Skip Navigation
Search for People:
Search for Projects:

Baijun Tian

Photo of Baijun Tian

Address:

4800 Oak Grove Drive
M/S 233-304

Pasadena, CA 91109

Phone:

626-720-7512

Curriculum Vitae:

Click here

Website:

Click here

Member of:

Atmospheric Physics And Weather

Biography

Dr. Tian is an atmospheric and climate scientist with the Atmospheric Physics and Weather group (329E) in Earth Science Section at NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), California Institute of Technology (Caltech), and a project scientist in the Joint Institute for Regional Earth System Science and Engineering (JIFRESSE) at University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). He studies the Earth's climate variability and change in the past, present, and future using satellite remote-sensing datasets and climate model simulations. He is an expert on the Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS) Level 3 (L3) and Observations for Model Intercomparison Project (Obs4MIPs) products, climate model evaluation, tropical deep convection, Madden-Julian Oscillation (MJO), diurnal cycle, intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ), and MJO-related aerosol and trace gas variations. Dr. Tian is one member of the NASA AIRS science team at JPL and has led the development of the AIRS V6/V7 L3 and Obs4MIPs V1.0/V2.0/V2.1 products. As of 04/12/2023, he has 32 first-authored publications and 75 publications in total including 57 peer-reviewed journal articles and book chapters and 18 technical reports and miscellaneous papers. His current H-index is 25 according to the Web of Science (WoS) and 30 according to the Google Scholar (GS).

Education

  • Ph.D. in Oceanography, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego, 2002.
  • M.S. in Meteorology, Department of Geophysics, Peking University, P. R. China. 1996.
  • B.S. in Meteorology, Department of Geophysics, Peking University, P. R. China, 1992.

Professional Experience

  • Scientist, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology (2009-present)
  • Visiting Researcher, Joint Institute for Regional Earth System Science and Engineering, University of California, Los Angeles (2008-present)
  • Postdoctoral Scholar, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology (2004-2007)
  • Postdoctoral Research Associate, Program in Atmospheric & Oceanic Sciences, Princeton University (2002-2004)

Community Service

  • Associate Editor of Frontiers in Environmental Science
  • Member of the JPL Section 329 DEI working group
  • Leadership roles for Asian American Academy of Science and Engineering (AAASE): treasurer and board director (2021–present)
  • Leadership roles for Chinese-American Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (COAA) Southern California Chapter (SCC): Advisory board member (2020–present), president (2018–2020), vice president (2017–2018), COAA Young Scholar Award selection committee chair (2017), and JPL regional director (2015-2017).
  • Evaluator of fellow candidates for the Indian Academy of Sciences (IASc)
  • Session convener and chair, CMIP6 climate model evaluation, 2019, 2020, 2021 AGU fall meetings
  • Session chair, Advances in satellite observations for Earth science and observing technologies, 2018 AMS annual meeting, Austin, TX
  • Session chair, Climate processes and other research applications enabled by satellite sounders, imagers and profilers (A49), 2010 AGU fall meeting, San Francisco, CA
  • Session chair, 20th conference on climate variability and change, 2008 AMS annual meeting, New Orleans, LA
  • Panelist of NASA ROSES proposal review panels
  • Panelist of JPL SURP proposal review panels
  • Panelist of JPL strategic initiatives proposal review panels
  • Proposal reviewer for NSF climate and large-scale dynamics program
  • Proposal reviewer for the NOAA Climate Program Office (CPO)
  • Proposal reviewer for DOE atmospheric system research program
  • Manuscript reviewer for various academic journals

Research Interests

  • Satellite Data Product Development and Applications
  • Climate Model Evaluation and Applications
  • Climate Variability and Change
  • Madden-Julian Oscillation and its Chemical Impacts

Selected Awards

  • JPL Team Award for successful operation of the HAMSR instrument in the NASA CPEX-CV field campaign, 2023
  • JPL Team Award for assessing the consequences of the loss of AMSU-A2 on the AIRS mission, 2017
  • JPL IPCC AR5 Team Award, 2012

