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Chao Li

Department Climate Variability
Group Climate Impacts and Adaptation
Position Group Leader
phone +49 40 41173-164
Email chao.li@mpimet.mpg.de
Room B 218

Research interests

My research focuses on the dynamics of future climate change and the internal variability of climate systems in a future warm climate. My research endeavors include:

  • Climate Dynamics and Variability: Investigating both transient and equilibrium climate responses, as well as the internal variability of climate systems in response to anthropogenic forcing. This includes a focus on temperature and precipitation extremes under various future warming scenarios.

  • Climate Mitigation Strategies: Exploring viable strategies to mitigate future climate change and contributing to the development of effective mitigation approaches.

  • Climate-related Uncertainty and Variability: Examining the intersection of climate-related uncertainty and variability in both natural and social processes. This work is funded by the DFG under Germany's Excellence Strategy – EXC 2037 'CLICCS - Climate, Climatic Change, and Society'.

  • Scenario Development: Innovatively generating more plausible scenarios for the climate future to enhance societal resilience against climate change.

My work plays a crucial role in advancing our understanding of climate dynamics and their implications for global weather patterns, significantly contributing to the field of climate science and societal resilience against climate change.

Biography

Name:

Chao Li (李超)

Date and place of birth: 
07  November 1981, Hubei (China)

Professional Records:

Since Jan 2024: Distinguished Guest Professor, at Institute of Atmospheric Physics (IAP), the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS)

Since Jan 2019: Senior Research Scientist, at Max Planck Institute for Meteorology, Hamburg, Germany

2015-2018: Research Scientist, at Max Planck Institute for Meteorology, Hamburg, Germany

2013-2014: PostDoc, at the University of Hamburg and Max Planck Institute for Meteorology, Hamburg, Germany

2012: PostDoc, at Max Planck Institute for Meteorology, Hamburg, Germany

2006-2008: Visiting scholar and research assistant, at LASG, Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China

Education:

2008-2012  Dr.rer. nat.,  Max Planck Institute for Meteorology and University of Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany

2004-2006  Master of Nature Science with distinction, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China

2000-2004  Bachelor of of Nature Science with distinction, Department of Atmospheric Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China

1997-2000  High School, Luotian No.1 High-School, Hubei, China

 

Detailed CV (pdf stand by November 2024)

Mentoring of Postdoctoral Researchers

  • Aruhasi, 2023 - present
  • Lennart Ramme, 2023 - present
  • Mingna Wu, 2021 - present

Member of PhD advisory and/or examination committee

  • Felix Schaumann, 2022 - present 
  • Xiaowei Wang, 2024 - 2025 (jointly with Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences)
  • Xiuwen Guo, 2024 - 2025 (jointly with the Ocean University of China)
  • Tianyan Li, 2023-2024  (jointly with Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences)
  • Laura Suárez-Gutiérrez, 2016-2019

Supervision of Master students

  • Laura Suárez-Gutiérrez, MSc student, 2015 - 2016

Publications

Hasi Aru, D. Olonscheck, J. Marotzke, and C. Li, 2024: Observed fingerprint of global warming, (to be submitted)

Li, C., 2024: The impact of climate internal variability on regional and global economic damage, in preparation.

Li, C., H. Li, and J. Marotzke, 2024: The stability of Atlantic meridional overturning circulation and its impact on climate reversibility in a future warm climate, In preparation.

(Updated by 15 Nov 2024, *  denotes a supervised student or mentee.)

33 Wu, M.*, C. Li, M. Collins, H. Li, X. Chen, T. Zhou, Z. Zhang, 2024: Early emergence and determinants of human-induced Walker circulation weakening. Nature Communications, 15, 9161. doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-53509-6.

32 Wu, M. *, C. Li, Z. Zhang, 2024: Recalibrated projections of the Hadley circulation under global warming. Environ. Res. Lett.,19,104041, DOI 10.1088/1748-9326/ad751f

31 Song J., F. Song, Z. Feng, L. R. Leung, C. Li, L. Wu, 2024: Realistic precipitation diurnal cycle in global convection-permitting models by resolving mesoscale convective systems. Geophysical Research Letters, doi.org/10.1029/2024GL109945.

