• B.S., Mechanics, Sun Yat-Yen University, China (1984)
• M.S., Marine Studies, University of Delaware (1989)
• Ph.D., Oceanography, University of Rhode Island (1994)

Ocean circulation and its relation to climate variability on seasonal-to-decadal time scales (in particular, upper-ocean heat & salt balance; meridional transports; inter-basin linkages; tropical-extratropical exchanges); data assimilation; adjoint sensitivity analysis.

• Jet Propulsion Laboratory
  • Deputy Project Scientist, Aquarius/SAC-D Satellite Mission (2013-present)
  • Group Supervisor, Oceans and Ice Group (2011-present)
  • Principal Scientist (2006-present)
  • Research Scientist (1999-2006)
  • Scientist (1996-1999)
• Massachusetts Institute of Technology
  • Research Associate (1994-1996)

• 2010 NASA Exceptional Achievement Medal
• 2012 NASA Exceptional Scientific Achievement Medal

1. Lee, T., D.E. Waliser, J.-L. Li, F.W. Landerer, and M.M. Gierach, 2013: Evaluation of CMIP3 and CMIP5 wind stress climatology using satellite measurements and atmospheric reanalysis products. J. Clim., accepted.
2. Schiller, A., T. Lee, and S. Masuda, 2013: Methods and applications of ocean state estimation and data assimilation in climate research. In "Ocean Circulation and Climate - Observing and Modeling the Global Ocean", International Geophysics Series. Edited by G. Sielder, J. Church, J. Gould, and S. Griffes. Academic Press., in press.
3. Lee, T., G. Lagerloef, M.M. Gierach, H.-Y. Kao, SS. Yueh, and K. Dohan, 2012: Aquarius reveals salinity structure of tropical instability waves. Geophys. Res. Lett., 39, L12610, doi:10.1029/2012GL052232.
4. Gierach, M.M., T. Lee, DD. Turk, M. McPhadden, 2012: Biological response to the 1997-98 and 2009-10 El Nino events in the equatorial Pacific Ocean. Geophys. Res. Lett., 39, L10602, doi:10.1029/2012GL051103.
5. McPhaden, M., T. Lee, and D. McClurg, 2011: El Niño and its Relationship to Changing Background Conditions in the Tropical Pacific. Geophys. Res. Lett., 38, L15709, doi:10.1029/2011GL048275.
6. Halkides, D., and T. Lee, 2011: Mechanisms controlling seasonal mixed layer temperature and salinity in the southwestern tropical Indian Ocean. Dyn. Ocean. Atmos., 51, 77-93, DOI:10.1016/j.dynatmoce.2011.03.002.
7. Halkides, D., T. Lee, and S. Kida, 2011: Mechanisms controlling seasonal mixed layer temperature and salinity of the Indonesian Seas. Ocean Dyn., vol. 61, issue 4, 481, DOI 10.1007/s10236-010-0374-3.
8. Boening, C., T. Lee, and V. Zlotnicki, 2011: A record-high ocean bottom pressure in the South Pacific observed by GRACE. Geophys. Res. Lett., 38, L04602, doi:10.1029/2010GL046013.
9. Lee, T., B. Qiu, S. Hakkinen, et al., 2010: Satellite observations of ocean circulation changes associated with climate variability. TOS, Oceanography. Vol.23, No.4, 70-81.
10. Lee, T., W. Hobbs, and J. Willis, et al., 2010: Record warming in the South Pacific and western Antarctica associated with the strong central-Pacific El Niño in 2009-10. Geophys. Res. Lett., 37, L19704, doi:10.1029/2010GL044865.
11. Lee, T., and M. McPhaden, 2010: Increasing intensity of El Nino in the central-equatorial Pacific. Geophys. Res. Lett., L14603, doi:10.1029/2010GL044007.
12. Lee, T., T. Awaji, M. Balmaseda, et al., 2010: Consistency and fidelity of Indonesian-throughflow total volume transport estimated by 14 ocean data assimilation products. Dyn. Atmos. Oceans. Doi:10.1016/j.dynatmoce.2009.12.004.
13. Volkov, D., Lee, T., and L.-L Fu, 2010: Mechanisms of the meridional heat transport in the Southern Ocean. Ocean Dyn., 60, 791-801, DOI: 10.1007/s10236-010-0288-0.
14. Feng, M., M.J. McPhaden, and T. Lee, 2010: Decadal variability of the Pacific subtropical cells and their influence on the southeast Indian Ocean. Geophys. Res. Lett., L09606. DOI: 10.1029/2010GL042796.
