Postdoctoral Fellowship
Hydrology and Water Resources
Harvard University
2004
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Faculty
Faculty
Sen Chiao, Ph.D.
Professor
Department/Office
- Interdisciplinary Studies
School/College
- College of Arts & Sciences
- Graduate School
Biography
Sen Chiao, Ph.D., is a professor in the Department of Interdisciplinary Studies at Howard University. He is also the PI and the director of the NOAA Cooperative Science Center in Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology (NCAS-M). A veteran leader in atmospheric science research and education, Chiao is known for advancing interdisciplinary collaboration and promoting diversity in the geosciences. Since joining Howard in 2021, he has expanded the university’s research capacity in climate change, created new academic courses, and launched initiatives including the first urban atmospheric boundary observation site in Washington, D.C.
His main research interests focus on understanding weather and climate extremes increased frequency, duration, and intensity driven by climate change. His ultimate goal is to advance our understanding of fundamental science in the areas of weather and climate, hydrometeorology, and their linkages to global climate change.
Before joining Howard, Chiao served in several key academic roles at San José State University, including chair of the Department of Meteorology and Climate Science and director of the NASA-funded Center for Applied Atmospheric Research and Education. He led efforts to develop new academic programs, secure more than $7 million in research funding, and implement high-performance computing infrastructure. His research has addressed topics such as atmospheric rivers, tropical cyclones, wildfires, and the impacts of air quality on public health.
Chiao’s work has earned him numerous awards and fellowships, including recognition by NASA and appointments to advisory committees for the U.S. Department of Energy and the National Academies.
A strong advocate for equitable access to science, technology, engineering and math education, Chiao has mentored dozens of students and postdoctoral researchers from underrepresented backgrounds. His leadership continues to shape the future of atmospheric science through academic excellence, high-impact research and strategic vision.
Education & Expertise
Education
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
Marine, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences
North Carolina State University
2003
Master of Science (M.S.)
Atmospheric Physics
National Central University, Jhungli, Taiwan
1996
Bachelor of Science (B.S.)
Atmospheric Science
Chinese Culture University, Taipei, Taiwan
1994
Expertise
Atmospheric Modeling
Climate Change
Academics
Academics
Remote Sensing for Meteorology
Atmospheric Remote Sensing
Marine Meteorology
Numerical Weather Prediction
Mesoscale Meteorology
Intro to Environmental Flow Modeling
Planetary Boundary Layer Meteorology, Weather Analysis and Forecasting
Weather Briefing, and Dynamics Meteorology
Global Climate Change
Weather and Climate
Research
Research
Funding
Principal Investigator: ”NOAA Cooperative Science Center in Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology II”, NOAA/EPP, 2022-2027, 30M.
Principal Investigator: “A Multi-University Consortium for Advanced Data Assimilation Research and Education (CADRE)” NOAA/WPO, 2024-2027, 1.4M
Co-Principal Investigator: “Towards a NU-WRF based Mega Wildfire Digital Twin: Smoke Transport Impact Scenarios on Air Quality, Cardiopulmonary Disease and Regional Deforestation”, NASA (via UMBC), 2022 – 2025, 200K.
Co-Principal Investigator:, “GP-UP: Strengthening Pathways to Geoscience Degrees for Underrepresented Pre-College and Introductory Students Through Experiential Learning and Career-informed Research“, NSF, 2021-2025, 204K.
Principal Investigator: “NOAA Cooperative Science Center in Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology”, NOAA/EPP, 2016-2022, 18.7M.
Principal Investigator: “Detailed Quantitative Precipitation Forecasts for Santa Clara Valley Water District”, 2019-2022, 85K.
Co-Principal Investigator: “RAPID: The Diablo Wind and Extreme Fire Behavior during the 2017 Wine Country Fires”, NSF, 2017-2018, 120K.
Principal Investigator: “Weekly Ozonesonde Measurements at Half Moon Bay”, BAAQMD, 2017-2018, 39K
Principal Investigator: “NOAA Center for Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology (NCAS-M)” NOAA/EPP, 2016-2021, 500K.
