A high wind event. Wea. Forecasting , 20, 873-895.
• Zhang, Y., Y.-L. Chen, S.-Y. Hong, H.-M. H. Juang, and K. Kodama, 2005: Validation of the coupled NCEP Mesoscale Spectral Model and an advanced Land Surface Model over the Hawaiian Islands. Part I: Summer trade wind conditions and a heavy rainfall event. Wea. Forecasting , 20, 847-872.
• Zhang, Y., Y.-L. Chen, T. A. Schroeder, and K. Kodama, 2005: Numerical simulations of sea breeze circulations over northwest Hawaii. Wea. Forecasting , 20, 827-846.
• Yang, Y., Y.-L. Chen, and F. M. Fujioka, 2005: Numerical simulations of the island-induced circulation over the island of Hawaii during HaRP. Mon. Wea. Rev. 133, 3693-3713. (pdf file)
• Juang, H.-M. H., C.-T. Lee, Y. Zhang, M.-C. Wu, Y.-L. Chen, K. Kodama, and S.-C. Chen, 2005: Applying horizontal diffusion on pressure surface to mesocale models on terrain-following coordinates. Mon. Wea. Rev., 133, 1384-1402.
• Chen, C.-S., W.-C. Chen, Y.-L. Chen, P.-L. Lin, and S.-J. Lai, 2005: An investigation of orographic effects on two heavy rainfall events over southwestern Taiwan during the Mei-Yu season. Atmos. Res., 73(1),101-130.
• Foster, J., M. Bevis, Y.-L. Chen, S. Businger, and Y. Zhang, 2003: The Ka'u Storm (Nov 2000): Imaging precipitable water using GPS. J. Geophys. Res., 108, D18, 4585.
• Yang, Y., and Y.-L. Chen, 2003: Circulations and rainfall on the lee side of the island of Hawaii during HaRP. Mon. Wea. Rev., 131, 2525-2542.
• Chen, C.-S., and Y.-L. Chen, 2003: The rainfall characteristics of Taiwan. Mon. Wea. Rev., 131, 1323-1341.
• Yeh, H.-C., and Y.-L. Chen, 2003: Numerical simulations of the barrier jet over northwestern Taiwan during the Mei-Yu season. Mon. Wea. Rev., 131, 1396-1407.
• Yeh, H.-C., and Y.-L. Chen, 2002: The role of offshore convergence on coastal rainfall during TAMEX IOP 3. Mon. Wea. Rev., 130, 2709-2730.
• Chen, X., and Y.-L. Chen, 2002: Kinetic energy budgets of the low-level jet during TAMEX IOP 5. J. Meteor. Soc. Japan, 80, 1-19.
• Frye, J., and Y.-L. Chen, 2001: Evolution of downslope flow under strong opposing trade winds and frequent trade-wind rainshowers over the island of Hawaii. Mon. Wea. Rev., 129, 956-977
• Chen, Y.-L., and J. Feng, 2001: Numerical simulations of airflow and cloud distributions over the windward side of the island of Hawaii. Part I: The effects of trade-wind inversion. Mon. Wea. Rev., 129, 1117-1134.
• Feng, J., and Y.-L. Chen, 2001: Numerical simulations of airflow and cloud distributions over the windward side of the island of Hawaii. Part II: Nocturnal flow regime. Mon. Wea. Rev., 129, 1135-1147.
• Teng, J.-H., C.-S. Chen, T.-C. C. Wang, and Y.-L. Chen, 2000: Orographic effects on a squall-line system. Mon. Wea. Rev., 128, 495-506.
• Chen, Y.-L., and S.-F. Tseng, 2000: Comments on "The intensification of the low-level jet during the development of mesoscale convective systems on a Mei-Yu front". Mon. Wea. Rev., 128, 1123-1138.
• Li, J., and Y.-L. Chen, 1999: A case study of nocturnal rainshowers over the windward coastal region of the island of Hawaii. Mon. Wea. Rev., 127, 2674-2692.
• Wang, J. J., H.-M. H. Juang, K. Kodama, S. Businger, Y.-L. Chen, and J. Partain, 1998: Application of the NCEP regional spectral model to improve weather forecasts in Hawaii. Wea. Forecasting, 13, 560-575.
• Yeh, H.-C., and Y.-L. Chen, 1998: Characteristics of the rainfall distribution over Taiwan during TAMEX. J. Appl. Meteor., 37, 1457-1469.
• Feng, J., and Y.-L. Chen, 1998: Evolution of katabatic winds on the island of Hawaii during 10 August 1990. Mon. Wea. Rev., 126, 2185-2199.
• Li, J., and Y.-L. Chen, 1998: Barrier jets during TAMEX. Mon. Wea. Rev., 126, 959-971.