15. Lee, T., M. Balmaseda, E. Greiner, and D. Stammer, 2009: Ocean state estimation for climate research, TOS, Oceanography, 22, 160-167.
16. Halkides, D., and T. Lee, 2009: Mechanisms controlling seasonal-to-interannual mixed-layer temperature variability in the southeastern tropical Indian Ocean. J. Geophys. Res., 114, C02012, doi:10.1029/2008JC004949.
17. Lee, T., O. Wang, W.-Q. Tang, and W.T. Liu, 2008: Wind stress measurements from the QuikSCAT-SeaWinds scatterometer tandem mission and the impact on an ocean model. J. Geophys. Res., 113, C12019, doi:10.1029/2008JC004855.
18. Volkov, D. L., T. Lee, and L.-L. Fu, 2008: Eddy-induced meridional heat transport in the ocean, Geophys. Res. Lett., doi:10.1029/2008GL035490.
19. Lee, T., and M.J. McPhaden 2008: Decadal phase change in large-scale sea level and winds in the Indo-Pacific region at the end of the 20th century. Geophys. Res. Lett., 35, L01605, doi:10.1029/2007GL032419.
20. Cabanes, C., T. Lee, and L.-L. Fu, 2008: Mechanisms of Interannual Variations of the Meridional Overturning Circulation of the North Atlantic Ocean. J. Phys. Oceanogr., 38, 467-480.
21. Kim, S.-B., T. Lee, I. Fukumori, 2007: Mechanisms controlling the interannual variation of mixed layer temperature averaged over the NINO3 region. J. Clim., 20, 3822-3843.
22. Kim, S.-B., I. Fukumori, T. Lee, 2006: The closure of the ocean mixed layer temperature budget using level-coordinate model fields. J. Ocean. Atmos. Tech., 23, 840-853.
23. Lee, T., and W. T. Liu, 2005: Effects of high-frequency wind sampling on simulated mixed-layer depth and upper-ocean temperature. J. Geophys. Res., 110, C05002, doi: 10.1029/2004JC002746.
24. Menemenlis, D., I. Fukumori, and T. Lee, 2005: Using Green's functions to calibrate an ocean general circulation model. Mon. Weather. Rev., 133, 1224-1240.
25. Kim, S.-B., T. Lee, and I. Fukumori, 2004: The 1997-99 abrupt change of the upper ocean temperature in the northcentral Pacific. Geophys. Res. Lett., 31, L22304, doi:10.1029/2004GL021142.
26. Lee, T., 2004: Decadal weakening of the shallow overturning circulation in the South Indian Ocean. Geophys. Res. Lett., 31, L18305, doi:10.1029/2004GL020884.
27. Lee, T., I. Fukumori, and B. Tang, 2004: Temperature advection: internal versus external processes. J. Phys. Oceanogr., 34, 1936-1944.
28. Fukumori, I., T. Lee, B. Cheng, and D. Menemenlis, 2004: The origin, pathway, and destination of NINO3 water estimated by a simulated passive tracer and its adjoint. J. Phys. Oceanogr., 34, 582-604.
29. Lee, T., and I. Fukumori, 2003: Interannual to decadal variation of tropical-subtropical exchange in the Pacific Ocean: boundary versus interior pycnocline transports. J. Climate. 16, 4022-4042.
30. Lee, T., I. Fukumori, D. Menemenlis, Z. Xing, and L.-L. Fu, 2002: Effects of the Indonesian Throughflow on the Pacific and Indian Ocean. J. Phys. Oceanogr., 32, 1404-1429.
31. Lee, T., J.-P. Boulanger, A. Foo, L.-L. Fu, and R. Giering, 2000: Data assimilation by an intermediate coupled ocean-atmosphere model: application to the 1997-1998 El Nino. J. Geophys. Res., 105, 26063-26087.
32. Lee, T., and J. Marotzke, 1998: Seasonal cycle of meridional overturning and heat transport of the Indian Ocean. J. Phys. Oceanogr., vol. 28, 923-943.
33. Lee, T., and J. Marotzke, 1997: Inferring meridional mass and heat transports of the Indian Ocean by fitting a GCM to climatological data. J. Geophys. Res., vol. 102, 10585-10602.
34. Lee, T., and P. Cornillon, 1996: Propagation and growth of Gulf Stream meanders between 75 and 45W. J. Phys. Oceanogr., vol. 26, 225-241.
35. Lee, T., and P. Cornillon, 1995: Temporal variation of meandering intensity and domain-wide lateral oscillations of the Gulf Stream. J. Geophys. Res., vol. 100, 13603-13613.