Dr. Xiaolei Zou, Ph.D.
Institute of Atmospheric Physics, 1988

(850) 644-6025      http://pine.met.fsu.edu

Professor of Meteorology

Atmospheric data assimilation. Primary areas of research interest include: methods of data assimilation, proper uses of new satellite and radar observations, and data impact on numerical weather prediction. Observations investigated include ground-based GPS precipitable water and total zenith delay, spaced-based GPS occultation measurements of bending angle and refractivity, precipitation from raingage, satellite and radar, TOMS ozone, infrared and microwave radiances from various satellite missions, QuikSCAT surface wind, and radar reflectivity and radial wind. Model predictions include hurricanes, cyclones, squall lines, and convection.

Selected Publications

• Zou, X., and Q. Xiao, 1999: Studies on the initialization and simulation of a mature hurricane using a variational bogus data assimilation scheme. Journal of Atmospheric Science, 57, 836-860.
• Zou, X., Q. Xiao, Alan E. Lipton, and George D. Modica, 2001: A numerical study of the effect of GOES sounder cloud-cleared brightness temperatures on the prediction of hurricane Felix. Journal of Applied Meteorology, 40, 34-55.
• Zou, X., F. Vandenberghe, B. Wang, M. E. Gorbunov, Y.-H. Kuo, S. Sokolovskiy, J. C. Chang, J. G. Sela, and R. Anthes, 1999: A raytracing operator and its adjoint for the use of GPS/MET refraction angle measurements. Journal Geophysical Research, Atmospheres, 104, 22,301-22,318.
• Zou, X., F. Vandenberghe, B. Wang, M. E. Gorbunov, Y.-H. Kuo, S. Sokolovskiy, J. C. Chang, J. G. Sela, and R. Anthes, 1999: A raytracing operator and its adjoint for the use of GPS/MET refraction angle measurements. Journal Geophysical Research, Atmospheres, 104, 22,301-22,318.
• Zou, X., B. Wang, H. Liu, R. A. Anthes, T. Matsumura, and Y.-J. Zhu, 2000: Use of GPS/MET refraction angles in 3D variational analysis. Quarterly Journal Royal Meteorological Society, 126, 3013-3040.
• Liu, H., X. Zou, R. A. Anthes, J. C. Chang, J.-H. Tseng, and B. Wang, 2001: The Impact of 837 GPS/MET bending angle profiles on assimilation and forecasts for the period June 20-30, 1995, Journal Geophysical Research, 106, 31771-31786.
• Zou, X., H. Liu, and R. A. Anthes, 2002: A statistical estimate of errors in the calculation of radio occultation bending angles caused by a 2D approximation of raytracing and the assumption of spherical symmetry of the atmosphere. Journal of Atmospheric and Oceanic Technology, 19, 51-64.
• Zou, X., H. Liu, J. Derber, J. G. Sela, R. Treaton, I. M. Navon, and B. Wang, 2001: Four-dimensional variational data assimilation with a full-physics version of the NCEP spectral model: System development and preliminary results. Quarterly Journal Royal Meteorological Society, 127, 1095-1122.
• Liu, H. and X. Zou, 2001: The impact of NORPEX targeted dropsondes on the 2-3 day forecasts of a landfalling Pacific winter storm using NCEP 3D-Var and 4D-Var systems. Monthly Weather Review, 129, 1987-2004.
• Zou, X., K. Sriskandarajah, Q.-N. Xiao, W. Yu, and S.-Q. Zhang, 2001: A note on eliminating finite-amplitude non-physical oscillations from the solution of an adjoint of finite-difference model. Tellus, 53A, 578-584.
• Zhang, S., X. Zou, J. Alquist, I. M. Navon, and J. G. Sela, 2000: Use of differentiable and nondifferentiable optimization algorithms for variational data assimilation with discontinuous cost functions. Monthly Weather Review, 128, 4031-4044.