30 Wu, M.*, T. Zhou, C. Li, B. Wu, J. Jiang, 2024: Unraveling the role of the Interdecadal Pacific Oscillation in recent tropical expansion via large-ensemble simulations. JGR-Atmosphere, https://doi.org/10.1029/2023JD040294

29 Liu, W., S. Li , C. Li, M. Rubenstein, A. Thomas, 2024: Contrasting fast and slow ITCZ migrations linked to delayed Southern Ocean warming. Nature Climate Change, 14, 732-739 (2024). doi.org/10.1038/s41558-024-02034-x

28 Zhang, W., R. Clark, T. Zhou, L. Li, C. Li, J. Rivera, L. Zhang, K. Gui, T. Zhang, L. Li, R. Pan, Y. Chen, S. Tang, X. Huang, and S. Hu, 2024: 2023: Weather and climate extremes hitting the globe with emerging features. Adv. Atmos. Sci., doi.org/10.1007/s00376-024-4080-3

27 Stevens, B., and co-authors (including C. Li), 2024. Earth Virtualization Engines (EVE). Earth System Science Data. doi:10.5194/essd-2023-376

26 Jiang, J., T. Zhou, Q. Yu, C. Li, F. Song, H. Li, X. Chen, W. Zhang, Z. Chen, 2023: Precipitation regime changes in High Mountain Asia driven by cleaner air. Nature, 623, 544-549 (2023). doi.org/10.1038/s41586-023-06619-y

25 Li, P. , F. Song, H. Chen, J. Li, A. F. Prein, W. Zhang, T. Zhou, M. Zhuang, K. Furtado, M. Muetzelfeldt, R. Schiemann, and C. Li, 2023: Intensi cation of mesoscale convective systems in the East Asian rainband over the past two decades. Geophysical Research Letters, 50 (16). e2023GL103595.

24 Zhou, T., W. Zhang, D. Chen, X. Zhang, C. Li, M. Zuo, and X. Chen, 2022: Understanding and building upon pioneering work of Nobel Prize in Physics 2021 laureates Syukuro Manabe and Klaus Hasselmann: From greenhouse effect to Earth system science and beyond. Science China Earth Sciences, 65, 589-600. doi:10.1007/s11430-022-9906-4

23 Wu, M.*, T. Zhou, C. Li, H. Li, X. Chen, B. Wu, W. Zhang, and L. Zhang, 2021: A very likely weakening of Paci c Walker Circulation in constrained near-future projections. Nature Communications, 12, 6502. doi.org/10.1038/s41467-021-26693-y.

22 Suárez-Gutiérrez, L.*, W. Müller,  C. Li, and J. Marotzke, 2020: Dynamical and thermodynamical drivers of variability in European summer heat extremes. Climate Dynamics, 54, 4351-4366. doi:10.1007/s00382-020-05233-2.

21 Suárez-Gutiérrez, L.*, W. Müller, C. Li, and J. Marotzke, 2020: Hotspots of extreme heat under global warming. Climate Dynamics, 55, 429-447. doi:10.1007/s00382-020-05263-w.

20. Li, C., H. Held, S. Hokamp, and J. Marotzke, 2020: Optimal temperature overshoot profile found by limiting global sea-level rise as a lower-cost climate target, Science Advances, 6: eaaw9490. doi:10.1126/sciadv.aaw9490. (Highlighted by Science Advances as a cover article and highlighted by the chief editor of Science Advances)

19 Huang, X., T. Zhou, A. Dai, H. Li, C.  Li, X. Chen, J. Lu, J.-S. von Stroch, and B. Wu, 2020: South Asian summer monsoon projections constrained by the Interdecadal Paci c Oscillation, Science Advances, 6: eaay6546. doi:10.1126/sciadv.aay6546.

18 Rugenstein , M., J. Bloch-Johnson, J. Gregory, T. Andrews, T. Mauritsen, C. Li, T. Frölicher, D. Paynter, G. Danabasoglu, S. Yang, J. Dufresne, L. Cao, G. A. Schmidt. Abe-Ouchi, O. Georoy, and R. Knutti, 2020: Equilibrium climate sensitivity estimated by equilibrating climate models. Geophysical Research Letters, 47: e2019GL083898. doi:10.1029/2019GL083898.

