Dr. Tangdong Qu has officially joined JIFRESSE as a Researcher since November 2015. Dr. Qu received his Ph.D. (1993) and M.S. (1987) in Physical Oceanography from the Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, and his B.S. (1982) in Mathematics and Mechanics from Peking University. After completing his graduate studies, Dr. Qu contributed his research efforts as a scholar, scientist, and researcher, collaborating with many individuals on a global level, at the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization in Australia, Chinese Academy of Sciences, University of Tokyo, Japan Marine Science and Technology Center, and University of Hawaii. Dr. Qu has been a Senior Researcher at the International Pacific Research Center, University of Hawaii, since 2009.
Dr. Qu’s research expertise lies in the field of physical oceanography with applications to climate research and environmental science. Dr. Qu is particularly interested in the diagnostic analyses of ocean climate processes. Dr. Qu has conducted extensive research and played an important role in the understanding of the low-latitude western boundary current and its interaction with marginal sea circulation in the western Pacific. His pioneer work of the South China Sea throughflow has opened a new area of research on the ocean’s role in the global climate system. His research efforts have also contributed in developing useful knowledge towards the understanding of climate variability in the Asia-Pacific sectors. Such contributions include: confirming a 30-year-old hypothesis on the origin of the Equatorial 13C Water in the Pacific; revealing a decadal variability in the subtropical mode water formation; introducing a sea surface salinity index of El Niño; and, demonstrating strong connections of subtropical salinity with both equatorial and subpolar oceans. He would like to contribute to UCLA by collaborating with other faculties and researchers and work towards building an active interdisciplinary research program in climate variability and environmental change.