Ming Li

Associate Professor

Education: B.Eng., Hohai University (1983); Ph.D., University of Oxford (1991).
Office location: Marine Sciences Building 1201C, Horn Point Lab
Telephone: 410-221-8420
Fax: 410-221-8490
E-mail address: mingli@hpl.umces.edu
Web page: http:/www.hpl.umces.edu
Subjects taught: Physical oceanography (MEES 661), climate variability (MEES 608K) and related topics.
Student committees : Hailong Liu (Ph.D), Michael Zickel (Msc.), David Miller (Ph.D).

Introduction:

I am interested in a variety of oceanic processes, including estuarine circulation, upper-ocean dynamics and turbulent mixing processes. With my background in Geophysical Fluid Dynamics, I take dual approach to ocean modeling: (1) I carry out process studies with simplified models 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:

Physical oceanography, geophysical fluid dynamics, biological/physical interactions, ocean mixing processes and numerical ocean modeling.

1. Large Eddy Simulations of upper-ocean large eddies (funded by ONR).
2. Development of a coupled biological/physical model for the Chesapeake Bay (funded by CICEET).
3. Role of wind and tidal mixing in estuarine circulation.

Selected publications:

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.

Last updated: January 15, 2003