Professor, External Collaborator
Professor, External Collaborator

Biography

Heping Liu is a full professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Washington State University (WSU) in Pullman, Washington. He was formerly an assistant professor and then associate professor at Jackson State University Mississippi before joining WSU. His primary research interests include boundary-layer meteorology and terrestrial ecosystem-climate interactions. He has co-authored more than 100 peered-reviewed journal articles and is an awardee of the U.S. National Science Foundation Early Career Award. He chairs the American Meteorological Society Agricultural and Forest Meteorology Committee and serves as an associate editor of the Journal of Geophysical Research-Atmospheres and an editor of Advances in Atmospheric Sciences.

Department website: https://ce.wsu.edu/faculty/liu/

Group website: http://micromet.paccar.wsu.edu/

Research Interest

  • Micrometeorology
  • Boundary-layer meteorology
  • Biosphere-atmosphere interactions
  • Ecosystem-climate feedbacks

Liu’s research centers on theories, measurements, and modeling of micrometeorology boundary layer processes and ecosystem-atmosphere interactions across a variety of temporal and spatial scales over natural and disturbed ecosystems. Key themes of his research include turbulence structures in atmospheric boundary layer, plant canopy micrometeorogical processes over complex terrain, land-surface fluxes and climate interactions, carbon emissions from inland waters, and eddy covariance theories and techniques.

Education

  • PhD in Atmospheric Sciences, Peking University, 1997
  • MS in Atmospheric Physics, Peking University, 1993
  • BS in Atmospheric Physics, Chengdu Institute of Meteorology, 1987

Affiliations and Professional Service

  • Chair, Committee on Agricultural and Forest Meteorology, American Meteorological Society (2016-present)
  • Member, Committee on Agricultural and Forest Meteorology, American Meteorological Society (2013-2016)
  • Editorial Board Member, Advances in Atmospheric Sciences (2009-present) 
  • National Center for Atmospheric Research Observing Facilities Assessment Panel, National Science Foundation (2012-present)
  • Guest Editor, Agricultural and Forest Meteorology (2016)

Awards and Recognitions

  • CAREER Award, National Science Foundation (2009)
  • Outstanding Achievement Award in Research, Jackson State University College of Science, Engineering, and Technology (2008)

Publications

2020

  • Yao J, H Liu*, J Huang, Z Gao, G Wang, D Li, H Yu, X Chen (2020) “Accelerated dryland expansion regulates future variability in dryland gross primary production.” Nature Communications, 11:1665, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-020-15515-2.
  • Zhu B, M Huang, Y Cheng, X Xie, Y Liu, X Zhang, G Bisht, X Chen, J Missik, and H Liu. (2020) “Effects of irrigation on water, carbon, and nitrogen budgets in a semi‐arid watershed in the Pacific Northwest: A modelling study.” Journal of Advances in Modeling Earth Systems, https://doi.org/10.1029/2019MS001953
  • Yusup Y, H Liu*. (2020) “Effects of persistent wind speeds on turbulent fluxes in the water-atmosphere interface.” Theoretical and Applied Climatology, DOI: 10.1007/s00704-019-03084-4.

2019

  • Liu Z, S Cao, H Liu, X Hua, T Ishihara. (2019) “Effects of Reynolds number in the range from 1.6x103 to 1.6x106 on the flow fields in tornado-like vortices by LES: A systematical study.” Journal of Wind Engineering & Industrial Aerodynamics, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jweia.2019.104028
  • Ma Y, H Liu*, Z Liu, C Yi, B Lamb. (2019) “Influence of forest-edge flows on scalar transport with different vertical distributions of foliage and scalar sources.” Boundary-Layer Meteorology, 1-19, https://doi.org/10.1007/s10546-019-00475-y
  • Ma Y, H Liu*. (2019) “An advanced multiple‐layer canopy model in the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model with large‐eddy simulations to simulate canopy flows and scalar transport under different stability conditions.” Journal of Advances in Modeling Earth Systems, https://doi.org/10.1029/2018MS001347
  • Lan C, H Liu*, GG Katul, D Li, D Finn. (2019) “Large eddies regulate turbulent flux gradients in coupled stable boundary layers.” Geophysical Research Letters, https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/ doi/10.1029/2019GL082228.
  • Gao Z, H Liu*, JEC Missik, M Huang, X Chen, E Arntzen, DP Mcfarland. (2019) “Mechanistic links between underestimated CO2 fluxes and non-closure of the surface energy balance in a semi-arid sagebrush ecosystem.” Environmental Research Letters, https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1748-9326/ab082d
  • Missik JEC, H Liu*, Z Gao, M Huang, X Chen, E Arntzen, DP Mcfarland, H Ren, PS Titzler, JN Thomle, A Goldman. (2019) “Groundwater‐river water exchange enhances growing season evapotranspiration and carbon uptake in a semi‐arid riparian ecosystem.” Journal of Geophysical Research: Biogeosciences, https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1029/2018JG004666
  • Liu Z, S Cao, H Liu*, T Ishihara. (2019) “Large-eddy simulations of the flow over an isolated three-dimensional hill.” Boundary-Layer Meteorology, https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10546-018-0410-2

