Min Xu

Staff Scientist
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I am Min Xu, an earth system modeler and staff scientist in the Computational Sciences and Engineering Division at Oak Ridge National Laboratory(ORNL). Before that, I was a climate modeler at the Illinois State Water Survey (ISWS) and worked as a research associate in the Earth System Science Interdisciplinary Center (ESSIC) at the University of Maryland (UMD), College Park.

Work Experiences

R&D Staff

ORNL | 2017 - Present

Studying the biogeochemical feebacks from the changes in large scale circulations caused by climate changes.

  • Terrestrial phosphorus limitation
  • Oceanic drivers of CO2 variation
  • Effects of ENSO-induced extremes on terrestrial ecosystems

Associate R&D Staff

ORNL | 2015 - 2017

Implemented a canopy air space model into CESM and studied the imapcts of ENSO on terrestrial ecosystems.

  • Canopy air space model
  • ENSO simulations

Research Associate

ESSIC/UMD | 2011 - 2015

Developed the crop modeling capabilities in CWRF-CROP and modeled crop-climate interactions.

  • Reengineered DSSAT maize, wheat and soybean crop growth models and implemented them into CWRF-CROP.
  • Improved the photosynthesis and stomatal conductance modules.
  • Improved soil nitrogen and carbon dynamics.
  • Implemented three 1-D dynamic lake models into CWRF.
  • Constructed surface boundary conditions for CWRF and CWRF-CROP.

Climate Modeler

ISWS/UIUC | 2003 - 2011

Developed new features for the Climate extension Weather Research and Forcasting (CWRF) model.

  • Developed a new albedo scheme based on MODIS products.
  • Reengineered GOSSYM cotton growth model and established the CWRF-CROP coupled system.
  • Developed an ocean mixing layer model.
  • Developed an optimal cumulus ensemble scheme for precipitation simulations.
  • Reengineered TUV model, validated against observations, and implemented it into CWRF.

Graduate Research Assistant

NJU | 1996 - 1999

Developed a numerical dispersion model using the Monte Carlo Markov Chain random particle and puff model.

Guest Scientist

LAPC/CAS | 1999 - 2002

Developed a regional numerical boundary layer model to simulate the meteorological environment over urban areas and the model was used to provide credible information for policy makers in urban planning.

Recent Publications

Ling, T., Xu, M., Liang, X.-Z., Wang, J. X. L., & Noh, Y. (2015). A multilevel ocean mixed layer model resolving the diurnal cycle: Development and validation. Journal of Advances in Modeling Earth Systems, n/a-n/a. https://doi.org/10.1002/2015MS000476
Sun, L., Liang, X.-Z., Ling, T., Xu, M., & Lee, X. (2020). Improving a Multilevel Turbulence Closure Model for a Shallow Lake in Comparison With Other 1-D Models. Journal of Advances in Modeling Earth Systems, 12(7), e2019MS001971. https://doi.org/10.1029/2019MS001971
Tang, R., Mao, J., Jin, M., Chen, A., Yu, Y., Shi, X., Zhang, Y., Hoffman, F. M., Xu, M., & Wang, Y. (2021). Interannual variability and climatic sensitivity of global wildfire activity. Advances in Climate Change Research. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.accre.2021.07.001
Xu, M., Mahajan, S., Hoffman, F. M., & Shi, X. (2019). Evaluating Carbon Extremes in a Coupled Climate-Carbon Cycle Simulation. In 2019 International Conference on Data Mining Workshops (ICDMW) (pp. 303–310). Beijing, China: IEEE. https://doi.org/10.1109/ICDMW.2019.00052