• Wang, J.-J., and Y.-L. Chen, 1998: A case study of Hawaiian trade-wind rainbands and their interaction with the island-induced airflow. Mon. Wea. Rev., 126, 409-423.
• Li, J., Y.-L. Chen, and W.-C. Lee, 1997: Analysis of a heavy rainfall event during TAMEX. Mon. Wea. Rev., 125, 1060-1082.
• Chen, Y.-L., X. A. Chen, S. Chen, and Y.-H. Kuo, 1997: A numerical study of the low-level jet during TAMEX IOP 5. Mon. Wea. Rev., 125, 2583-2604.
• Chen, Y.-L., 1996: Airflow over the island of Hawaii. Hawaii Medical Journal, 55, 44-45. (Special issue on VOG).
• Wang, J.-J., and Y.-L. Chen, 1995: Characteristics of near-surface wind and thermal profiles on the windward slopes of the island of Hawaii. Mon. Wea. Rev., 123, 3481-3501.
• Chen, Y.-L., and J. Li, 1995: Large-scale conditions favorable for the development of heavy precipitation during TAMEX IOP 3. Mon. Wea. Rev., 123, 2978-3002.
• Chen, X. A., and Y.-L. Chen, 1995: Development of low-level jets during TAMEX. Mon. Wea. Rev., 123, 1695-1719.
• Chen, Y.-L., and J. Feng, 1995: The influences of inversion height on the precipitation and airflow over the island of Hawaii. Mon. Wea. Rev., 123, 1660-1676.
• Chen, Y.-L., and J. Li, 1995: Characteristics of surface airflow and pressure patterns over the island of Taiwan during TAMEX. Mon. Wea. Rev., 123, 695-716.
• Chen, Y.-L., and J.-J. Wang, 1995: The effects of precipitation on the surface temperature and airflow over the island of Hawaii. Mon. Wea. Rev., 123, 681-694.
• Chen, Y.-L., X. A. Chen, and Y.-X. Zhang, 1994: A diagnostic study of the low-level jet during TAMEX IOP 5. Mon. Wea. Rev., 122, 2257-2284.
• Chen, Y.-L., and J.-J. Wang, 1994: Diurnal variation of surface thermodynamic fields on the island of Hawaii. Mon. Wea. Rev., 122, 2125-2138.
• Chen, Y.-L., and A. J. Nash, 1994: Diurnal variation of surface airflow and rainfall frequencies on the island of Hawaii. Mon. Wea. Rev., 122, 34-56.
• Chen, Y.-L., 1993: Some synoptic-scale aspects of the surface fronts over southern China during TAMEX. Mon. Wea. Rev., 121, 50-64.
• Chen, Y.-L., and N. B.-F. Hui, 1992: Analysis of a relatively dry front during the Taiwan Area Mesoscale Experiment. Mon. Wea. Rev., 120, 2442-2468.
• Chen, W., Y.-L. Chen, and J. Chen, 1992: A numerical study of the PBL conditions over 34 reclaimed grassland. Acta Meteor. Sinica, 6, 345-354.
• Chen, Y.-L., and N. B.-F. Hui, 1990: Analysis of a shallow front during TAMEX. Mon. Wea. Rev., 118, 2607-2623.
• Chen, Y.-L., Y.-X. Zhang, and N. B.-F. Hui, 1989: Analysis of a surface front during the early summer rainy season over Taiwan. Mon. Wea. Rev., 117, 909-931.
• Chen, Y.-L., 1989: Aspects of midlatitude influences on the surface front over southern China during TAMEX. Papers. Meteor. Res., 12, 159-174.
• Chen, Y.-L., 1988: Life cycle effects of cloud clusters on the moisture distribution over the eastern Atlantic. J. Meteor. Soc. Japan, 66, 387-391.
• Chen, Y.-L., 1987: Thermodynamic effects of mesoscale convective systems on the environment over the eastern Atlantic. J. Meteor. Soc. Japan, 65, 391-400.
• Chen, Y.-L., 1985: On the diagnosis of the net cloud mass flux in GATE. J. Atmos. Sci., 42, 1757-1769.
• Chen, Y.-L., 1985: Tropical squall lines over the eastern Atlantic during GATE. Mon. Wea. Rev., 113, 2015-2022.
• Ogura, Y., and Y.-L. Chen, 1984: Reply. J. Atmos. Sci., 41, 308-309.
• Chen, Y.-L., and Y. Ogura, 1982: Modulaion of convective activity by large-scale flow patterns in GATE. J. Atmos. Sci., 39, 1260-1279.
• Ogura, Y., Y.-L. Chen, J. Russell, and S.-T. Soong, 1979: On the formation of organized convective systems observed over the eastern Atlantic. Mon. Wea. Rev., 17, 426-441.
• Ogura, Y., and Y.-L. Chen, 1977: A life history of an intensive meso-scale convective storm in Oklahoma. J. Atmos. Sci., 33, 1458-1476.