2018

  • Finn D, RG Eckman, Z Gao, H Liu. (2018) “Mechanisms for wind direction changes in the very stable boundary layer.” Journal of Applied Meteorology and Climatology, https://doi.org/10.1175/JAMC-D-18-0065.1
  • Lan C, H Liu*, D Li, GG Katul, D Finn. (2018) “Distinct turbulence structures in stably stratified boundary layers with weak and strong surface shear.” Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres, 123. https://doi.org/10.1029/2018JD028628.
  • Li D, GG Katul, and H Liu. (2018) “Intrinsic constraints on asymmetric turbulent transport of scalars within the constant‐flux layer of the lower atmosphere.” Geophysical Research Letters. doi: 10.1002/2018gl077021
  • Liu, Z, H Liu, S Cao. (2018) “Numerical study of the structure and dynamics of a tornado at the sub-critical vortex breakdown stage.” Journal of Wind Engineering and Industrial Aerodynamics, 177, 306–326. http://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jweia.2018.04.009
  • Finn D, RG Carter, RM Eckman, JD Rich, Z Gao, H Liu. (2018) “Plume dispersion in low-wind-speed conditions during Project Sagebrush Phase 2, with emphasis on concentration variability.” Boundary-Layer Meteorology, https://doi.org/10.1007/s10546-018-0360-8
  • Zhou Y, D Li, H Liu, X Li. (2018) “Diurnal variations of the flux imbalance over homogeneous and heterogeneous landscapes.” Boundary-Layer Meteorology, https://doi.org/10.1007/s10546-018-0358-2
  • Gao Z, H Liu*, D Li, GG Katul, and PD Blanken. (2018) “Enhanced temperature‐humidity similarity caused by entrainment processes with increased wind shear.” Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres,123. https://doi.org/10.1029/2017JD028195
  • Liu H *, and GG Katul. (2018) “Biometeorology - From agricultural origins to a last frontier in physics.” Agricultural and Forest Meteorology, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agrformet.2017.12.247
  • Russell ES, H Liu*, H Thistle, B Strom, M Greer, and B Lamb. (2018) “Effects of thinning a forest stand on sub-canopy turbulence.” Agricultural and Forest Meteorology, 248, 295-305.

2017

  • Russell ES, H Liu*, and B Lamb. (2017) “Wavelet spectra within a forest sub-canopy under different wind directions and stabilities.” Journal of Geophysical Research - Atmospheres, 122, doi:10.1002/2017JD026817.
  • Ma Y, and H Liu*. (2017) “Large-eddy simulations of atmospheric flows over complex terrain using the immersed-boundary method in the Weather Research and Forecasting model.” Boundary-Layer Meteorology, https://doi.org/10.1007/s10546-017-0283-9.
  • Gao Z, ES Russell, JEC Missik, M Huang, X Chen, CE Strickland, R Clayton, E Arntzen, Y Ma, and H Liu*. (2017) “A novel approach to evaluate soil heat flux calculation: An analytical review of nine methods.” Journal of Geophysical Research - Atmospheres, 122, doi:10.1002/2017JD027160.
  • Kutter E, C Yi, G Hendrey, H Liu, T Eaton, and W Ni-Meister. (2017) “Recirculation over complex terrain.” Journal of Geophysical Research - Atmospheres, 122, doi:10.1002/2016JD026409.
  • Katul G, and H Liu. (2017) “A Kolmogorov-Brutsaert structure function model for evaporation into a turbulent Atmosphere.” Water Resources Research, DOI:10.1002/2016WR020006.
  • Li D, A Rigden, G Salvucci, and H Liu. (2017) “Reconciling the Reynolds number dependence of scalar roughness length and laminar resistance.” Geophysical Research Letters, 44, doi:10.1002/2017GL072864.
  • Gao Z, H Liu*, GG Katul, and T Foken. (2017) “Non-closure of the surface energy balance explained by phase difference between vertical velocity and scalars of large atmospheric eddies.” Environmental Research Letters, 12(3), 034025, doi:10.1088/1748-9326/aa625b.
  • Foken T, A Serafimovich, F Eder, J Hübner, Z Gao, and H Liu. (2017) “Interaction forest–clearing. In: Foken T (ed.).” Energy and Matter Fluxes of a Spruce Forest Ecosystem, Ecological Studies Vol. 229. Springer, Cham, 309-329. (Book chapter)
  • Katul G, and H Liu. (2017) “Multiple mechanisms generate a universal scaling with dissipation for the air-water gas transfer velocity.” Geophysical Research Letters, 44, doi:10.1002/2016GL072256.
  • VanReken TM, RS Dhammapala, BT Jobson, CL Herring, GS VanderSchelden, SD Kaspari, Z Gao, Q Zhu, BK Lamb, H Liu, and J Johnston. (2017) “Role of persistent low-level clouds in mitigating air quality impacts of wintertime cold pool conditions.” Atmospheric Environment, 154, 236–246. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosenv.2017.01.043

