Publications per year
Publications per year
Personal profile
Research interests
Clouds remain one of the largest sources of uncertainty in weather and climate projections because their governing microphysical processes happen at scales far below the resolution of Earth system models. Bridging this fundamental scale gap is central to improving the prediction of clouds and precipitation at regional and global scales.
My research focuses on key processes in the life cycle of cloud and storm systems, with particular emphasis on:
To investigate these processes, I utilize a hierarchy of high-resolution models, including
I am also actively involved in the development, implementation, and evaluation of new microphysical parameterizations within the Weather Research & Forecasting Model (WRF). A central component of my work is the validation and constraint of these models through the synergistic use of observational data from field campaigns and laboratory cloud chamber experiments.
- Precipitation formation and development, including summer convective clouds and winter orographic precipitation over complex terrain
- Cold cloud properties, including phase partitioning in mixed-phase clouds and evolution of cloud-top generating cells
- Quantification of uncertainties of cloud representation in Earth system models across scales, informed by observations from field experiments (in-situ, surface, and remote sensing) and laboratory experiments
To investigate these processes, I utilize a hierarchy of high-resolution models, including
- Lagrangian particle-based direct numerical simulation (DNS)
- Parcel/bulk/box model
- Large-eddy simulation (LES)
- Mesoscale models
- Regional climate simulations.
I am also actively involved in the development, implementation, and evaluation of new microphysical parameterizations within the Weather Research & Forecasting Model (WRF). A central component of my work is the validation and constraint of these models through the synergistic use of observational data from field campaigns and laboratory cloud chamber experiments.
Related documents
Education/Academic qualification
Atmospheric Science, PhD, McGill University
Atmospheric Science, BS, Sun Yat-Sen University
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Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
Recent external collaboration on country/territory level. Dive into details by clicking on the dots or
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A Model Intercomparison Study of Aerosol-Cloud-Turbulence Interactions in a Cloud Chamber: 1. Model Results
Chen, S., Krueger, S. K., Dziekan, P., Enokido, K., MacMillan, T., Richter, D., Schmalfuß, S., Shima, S. I., Yang, F., Anderson, J. C., Cantrell, W., Niedermeier, D., Shaw, R. A. & Stratmann, F., Jul 2025, In: Journal of Advances in Modeling Earth Systems. 17, 7, e2024MS004562.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access4 Scopus citations -
Mixed-phase direct numerical simulation: ice growth in cloud-top generating cells
Chen, S., Xue, L., Tessendorf, S., Ikeda, K., Weeks, C., Rasmussen, R., Kunkel, M., Blestrud, D., Parkinson, S., Meadows, M. & Dawson, N., May 1 2023, In: Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics. 23, 9, p. 5217-5231 15 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access13 Scopus citations -
A Virtual Cloud Physics Laboratory
Morrison, H., Chandrakar, K. K., Rehme, M., Bryan, G. H., Chen, S., Grabowski, W. W., Lawson, R. P., McFarquhar, G. M., Shaw, R. A. & Xue, L., May 2026, In: Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society. 107, 5, p. E964-E987Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
1 Scopus citations -
Dominant Modes of Terrain-Tied Vertical Motion Variability over the Payette River Basin of Idaho: Results from SNOWIE
Zaremba, T. J., McMurdie, L. A., Blossey, P. N., Rauber, R. M., Xue, L., Geerts, B., Friedrich, K., French, J. R., Chen, S., Tessendorf, S. A. & Afrifa, F. O. T., Apr 2026, In: Journal of Applied Meteorology and Climatology. 65, 4, p. 499-520 22 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Impacts of Sea Salt on an Idealized Tropical Cyclone Simulation: Description of a Bulk Sea Salt Aerosol Microphysics Parameterization and Case Study