Selected Publications

  1. Gahtan, J. and B. Tian, 2022: Stratospheric Kelvin wave activity as a function of equivalent depth in AIRS and reanalysis datasets. J. Geophys. Res., 127, e2021JD035572, doi:10.1002/2021JD035572.
  2. Tian, B. and T. J. Hearty, 2020: Estimating and removing the sampling biases of the AIRS Obs4MIPs V2 data. Earth & Space Sci., 7(12), e2020EA001438, doi:10.1029/2020EA001438.
  3. Tian, B. and X. Dong, 2020: The double-ITCZ bias in CMIP3, CMIP5, and CMIP6 models based on annual mean precipitation. Geophys. Res. Lett., 47, doi:10.1029/2020GL087232.
  4. Gibson, P. B., D. E. Waliser, H. Lee, B. Tian, and E. Massoud, 2019: Climate model evaluation in the presence of observational uncertainty: Precipitation indices over the Contiguous United States, J. Hydrometeor., 20(7), 1339-1357, doi:10.1175/jhm-d-18-0230.1.
  5. Tian, E. W., H. Su, B. Tian, J. H. Jiang, 2019: Interannual variations of water vapor in the tropical upper troposphere and the lower and middle stratosphere and their connections to ENSO and QBO, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 19(15), 9913-9926, doi:10.5194/acp-19-9913-2019.
  6. Tian, B., E. J. Fetzer, and E. M. Manning, 2019: The Atmospheric Infrared Sounder Obs4MIPs version 2 data set, Earth & Space Sci., 6(2), 324-333, doi:10.1029/2018EA000508
  7. Tian, B., H. Lee, D. Waliser, R. Ferraro, J. Kim, J. Case, T. Iguchi, E. Kemp, D. Wu, W. Putnam, and W. Wang, 2017: Development a model performance metric and its application to assess summer precipitation over the US Great Plains in downscaled climate simulations, J. Hydrometeor., 18(10), 2781-2799, doi:10.1175/jhm-d-17-0045.1.
  8. Devasthale, A., J. Sedlar, B. H. Kahn, M. Tjernström, E. J. Fetzer, B. Tian, J. Teixeira, and T. S. Pagano, 2016: A decade of spaceborne observations of the Arctic atmosphere: Novel insights from NASA's AIRS instrument. Bull. Am. Meteor. Soc., 97, 2163-2176, doi:10.1175/bams-d-14-00202.1.
  9. Tian, B., 2015: Spread of model climate sensitivity linked to double-intertropical convergence zone bias. Geophys. Res. Lett., 42, 4133-4141, doi:10.1002/2015GL064119.
  10. Liu, C., B. Tian, K.-F. Li, G. L. Manney, N. J. Livesey, Y. L. Yung, and D. E. Waliser, 2014: Northern Hemisphere mid-winter vortex-displacement and vortex-split stratospheric sudden warmings: Influence of the Madden-Julian oscillation and quasi-biennial oscillation. J. Geophys. Res., 119, 12599–12620, doi:10.1002/2014JD021876.
  11. Sun, W., P. Hess, and B. Tian, 2014: The response of the equatorial tropospheric ozone to the Madden-Julian oscillation in TES satellite observations and CAM-chem model simulation. Atmos. Chem. Phys., 14, 11775-11790, doi:10.5194/acp-14-11775-2014.
  12. Serra, Y. L., X. Jiang, B. Tian, J. A. Amador, E. D. Maloney, and G. N. Kiladis, 2014: Tropical intra-seasonal modes of the atmosphere. Annu. Rev. of Environ. Resour., 39, 5.1-5.27, doi:10.1146/annurev-environ-020413-134219.
  13. Hearty, T., A. Savtchenko, B. Tian, E. J. Fetzer, B. Vollmer, M. Theobald, Y. L. Yung, E. Fishbein, and Y.-I. Won, 2014: Estimating sampling biases and measurement uncertainties of AIRS/AMSU-A temperature and water vapor observations using MERRA reanalysis. J. Geophys. Res., 119, doi:10.1002/2013JD021205.
  14. Tian, B., and D. E. Waliser, 2014, Madden-Julian Oscillation, Ch. 198 in Encyclopedia of Remote Sensing, edited by E. Njoku, pp. 349–358, doi:10.1007/978-0-387-36699-9_198, Springer New York.
  15. Guo, Y., B. Tian, R. A. Kahn, O. Kalashnikova, S. Wong, and D. E. Waliser, 2013: Tropical Atlantic dust and smoke aerosol variabilities related to the Madden-Julian Oscillation in MODIS and MISR observations. J. Geophys. Res., 118, D50409, 4947-4963, doi:10.1002/jgrd.50409.
  16. Li, K.-F., B. Tian, K.-K. Tung, L. Kai, J. R. Worden, and Y. L. Yung, 2013: A link between tropical intraseasonal variability and Arctic stratospheric ozone. J. Geophys. Res., 118, D50391, 4280-4289, doi:10.1002/jgrd.50391.
  17. Tian, B., E. Fetzer, B. Kahn, J. Teixeira, E. Manning, and T. Hearty, 2013: Evaluating CMIP5 models using AIRS tropospheric air temperature and specific humidity climatology. J. Geophys. Res., 118, D50117, doi:10.1029/2012JD018607.