2016

  • Russell ES, H Liu, Z Gao, B Lamb, and N Wagenbrenner. (2016) “Turbulence dependence on winds and stability in a weak-wind canopy sublayer over complex terrain.” Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres, 121, 11,502–511,515; DOI: 10.1002/2016JD025057.
  • Yusup Y and H Liu. (2016) “Effects of atmospheric surface layer stability on turbulent fluxes of heat and water vapor across the water–atmosphere interface.” Journal of Hydrometeorology, 17, 2835–2851; DOI: 10.1175/jhm-d-16-0042.1.
  • Katul GG, D Li, H Liu, and S Assouline. (2016) “Deviations from unity of the ratio of the turbulent Schmidt to Prandtl numbers in stratified atmospheric flows over water surfaces.” Physical Review Fluids, 1, 034401; DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevFluids.1.034401.
  • Liu H, Q Zhang, GG Katul, JJ Cole, FS Chapin III, and S MacIntyre. (2016) “Large CO2 effluxes at night and during synoptic weather events significantly contribute to CO2 emissions from a reservoir.” Environmental Research Letters, 11, 064001; DOI: 10.1088/1748-9326/11/6/064001.
  • Gao Z, H Liu, ES Russell, J Huang, T Foken, SP and Oncley. (2016) “Large eddies modulating flux convergence and divergence in a disturbed unstable atmospheric surface layer.” Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres, 121, 1475–1492; DOI: 10.1002/2015JD024529.
  • Guo X, H Liu, and K Yang. (2015) “On the application of the Priestley–Taylor relation on sub-daily time scales.” Boundary-Layer Meteorology, 156, 489–499; DOI: 10.1007/s10546-015-0031-y.
  • Huang S, J Liu, D Dahal, S Jin, S Li, and S Liu. (2016) “Spatial variations in immediate greenhouse gases and aerosol emissions and resulting radiative forcing from wildfires in interior Alaska.” Theoretical and Applied Climatology, 123, 581–592; DOI: 10.1007/s00704-015-1379-0.

2014

  • Zhang Q and H Liu. (2014) “Seasonal changes in physical processes controlling evaporation over inland water.” Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres, 119, 9779–9792;
    DOI: 10.1002/2014JD021797.

2013

  • Huang S, H Liu, D Dahal, S Jin, LR Welp, J Liu, and S Liu. (2013) “Modeling spatially explicit fire impact on gross primary production in interior Alaska using satellite images coupled with eddy covariance.” Remote Sensing of Environment, 135, 178–188; DOI: 10.1016/j.rse.2013.04.003.

2012

  • Liu H, Q Zhang, and G Dowler. (2012) “Environmental controls on the surface energy budget over a large southern inland water in the United States: An analysis of one-year eddy covariance flux data.” Journal of Hydrometeorology, 13, 1893–1910; DOI: 10.1175/jhm-d-12-020.1.

2009

  • Liu H, Y Zhang, S Liu, H Jiang, L Sheng, and QL Williams. (2009) “Eddy covariance measurements of surface energy budget and evaporation in a cool season over southern open water in Mississippi.” Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres, 114, D04110; DOI: 10.1029/2008JD010891.

2008

  • Liu H and JT Randerson. (2008) “Interannual variability of surface energy exchange depends on stand age in a boreal forest fire chronosequence.” Journal of Geophysical Research: Biogeosciences, 113, G01006; DOI: 10.1029/2007JG000483.

2006

  • Randerson JT, H Liu, MG Flanner, SD Chambers, Y Jin, PG Hess, G Pfister, MC Mack, KK Treseder, LR Welp, FS Chapin, JW Harden, ML Goulden, E Lyons, JC Neff, EAG Schuur, and CS Zender. (2006) “The impact of boreal forest fire on climate warming.” Science, 314, 1130–1132; DOI: 10.1126/science.1132075.

2005

  • Liu H, JT Randerson, J Lindfors, and FS Chapin. (2005) “Changes in the surface energy budget after fire in boreal ecosystems of interior Alaska: An annual perspective.” Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres, 110, D13101; DOI: 10.1029/2004JD005158.

2001

  • Liu H, G Peters, and T Foken. (2001) “New Equations For Sonic Temperature Variance And Buoyancy Heat Flux With An Omnidirectional Sonic Anemometer.” Boundary-Layer Meteorology, 100, 459– 468; DOI: 10.1023/a:1019207031397.