Yongqiang Liu

Biography

Education: Ph.D. in Atmospheric Dynamics, 1990 Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences M.S. in Climatology, 1986 Chinese Academy of Meteorological Sciences, Beijing, China B.S. in Meteorology, 1982 Nanjing Institute of Meteorology, Nanjing, China Professional Experience Adjunct Faculty, College of Sciences and Arts, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA 2007—Current Adjunct Professor, School of Earth and Atmospheric Science, Georgia Institute of Technology 2005—Current Research Meteorogist, Center for Forest Disturbance Science, USDA Forest Service 2002—Current Senior Research Scientist, College of Sciences and Arts, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA 1998—2002 Assistant Research Professor, Department of Environmental Science, Rutgers University, New Brunsvick, NJ 1995—1998 PostDoc, Department of Meteorology and Physical Oceanography, Rutgers University, New Brunsvick, NJ 1993—1995

Research Interest

(1) To build mega-fire probability functions and atmospheric pattern thresholds for mega-fire breakout. (2) To project areas and seasons of future mega-fires. The fire probability together with the atmospheric patterns will be major tools for future mega-fire projection. (3) To obtain present fuel loading and project future trends. Present fuel conditions are obtained from the FCCS with their seasonal variation specifications based on simulated carbon pools. (4) To simulate smoke transport from present and future mega-fires. (5) To evaluate the smoke impacts on air quality. Ground PM2.5 and ozone concentrations are analyzed to identify major large U.S. urban areas where air quality and human health are most likely threatened by future mega-fires.