Ming Li

Associate Professor

Education: B.Eng., Hohai University (1983); Ph.D., University of Oxford (1991).
Office location: Marine Sciences Building 1201A, Horn Point Lab
Telephone: 410-221-8420
Fax: 410-221-8490
E-mail address: mingli@hpl.umces.edu
Web page: http:/hpl.umces.edu/ocean
Subjects taught: Physical oceanography (MEES 661), Climate variability (MEES 608K), Biophysical interactions (MEES 608G).
Student committees : Michael Zickel (Msc.), Ed Davis (Msc.), David Miller (Ph.D).

Services: MEES Oceanography AOS Co-Chair, Member of UMCES Faculty Senate, NSF Proposal Review Panel.

 

Introduction:

I am interested in studying a variety of oceanic processes, including estuarine/coastal circulations, biophysical interactions, upper-ocean dynamics and turbulent mixing processes. I take dual approach to ocean modeling: (1) I carry out process-oriented modeling studies and attempt to gain insight into underlying physical principles; (2) I carry out realistic model simulations and strive to produce predictive models that integrate model results with observational data.

Research areas:

Estuarine/coastal dynamics, biological/physical interactions, air-sea interactions, ocean mixing processes and numerical ocean modeling.

Research Funding:

Parameterizing the effects of upper-ocean large eddies on air-sea interaction. Office of Naval Research.

Large Eddy Simulations of estuarine mixing. National Science Foundation.

A community model for the Chesapeake Bay. NOAA and CICEET.

Oceanic LES simulations to interpret and synthesize turbulence measurements obtained during CBLAST-Low. Office of Naval Research.

Modeling dispersal of oyster larvae in Chesapeake Bay. Maryland DNR.

Selected publications:

Li, M., L. Zhong, W. C. Boicourt, S. Zhang and D. Zhang. 2006. Hurricane-induced storm surges, currents and destratification in a semi-enclosed bay. Geophys. Res. Lett., 33, L02604, doi:10.1029/2005GL024992.

 

Zhong, L. and M. Li. 2006. Tidal energy fluxes and dissipation in the Chesapeake Bay. Cont. Shelf Res., In press.

 

Li, M., L. Zhong, and W. C. Boicourt. 2005. Simulations of Chesapeake Bay estuary: Sensitivity to turbulence mixing parameterizations and comparison with observations, J. Geophys. Res., 110, C12004, doi:10.1029/2004JC002585.

 

Li, M., J. Trowbridge and W.R. Geyer. 2005. Asymmetric tidal mixing due to the horizontal density gradient. J. Phys. Oceanogr., In revision.

 

Li, M., C. Garrett and E. Skyllingstad. 2005. A regime diagram for classifying turbulent large eddies in the upper ocean. Deep-Sea Res. I, 52, 259-278.

 

Li, M., L. Sanford and S-Y Chao. 2005. Time-dependent effects in unstratified tidal flows: results from Large Eddy Simulations. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Sci., 62, 193-204.

 

Gargett, A., M. Li and R. Brown. 2001. Testing mechanistic explanations of observed correlations between environmental factors and marine fisheries. Can. J. Fish. Aquat. Sci., 58, 208-219.

Farmer, D.M., S. Vagle and M. Li. 2001. Bubble and temperature fields in Langmuir circulation. Fluid Mechanics and the Environment: Dynamical Approaches, Edited by John L. Lumley, 91-105.

Li, M. 2000. Estimating horizontal dispersion of floating particles in wind-driven upper ocean. Spill Sci. Tech., 6(3), 255-261.

Li, M., A. Gargett and K.L. Denman. 2000. What determines seasonal and interannual variability of phytoplankton and zooplankton in strongly estuarine system? Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Sci., 50, 467-488.

Garrett, C., M. Li and D.M. Farmer. 2000. The connection between bubble size spectra and energy dissipation rates in the upper ocean, J. Phys. Oceanogr., 30, 2163-2171.

Li, M., A. Gargett and K.L. Denman. 1999. Seasonal and interannual variability of estuarine circulation in a box model of the Strait of Georgia and Juan de Fuca Strait. Atmos-Ocean, 37, 1-19.

Farmer, D.M., S. Vagle and M. Li. 1999. Wave breaking, turbulence and bubble distributions in the ocean surface layer. The Wind-Driven Air-Sea Interface: Electromagnetic and Acoustic Sensing, Wave Dynamics, and Turbulent Fluxes. Edited by M. L. Banner. University of New South Wales Press. 187-192.

Colbo, K. and M. Li. 1999. Parameterizing particle dispersion in Langmuir circulation. J. Geophys. Res., 104, 26059-26068.

Li, M. and C. Garrett. 1998. The relationship between oil droplet size and upper ocean turbulence. Mar. Pollut. Bull., 36, 961-970.

Li, M. and C. Garrett. 1998. Large eddies in the surface mixed layer and their effects on mixing, dispersion and biological cycling. In Physical Processes in Lakes and Oceans (AGU series on Coastal and Estuarine Studies), edited by J. Imberger, 61-86.

Li, M. and Cummins, P.F. 1998. A note on hydraulic theory of internal bores. Dyn. Atmos. Oceans., 28, 1-7.

Cummins, P.F. and M. Li. 1998. Comment on ``Energetics of borelike internal waves'' by F.S. Henyey and A. Hoering. J. Geophys. Res., 103 (C2), 3339-3341.

Li, M. and C. Garrett. 1997. Mixed-layer deepening due to Langmuir circulation. J. Phys. Oceanogr., 27, 121-132.

Li, M., K. Zahariev and C. Garrett. 1995. Role of Langmuir circulation in the deepening of the ocean surface mixed layer. Science, 270, 1955-1957.

Li, M. and C. Garrett. 1995. Is Langmuir circulation driven by surface waves or surface cooling? J. Phys. Oceanogr., 25, 64-76.

Farmer, D.M. and M. Li. 1995. Patterns of bubble clouds organized by Langmuir circulation. J. Phys. Oceanogr., 25, 1426-1440.

 

Farmer, D.M. and M. Li. 1994. Oil dispersion in turbulence and coherent circulations. Ocean Engng., 21(6), 575-586.

 

Li, M. and C. Garrett. 1993. Cell merging and jet/downwelling ratio in Langmuir circulation. J. Mar. Res., 51, 737-769.
Last updated:  December 22, 2005