17 Zhou, T., J. Luterbacher, S. Wu, C. Li, Q. Chao, X. Cheng, Y. Duan, J. Li, B. Stevens, S. Voigt, Y. Zhang, X. Zheng, and L. Zou, 2019: A new era of China-Germany joint research exploring the climate mystery of Earth. Science Bulletin, 64, 1733-1736.

16 Rugenstein M., J. Bloch-Johnson, A. Abe-Ouchi, T. Andrews, U. Beyerle, L. Cao, G. Danabasoglu, J. Dufresne, L. Duan, M. Foujols, T. Frolicher, O, Geo roy, J. Gregory, R. Knutti, C. Li, A. Marzocchi, T. Mauritsen, M. Menary, E. Moyer, L. Nazarenko, D. Paynter, D. Saint-Martin, G. Schmidt, A. Yamamoto, S. Yang, 2019: LongRunMIP - motivation and design for a large collection of millennial long AO-GCM simulations, Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society, 100, 2551-2570. doi:10.1175/BAMS-D-19-0068.1.

15 Maher, N., S. Milinski, L. Suarez-Gutierrez, M. Botzet, L. Kornblueh, Y. Takano, J. Kröger, R. Ghosh, C. Hedemann, C. Li, H. Li, E. Manzini, D. Notz, D. Putrasahan, L. Boysen, M. Claussen, T. Ilyina, D. Olonscheck, T. Raddatz, B. Stevens, and J. Marotzke, 2019: The Max Planck Institute Grand Ensemble - Enabling the Exploration of Climate System Variability, Journal of Advances in Modeling Earth Systems, 11, 2050-2069. doi:10.1029/2019MS001639.

14 Wu, B., T. Zhou, C. Li, W. A. Müller, J. Lin, 2019: Improved decadal prediction of Northern-Hemisphere summer land temperature. Climate Dynamics. doi.org/10.1007/s00382-019-04658-8

13 Suárez-Gutiérrez, L.*, C. Li, W. Mueller, and J. Marotzke, 2018: Internal variability in European summer temperatures at 1.5oC and 2oC of global warming, Envirmental Research Letters, DOI:10.1088/1748-9326/aaba58.

12 Suárez-Gutiérrez, L.*, C. Li, P. Thorne, and J. Marotzke, 2017: Internal variability in simulated and observed tropical tropospheric temperature trends, Geophysical Research Letters, 44, DOI:10.1002/2017GL073798.

11 Liu, L., Z. Li, X. Yang. H. Gong, C. Li, and A. Xiong 2016: The long-term trend in the diurnal temperature range over Asia and its natural and anthropogenic causes. J. Geophys. Res. Atmos., DOI: 10.002/2015JD024549.

10 Li, C., B. Stevens, and J. Marotzke, 2015: Eurasian winter cooling in the warming hiatus of 1998-2012. Geophysical Research Letters, DOI:10.1002/2015GL065327.

9 Li, C., D. Notz, S. Tietsche, and J. Marotzke, 2013: The transient versus the equilibrium response of sea ice to global warming, Journal of Climate, 26, 5624-5636.

8 Li, C., J.-S. v. Storch, and J. Marotzke, 2013: Deep-ocean heat uptake and equilibrium climate response. Climate Dynamics, DOI: 10.1007/s00382-012-1350-z.

7 Wang W., D. Wang, W. Zhou, Q. Liu, Y. Yu, and C. Li, 2011: Impact of the South China Sea throughow on the Pacific low-latitude western boundary current: A numerical study for seasonal and interannual time scales, Advanced in Atmospheric Sciences, DOI: 10.1007/s00376-011-0142-4.

6 Yu, Y., C. Li, D. Wang, H. Liu, 2011: Numeric simulation of seasonal cycle in the warm pool and its sensitivity to surface heat flux and momentum forcing , Journal of Tropical Oceanography, 30(1), 1-10 (in Chinese with English abstract).