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Grants

• NSF, Heavy precipitation events during TAMEX. $97,100, 04/01/87-02/28/90. (PI: Y.-L. Chen)
• NSF, Analyses of surface fronts during TAMEX. $137,000, 11/15/89-10/31/92. (PI: Y.-L. Chen)
• NSF, TAMEX supplements. $16,243, 01/15/92-10/31/92. (PI: Y.-L. Chen)
• NSF, Diurnal evolution of Hawaiian Rainbands. $140,000, 07/01/90-05/31/93. (PI: Y.-L. Chen)
• NSF, REU suppliments. $12,879, 07/01/90-05/31/93. (PI: Y.-L. Chen)
• NSF, Conditions favorable for the development of heavy precipitation during TAMEX. $170,000, 07/15/92-12/31/94. (PI: Y.-L. Chen)
• NSF, Relationship between mesoscale environment and Hawaiian rain band. $157,919, 01/01/94-06/30/96. (PI: Y.-L. Chen)
• NSF, Synoptic and mesoscale analyses of heavy precipitation events during TAMEX. $235,331, 03/15/95-02/28/99. (PI: Y.-L. Chen)
• NSF, Relationship between mesoscale environment and Hawaiian rain band (II). $292,607, 01/01/97-12/31/00. (PI: Y.-L. Chen)
• COMET/UCAR, Improvement of lower boundary conditions and model verifications for the mesoscale spectral model. $6,815, 10/15/98-06/30/00. (PI: Y.-L. Chen)
• NOAA, Application of the NCEP nested regional spectral model to improve heavy rainfall and high wind forecasting in Hawaii. $37,500, 09/01/99-06/30/01. (PI: Y.-L. Chen)
• COMET/UCAR, Application of the NCEP nested regional spectral model to improve weather forecasting in Hawaii. $88,597, 01/01/98-03/31/02. (PI: Y.-L. Chen)
• NSF, Effects of island-induced circulation on localized heavy rainfall. $204,642, 06/15/98-12/31/02. (PI: Y.-L. Chen)
• COMET/UCAR, High resolution simulations of high wind and heavy rainfall events. $10,000, 10/01/01-09/30/02. (PI: Y.-L. Chen)
• NOAA, Application of the NCEP high resolution spectral model to improve weather forecasting in Hawaii. $24,972, 10/01/01-12/31/02. (PI: Y.-L. Chen)
• USFS, Case study of mesoscale fire weather modeling in Hawaii. $50,000, 07/01/01-06/30/03. (PI: Y.-L. Chen)
• USFS, Mesoscale modeling for fire management applications in Hawaii. $60,000, 03/31/03-09/30/04. (PI: Y.-L. Chen)
• COMET/UCAR, Application of high resolution mesoscale models to improve weather forecasting in Hawaii. $10,000, 01/01/04-12/31/04. (PI: Y.-L. Chen)
• HPC/UH#, Effects of trade-wind strength on the lee-side circulation of the island of Hawaii. $25,009, 07/01/04-08/31/05. (PI: Y.-L. Chen)
• COMET/UCAR, Characteristics of the trade-wind inversion over the Hawaiian Islands. $10,000, 11/01/04-03/31/06. (PI: Y.-L. Chen)
• HPC/UH#, Numerical simulations of airflow and weather over the island of Oahu. $13,395, 07/01/05-08/31/06. (PI: Y.-L. Chen)
• NSF, Island-scale circulations over the island of Hawaii. $263,340, 08/01/02-01/31/07. (PI: Y.-L. Chen)
• COMET/UCAR, Application of high resolution weather models to improve weather forecasting over the Hawaiian Islands. $10,000, 07/01/06-09/30/07. (PI: Y.-L. Chen)
• HPC/UH#, High resolution simulations of heavy rainfall events over the Hawaiian Islands. $13,215, 01/01/07-12/31/07. (PI: Y.-L. Chen)
• NOAA, Development of integrated systems and products for fire risk management and fire weather forecasts. $110,000, 06/01/06-06/30/08. (PI: Y.-L. Chen)
• COMET/UCAR, Analyses of an unusual heavy rainfall period over the Hawaiian Islands. $10,702, 07/01/07-06/30/08. (PI: Yi-Leng Chen)
• USFS/USDA, High resolution fire weather/fire danger forecasts for Hawaii. $145,000, 12/15/04-09/30/09. (PI: Y.-L. Chen).
• DTC/UCAR, A Study of the Island-Scale Numercial Weather Forecasting Using WRF/LSM models over Hawaii. $13,414, 07/01/08-08/31/09. (PI: Y.-L. Chen).
• PDC, Development and Improvement High-Resolution Weather Models for Vog Transport in Hawaii and Significant Weather Events in Vietnam. $65,338. 09/15/08-12/31/09. (PI: Y.-L. Chen).
• COMET/UCAR, High-Resolution Weather Modeling to Improve Local Weather Forecasts over the Hawaiian Islands. $11,962. 06/01/2009-05/31/2010. (PI: Y.-L. Chen).