Liu, X., Xue, L., Chen, S., Deng, L. & Chen, R., May 2026, In: Advances in Atmospheric Sciences. 43, 5, p. 949-964 16 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Prizes
Activities
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Numerical investigation of the snowpack enhancement program in Colorado’s Front Range: from evaluation to optimization of glaciogenic seeding
Chen, S. (Speaker)
Aug 2026Activity: Give a talk or presentation › Oral presentation
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Ensemble Simulation of Winter Orographic Storms during SNOWIE: Understanding Model Uncertainty and Cloud Seeding Response
Chen, S. (Speaker)
Aug 2026Activity: Give a talk or presentation › Oral presentation
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ICCP International Cloud Modeling Workshop 2028 (Event)
Chen, S. (Chair)
May 2026 → Aug 2028Activity: Membership & committees › Membership of committee (external)
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AMS annual 2027 (Event)
Chen, S. (Chair)
Apr 2026 → Feb 2027Activity: Membership & committees › Membership of committee (external)
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Dissertation/Thesis Committee Member for Individual PhD Student
Chen, S. (Other)
2026 → …Activity: Teaching/Mentoring › Contributions to Individual PhD Student Education
Press/Media
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Eos Editor's Highlight: From Aerosols to Clouds: Testing Models with a Convection Cloud Chamber
08/25/25
1 Media contribution
Press/Media
Datasets
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CONUS404: Four-kilometer long-term regional hydroclimate reanalysis over the conterminous United States (ver. 2.0, December 2023)
Rasmussen, R. (Creator), Chen, F. (Contributor), Liu, C. (Contributor), Ikeda, K. (Contributor), Prein, A. (Contributor), Kim, J.-H. (Contributor), Schneider, T. (Contributor), Dai, A. A. (Contributor), Gochis, D. (Contributor), Dugger, A. (Contributor), Zhang, Y. (Contributor), Jaye, A. (Contributor), Dudhia, J. (Contributor), He, C. (Contributor), Harrold, M. (Contributor), Xue, L. (Contributor), Chen, S. (Contributor), Newman, A. (Contributor), Dougherty, E. (Contributor), Abolafia-Rosenzweig, R. (Contributor), Lybarger, N. D. (Contributor), Viger, R. J. (Contributor), Dunne, K. A. (Contributor), Rasmussen, K. L. (Contributor) & Miguez-Macho, G. (Contributor), US Geological Survey, Feb 21 2023
DOI: 10.5066/P9PHPK4F, https://doi.org/10.5066/P9PHPK4F
Dataset
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CONUS404 PGW: Four-kilometer long-term regional hydroclimate reanalysis perturbed with pseudo-global warming (PGW) conditions over the conterminous United States
Xue, L. (Creator), Rasmussen, R. (Contributor), Chen, F. (Contributor), Liu, C. (Contributor), Ikeda, K. (Contributor), Prein, A. (Contributor), Kim, J.-H. (Contributor), Schneider, T. (Contributor), Dai, A. (Contributor), Gochis, D. (Contributor), Dugger, A. (Contributor), Zhang, Y. (Contributor), Jaye, A. (Contributor), Dudhia, J. (Contributor), He, C. (Contributor), Harrold, M. (Contributor), Chen, S. (Contributor), Newman, A. (Contributor), Dougherty, E. (Contributor), Abolafia-Rosenzweig, R. (Contributor), Lybarger, N. D. (Contributor), Viger, R. J. (Contributor), Rasmussen, K. L. (Contributor) & Miguez-Macho, G. (Contributor), US Geological Survey, Oct 4 2024
DOI: 10.5066/P9HH85UU, https://doi.org/10.5066/P9HH85UU
Dataset
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Four-kilometer long-term regional hydroclimate WRF simulation data perturbed with pseudo-global warming (PGW) conditions over the conterminous United States (CONUS404 PGW)
Xue, L. (Creator), Rasmussen, R. (Contributor), Chen, F. (Contributor), Liu, C. (Creator), Ikeda, K. (Contributor), Prein, A. (Contributor), Kim, J. H. (Creator), Schneider, T. (Creator), Dai, A. (Contributor), Gochis, D. (Contributor), Dugger, A. (Creator), Zhang, Y. (Creator), Jaye, A. (Creator), Dudhia, J. (Creator), He, C. (Creator), Harrold, M. (Creator), Chen, S. (Creator), Newman, A. (Creator), Dougherty, E. (Creator), Abolafia-Rozenzweig, R. (Contributor), Lybarger, N. (Creator), Viger, R. (Contributor), Rasmussen, K. (Contributor) & Miguez-Macho, G. (Contributor), NSF NCAR - National Center for Atmospheric Research, Feb 10 2026
Dataset