Accomplishments
Accomplishments
Certificate, Faculty Leadership Institute, Howard University, 2024
Nominee, Institutional member of the UCAR Board of Trustees, 2023
Honorable mentioned by NASA ARC during President Biden’s visit to California in 2023
Professor Emeritus, San Jose State University, 2022
Fellow, The American Meteorological Society Summer Policy Colloquium, 2022
Outstanding Alumni Award, Department of Atmospheric Physics, National Central University, Taiwan, 2019
Honoree, the 2016 Faculty Athletics Representative of the National Football Foundation
Fellowship, NSF GEO Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) workshop, Boulder, CO, September 2016
Fellowship, Geo for Higher Ed Summit 2013, Google Inc., July 2013
Fellowship, Geoscience and the 21th Century Workforce workshop, NSF/InTeGrate, Penn State, June 2013
Publications and Presentations
Publications and Presentations
Tropical Cyclonic Energy Variability in North Indian Ocean
Tropical Cyclonic Energy Variability in North Indian Ocean: Insights from ENSO
This study investigates the variability of TC activity in the presence of ENSO over the North Indian Ocean (NIO), comprising the Arabian Sea (ARB) and the Bay of Bengal (BOB) basins during the pre- and post-monsoon season, using accumulated cyclone energy (ACE) over the last 29 years. Our analysis reveals a significant rise in tropical cyclone energy intensity over the past two decades, with eight of the ten most active years occurring since the 2000s.
An Observational Study of Aerosols and Tropical Cyclones
Among all cases in this study, the results suggested tropical cyclone genesis and further development occurred under dust-loaded conditions while the environmental variables were favorable, indicating that dust aerosols may not play a significant role in inhibiting the genesis process of TCs.
Understanding the Role of Mean and Eddy Momentum Transport
The prediction of rapid intensification (RI) in tropical cyclones (TCs) is a challenging problem. In this study, the RI process and factors contributing to it are compared for two TCs: an axis-symmetric case (Hurricane Irma, 2017) and an asymmetric case (Hurricane Michael, 2018).
The Intensification of Hurricane Maria 2017 in the Antilles
The Intensification of Hurricane Maria 2017 in the Antilles
More than 15% of all Atlantic hurricanes make landfall in the Caribbean Antilles Islands during August–September. The most probable track is between Dominica and Puerto Rico. Destructive impacts are unavoidable on small islands exposed to high winds, flash-floods, landslides, and nowhere to evacuate. Anomalous warm sea surface temperatures (SST) and weak upper easterly winds promote intensification, amongst other factors. Hurricane Maria (2017) was a prime example of rapid intensification—going from a category 1 to 5 in just 15 h.
Assimilation of GPS Radio Occultation Data for Tropical Cyclogenesis
This study aimed to investigate the impact of using Global Positioning System Radio Occultation (GPS RO) sounding data (i.e., Constellation Observing System for Meteorology, Ionosphere, and Climate; COSMIC) for Tropical Cyclogenesis (TC-genesis) research.
Southern Caribbean Hurricane Case Study
Southern Caribbean Hurricane Case Study: Observations and WRF Simulation
The meteorological conditions of three hurricanes passing through the southern Caribbean are analyzed using Hurdat, atmosphere - ocean reanalysis, satellite rainfall and SST fields, and buoy observations. The cases are Ivan 2004, Emily 2005 and Dean 2007, each traced to an African easterly wave moving zonally beneath an atmospheric ridge over the North Atlantic. SST were > 29oC west of the Antilles Islands due to +40 W/m2 surplus net heat flux and weak upper ocean currents. The analysis results suggested that the warm sea temperatures enhanced moisture fluxes, rain rates and convective heating, which affected these hurricanes significantly.
Recent Articles
Multimedia
TRT World | Hurricane Ian leaves a path of destruction in Florida
In the US state of Florida, an official says hundreds of people may have been killed after Hurricane Ian tore through. Thousands of people are needing rescuing from rising floodwaters. Sen Chiao, professor of meteorology and climate science, discusses the destruction left behind by the storm.