• COMET/UCAR, Validation of the High-resolution WRF-NM/LSM over the Hawaiian Islands. $11,913, 06/01/2009-05/31/2010. (PI: Y.-L. Chen).
• US Army Corps of Engineers and State of Hawaii: Revision of the Rainfall Atlas of Hawaii. $66,759 (Chen's portion), 11/01/2008-05/31/2011.
• NOAA, Developing the Pacific Islands Ocean Observing System (PacIOOS): Atmospheric Modeling Component. $300,889. (Chen's portion) 10/01/97-12/31/11.
• USFS/USDA, Integrated weather/fire forecasting applications in Hawaii. $85,000. 08/01/09-/06/30/12. (PI: Yi-Leng Chen).
• NCAR, Advanced Study Program: $18,090 (Graduate Student Chuan-Chi Tu; Faculty adviser: Yi-Leng Chen) 04/01/2012-12/31/2012.
• NOAA, Development of an experimental high-resolution numerical weather prediction system for the Northern Mariana Islands/Guam. $100,000. 02/02/2013-05/31/2015. (PI: Yi-Leng Chen)
• DOE, Advanced Wave Modeling (Atmospheric modeling component): $252,063. (Chen's portion) 09/15/08-09/30/15.
• UCAR/NOAA, GOES-R Partners Project-Applications of satellite data for model initialization and verification to improve weather forecasting in Hawaii. $19,979. 08/17/2015-08/31/2016. (PI: Yi-Leng Chen)
• Project: A High-Resolution Tropical Cyclone Initialization Scheme for the Central Weather Bureau, Sponsor: National Central University, Taiwan. Award: $50,021. 08/18/2015-12/31/2016.
• UCAR/NOAA, lmprovements to an experimental high-resolution numerical weather prediction system for the Northern Marians Islands/Guam. $19,979. 10/8/2015-2/28/2017 (PI: Yi-Leng Chen).
• NOAA, Developing the Pacific Islands Ocean Observing System (PacIOOS): Atmospheric Modeling Component. $385,715. (Chen's portion) 06/01/11-5/31/17.
• NSF, Characteristics of Island-scale Airflow and Climate over the Hawaiian Islands $402,329. 02/01/2012-12/31/2018 (PI: Yi-Leng Chen)
• IISI, A High-Resolution Tropical Cyclone Initialization Scheme for the Central Weather Bureau (II). $104,587. 11/01/2015-12/31/2018.
• COMET/UCAR/NOAA, High resolution experimental forecasts over the Hawaiian Islands, Guam/CNMI, American Samoa and hindcast of historical tropical cyclones. $14,989, 05/22/2019-04/30/2020 (PI: Yi-Leng Chen)
• COMET/UCAR/NOAA, Application of a TC initialization scheme to improve intensity forecasts $14,989. 9/10/2019-7/31/2020 (PI: Yi-Leng Chen)
• COMET/UCAR/NOAA, Proposal for a Multi-Year Cooperative Agreement for Education, Training and Capacity Development for Weather, Water and Climate Forecasting (ETCD), Award: $14,999. 12/09/2020-6/30/2022 (PI: Yi-Leng Chen)
• OIA, Pacific Island Ocean Observing System for the Enhancing Public Safety with Improved Atmospheric and Wave Forecasts for Guam, CNMI, and American Samoa. $293,555 (Chen's portion) (PI: Melissa Iwamoto). 07/01/2018-09/30/2022.
• NSF Supplement, $30,000, 08/01/2019-07/31/2024.
• NOAA: Empowering Ocean Stakeholders: Advancing the Pacific Island Ocean Observing System (PacIOOS). (PI: Melissa Iwamoto; Co-I: Y.-L. Chen), Chen's portion: WRF Forecasts $429,063 (Year 1-4). 07/01/2021-06/30/2026.
• UCAR/NOAA: Education, Training, and Capacity Development for Weather, Water and Climate Forecasting. $15,002, 09/01/2023-08/31/2024. (PI: Yi-Leng Chen).
• OIA, Dynamical Downscaling for El Niño Events for Guam/CNMI and Improved Atmospheric Forecasts for the Insular Pacific. $227,542 (PI: Melissa Iwamoto, Co-PI: Y.-L. Chen). 02/01/2024-01/31/2026.
• United Nations: Enhancing Climate Information and Knowledge Services for resilience in 5 island countries of the Pacific Ocean, United Nations Environment Porgramme (UNEP) 2021-2027. 07/01/2021-12/01/2027. Project Total: $1,996,566.77 (PI: Melissa Iwamoto; Co-I: Y.-L. Chen and 3 others).
• UCAR/NOAA: Education, Training, and Capacity Development for Weather, Water and Climate Forecasting. $14,985, 09/01/2024-09/30/2025. (PI: Y.-L. Chen).
  