  18. Tian, B., C. O. Ao, D. E. Waliser, E. J. Fetzer, A. J. Mannucci, and J. Teixeira, 2012: Intraseasonal temperature variability in the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere from the GPS radio occultation measurements. J. Geophys. Res., 117, D15110, doi:10.1029/2012JD017715.
  19. Li, K.-F., B. Tian, D. E. Waliser, M. J. Schwartz, J. L. Neu, J. R. Worden, and Y. L. Yung, 2012: Vertical structure of MJO-related subtropical ozone variations from MLS, TES, and SHADOZ data. Atmos. Chem. Phys., 12, 425-436, doi:10.5194/acp-12-425-2012.
  20. Tian, B., and D. E. Waliser, 2012: Chemical and biological impacts, Ch. 18 in Intraseasonal Variability of the Atmosphere-Ocean Climate System (2nd Edition), Edited by W. K.-M. Lau and D. E. Waliser, Springer-Verlag, Heidelberg, Germany.
  21. Tian, B., D. E. Waliser, R. A. Kahn, and S. Wong, 2011: Modulation of Atlantic aerosols by the Madden-Julian Oscillation. J. Geophys. Res., 116, D15108, doi:10.1029/2010JD015201.
  22. Li, K.-F., B. Tian, D. E. Waliser, and Y. L. Yung, 2010: Tropical mid-tropospheric CO2 variability driven by the Madden-Julian Oscillation. Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci., 107, 19171-19175, doi:10.1073/pnas.1008222107.
  23. Tian, B., D. E. Waliser, E. J. Fetzer, and Y. L. Yung, 2010: Vertical moist thermodynamic structure of the Madden-Julian Oscillation in Atmospheric Infrared Sounder retrievals: An update and a comparison to ECMWF interim reanalysis. Mon. Wea. Rev., 138, 4576-4582, doi:10.1175/2010MWR3486.1.
  24. Neelin, J. D., B. R. Lintner, B. Tian, Q. Li, L. Zhang, P. K. Patra, M. T. Chahine, and S. N. Stechmann, 2010: Long tails in deep columns of natural and anthropogenic tropospheric tracers. Geophys. Res. Lett., 37, L05804, doi:10.1029/2009GL041726.
  25. Seo, K.-W., D. E. Waliser, B. Tian, J. Familgietti, and T. Syed, 2009: Evaluation of global land-to-ocean fresh water discharge and evapotranspiration using space-based observations. J. Hydrol., 373, 508-515, doi:10.1016/j.jhydrol.2009.05.014.
  26. Waliser, D. E., B. Tian, M. J. Schwartz, X. Xie, W. T. Liu, and E. J. Fetzer, 2009: How well can satellite data characterize the water cycle of the Madden-Julian Oscillation? Geophys. Res. Lett., 36, L21803, doi:10.1029/2009GL040005.
  27. Tian, B., D. E. Waliser, R. A. Kahn, Q. B. Li, Y. L. Yung, T. Tyranowski, I. V. Geogdzhavev, M. I. Mishchenko, O. Torres, and A. Smirnov, 2008: Does the Madden-Julian Oscillation influence aerosol variability?, J. Geophys. Res., 113, D12215, doi:10.1029/2007JD009372.
  28. Schwartz, M. J., D. E. Waliser, B. Tian, D. L. Wu, J. H. Jiang, and W. G. Read, 2008: Characterization of MJO-related upper-tropospheric hydrological processes using MLS. Geophys. Res. Lett., 35, L08812, doi:10.1029/2008GL033675.
  29. Tian, B., Y. L. Yung, D. E. Waliser, T. Tyranowski, L. Kuai, E. J. Fetzer, and F. W. Irion, 2007: Intraseasonal variations of the tropical total ozone and their connection to the MJO. Geophys. Res. Lett., 34, L08704, doi:10.1029/2007GL029471.
  30. Tian, B., D. E. Waliser, and E. J. Fetzer, 2006: Modulation of the diurnal cycle of tropical deep convective clouds by the MJO. Geophys. Res. Lett., 30, L20704, 10.1029/2006GL027752.
  31. Tian, B., D. E. Waliser, E. J. Fetzer, B. H. Lambrigtsen, Y. Yung, and B. Wang, 2006: Vertical moist thermodynamic structure and spatial-temporal evolution of the MJO in AIRS observations. J. Atmos. Sci., 63, 2462-2485.
  32. Tian, B., I. M. Held, N.-C. Lau, and B. J. Soden, 2005: Diurnal cycle of summertime deep convection over North America: A satellite perspective. J. Geophys. Res., 110, D10108, doi:10.1029/2004JD005275.
  33. Tian, B., B. J. Soden, and X. Wu, 2004: Diurnal cycle of convection, clouds, and water vapor in the tropical upper troposphere: Satellites versus a general circulation model. J. Geophys. Res., 109, D10101, doi:10.1029/2003JD004117.
  34. Tian, B., and V. Ramanathan, 2003: A simple moist tropical atmosphere model: The role of cloud radiative forcing. J. Climate, 16, 2086-2092.
  35. Tian, B., and V. Ramanathan, 2002: Role of tropical clouds in surface and atmospheric energy budget. J. Climate, 15, 296-305.

Projects

AIRS
GPM
JIFRESSE