5 Lin, P., H. Liu, C. Li, and X. Zhang, 2010: Spring cold bias of SST and minimal wind mixing in the equatorial paci c cold tongue, Atmospheric and Oceanic Science Letters, 3(6), 342-346.

4 Wang, W, Y. Yu, C. Li, W. Zhou, Q. Liu. and D. Wang, 2010: An investigation of the South China Sea throughow and its impact on upper layer heat content of the South China Sea using LICOM. Acta Oceanologica Sinica, 32(2), 1-11 (in Chinese with English abstract).

3 Li, H., T. Zhou, and C. Li, 2009: Decreasing trend in global land monsoon precipitation over the past 50 years simulated by a coupled climate model, Advanced in Atmospheric Sciences, DOI: 10.1007/s00376-009-8173-9.

2 Yu, Y., H. Zhi, B. Wang, H. Wan, C. Li, H. Liu, W. Li, W. Zheng, and T. Zhou, 2008: Coupled model simulations of climate changes in the 20th century and beyond, Advanced in Atmospheric Sciences, DOI: 10.1007/s00376-008-0641-0.

1 Li, C, Y. Zhang, D. Wang, 2006: Impact of cold surges on sea surface temperature in South China Sea in autumn of 2004, Journal of Tropical Oceanography, 25(2), 1-10 (in Chinese withEnglish abstract).

C. Li, E. Yang, Z. Liu, (2023). Klima, Klimawandel und zunehmende Extremereignisse. In Sina Hardaker and Peter Dannenberg Hrsg. (Eds), China - Geographien einer Weltmacht. Springer.

Marotzke, J., D. Notz, C. Li, (2023). Physical process assessments - Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) instability. In Engels, A., Marotzke, J., Goncalves Gresse, E., López-Rivera, A., Pagnone, A., and Wilkens, J. (Eds.), Hamburg Climate Futures Outlook 2023: The plausibility of a 1.5oC limit to global warming - social drivers and physical processes (pp.150-151).Hamburg: Cluster of Excellence Climate, Climatic Change, and Society (CLICCS).

Notz, D., C. Li, J. Marotzke, A. López-Rivera, (2023). Physical process assessments - Arctic seaice decline: the underrated power of linear change. In Engels, A., Marotzke, J., Goncalves Gresse, E., López-Rivera, A., Pagnone, A. and Wilkens, J. (Eds.), Hamburg Climate Futures Outlook 2023: The plausibility of a 1.5oC limit to global warming - social drivers and physical processes (pp.144-147). Hamburg: Cluster of Excellence Climate, Climatic Change, and Society (CLICCS).

Notz, D., C. Li, J. Marotzke, C. Fröhlich, (2023). Physical process assessments - Polar ice-sheet melt: on the verge of tipping. In Engels, A., Marotzke, J., Goncalves Gresse, E., López-Rivera, A., Pagnone, A. and Wilkens, J. (Eds.), Hamburg Climate Futures Outlook 2023: The plausibility of a 1.5oC limit to global warming - social drivers and physical processes (pp.147-149). Hamburg: Cluster of Excellence Climate, Climatic Change, and Society (CLICCS).

Held, H., S. Aykut, C. Hedemann, C. Li, J. Marotzke, J. Petzold, U. Schneider, (2021). Plausibility of model-based emissions scenarios. In Stammer, D., Engels, A., Marotzke, J., Gresse, E., Hedemann, C. and Petzold, J. (Eds.), Hamburg Climate Futures Outlook 2021: Assessing the plausibility of deep decarbonization by 2050 (pp.21-26). Hamburg: Cluster of Excellence Climate, Climatic Change, and Society (CLICCS).

Li,C., 2012: Long-term stability and adjustment toward equilibrium in a future warm climate, Ph.D thesis, University of Hamburg, Hamburg, Reports on Earth System Science, 119pp.

Li, C., 2007: Seasonal variation of Eastern-Hemisphere warm pool and its mixed layer heat budget, M. Sc. thesis, Graduate University of Chinese Academy of Science, Beijing, 79pp (in Chinese with English abstract).

Li, C., 2004: A semi-Lagrangian and semi-implicit scheme for zonal-wind diagnosed equations, B.Sc. thesis, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou (in Chinese).