  
  
  ^*National Institute of Environmental Healths
  ^#High Performance Computing/University of Hawaii

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Teaching Activities
 

• I have graduated with 12 PhD students (including one this semester) and numerous MS students as their thesis advisor. I also served as a joint advisor for Weixin Xu from the University of Utah, Yu Du from the Peking University, C.Y. Chen from the National Central University. Currently I am hosting a PhD student, Jeong-Eun, from the Kyungpook National University, S. Korea.
  


• Graduate Students:
  
  Norman B.-F. Hui (MS, 1988), Yuxia Zhang (MS, 1989), Andrew J. Nash (MS, 1992), Kiattisak Thangtrongsakol (MS, 1992), Xin An
  Chen (PhD, 1995), Jian-Jian Wang (PhD, 1995), Jun Li (PhD, 1996), Jeffrey L. Frye (MS, 1996), JiuHua Feng (PhD, 1998), Hsi-Chyi
  Yeh (PhD, 1999), Mary Ann Esteban (MS, 2002), Brandon Kerns (MS, 2003), Treena Loos (MS, 2004), Yongxin Zhang (PhD, 2004),
  Jennifer B. Bingaman (MS, 2005), Yang Yang (PhD, 2005), DaNa L. Carlis (PhD, 2007), I. Shiro Jayawardena (MS, 2007), N. P. Smith
  (MS, 2009), Sandra Richard (MS, 2010), Hiep Van Nguyen (MS, 2006; PhD, 2011), Chuan-Chi Tu (MS, 2008; PhD, 2013), Thomas
  Winning, Jr. (MS, 2014), Liye Li (MS, 2015), Yu-Fen Huang (MS, 2016), Jie Chen (MS, 2016), Y. Fan (MS,2017), Z. Li (2019; MS),
  Feng Hsiao (PhD, 2020), J. Zhu (MS, 2020), Q. Sun (MS, 2020), Chuan-Kai Wang (MS, 2021), Rachael Eichelberger-Iga (MS, 2022),
  David Hitzl (MS, 2013; PhD, 2024), Tien Manh Nguyen (PhD, in progress), Cameron Chuss (PhD, in progress),
  Mingpo Tao (PhD, in progress).
  


• Postdocs or Visiting Researchers:
  
  J.-H. Teng (1996-1997), M.-Y. Chang (1996-1997), J. Li (1996-1998), H.-C. Yeh (2001, 2002, one month each year),Y. Zhang (2005),
  J.-S. Huang (2005), H.-H. Lin (2007), S.-C. Lin (2008), Hsi-Chyi Yeh (2008-2009), Chunhua Zhou (2009-2010), Hiep Van Nguyen
  (2011-2012), Yu Du (2012-2013), Chih-Ying Chen (2015), Feng Hsiao (2020-2024).
  


• Here Are Some of My Successful Students:
  
  DaNa Carlis: Director, National Severe Storm Lab (NSSL)/NOAA, Noman, OK.
  Hiep Nguyen, Director, Applied Geophysics Center (AGPC), Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, Hanoi, Vietnam
  Yongxin Zhang, Scientist III, National Center for Atmospheric Research, Boulder, CO.
  Yang Yang, Scientist III, National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research, New Zealand.
  Jian-Jian, Wang, Associate Research Scientist, Earth System Interdisciplinary Center, University of Maryland, Baltimore County, MD.
  Brandon Kerns, Senior Research Scientist, Department of Atmospheric Science, University of Washington, Seattle, WA.
  Andrew Nash, The Meteorologist-in-Charge (MIC), National Weather Service, Boston, MA.
  Mary Ann Esteban, Professor, Kapiolani Community College, Oahu.
  Shiro Jayawardena, Director, Forecasting and Decision Support, Sri Lanka Meteorological Service (retired).
  Hsi-Chyi Yeh, Chair, General Education, Aletheia University, Taiwan.
  Yu Du, Professor, National Sun-Yat-Sen University, Zhuhai, China; Associate Editor, Monthly Weather Review.
  Weixin Xu, Professor, National Sun-Yat-Sen University, Zhuhai, China.
  Liye Li, Research Scientist, WMO, United Nations.
  Chuan-Chi Tu, Research Scientist, National Central University, Zhongli, Taiwan.
  Chih-Ying Chen: Research Scientist, Academic Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan.
  David Hitzl, Meteorologist, U.S. Navy at the Fleet Numerical Meteorology and Oceanography Center (FNMOC) in Monterey, California.
  Feng Hsiao, Postdoc Researcher, NOAA Center in Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology, Howard University, DC.
  
  


• Courses Taught:
  
  ATMO 101     Introduction to Meteorology
  ATMO 302     Atmospheric Physics
  ATMO 303     Introduction to Atmospheric Dynamics
  MET    352     Theoretical Meteorology I
  MET    353     Theoretical Meteorology II
  ATMO 399     Directed Reading
  ATMO 402     Applied Atmospheric Dynamics
  ATMO 405     Satellite Meteorology
  ATMO 412     Meteorological Analysis Lab
  ATMO 416     Tropical Analysis Lab
  ATMO 606     Cumulus Dynamics
  ATMO 607     Mesoscale Meteorology
  ATMO 610     Tropical Meteorology
  ATMO 699     Directed Individual Studies
  ATMO 765b   Seminar in Meteorology: General
  ATMO 765c   Seminar in Meteorology: Research Results
  ATMO 752     Special topics in Mesoscale Meteorology
  

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Service

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Numerical Weather Prediction

• Wind and Rain Modeling and Forecasts for Hawaii and Pacific Islands
  
• Pacific Islands Ocean Observing System
• Poster: Integrated System and Products for Fire Risk Assessment in Hawaii
• Poster: Very High Spatial Resolution Modeling of Hawaii Weather and Climate
• Poster: High Resolution Numerical Simulations of Airflow and Weather over the Island of Oahu
• Poster: Numerical Simulations of Spatial Distributions and Diurnal Variations of Low-level Jets in China during Early Summer
• Poster: Numerical Simulations and Observations of Airflow through the Alenuihaha Channel, Hawaii
• Poster: Numerical Simulations of Two Local thunderstorms over Central Oahu during the Warm Season
• Poster: Revisiting a Mei-Yu Front Associated with Heavy Rainfall over Taiwan during 6–7 June 2003

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