Jian-Feng Gu

Associate Professor

Email: jfgu@nju.edu.cn
Office: C504

Career overview

I received my PhD from School of Atmospheric Sciences in Nanjing University in 2014. My PhD project aimed to understand physical mechanisms of how large-scale vertical wind shear affect the dynamical and thermodynamic structures of tropical cyclones and its intensity change, which remained as the focus of my research during my first postdoc in Nanjing University. After recognizing the essential role of moist convection in tropical cyclone dynamics, I started my second postdoc in the Department of Meteorology at University of Reading (UK) to understand the fundamental processes underlying convection and clouds. My research on mass-flux representation, cloud dynamics and cloud structure provided useful insights for the development of the next-generation convection parameterization in the Met Office Unified Model (UM). I recently joined the School of Atmospheric Sciences in Nanjing University as an associate professor. My current research interests focus on dynamics of convection and clouds, convection parameterization, and tropical cyclone dynamics. I am also interested in atmospheric thermodynamics. These will be the major research topics in the next couple of years. Anyone who is interested in these topics is encouraged to contact me for potential opportunities.

Education

•	Ph.D. in Atmospheric Science - 2009-2014 - Nanjing University
•	B.Sc. in Atmospheric Science - 2005-2009 - Nanjing University

Employment

	Associate Professor, Nanjing University, 2022-
	Postdoc, University of Reading, 2017-2022
	Postdoc, Nanjing University, 2014-2017

Research Interests

Tropical Cyclone Dynamics, Cloud Dynamics, Convection Parameterization, Atmospheric Thermodynamics

Selected Publications

1.	Liu, H.-Y., J.-F. Gu, Y. Wang and J. Xu, 2023: What controlled the low-level moisture transport during the extreme precipitation in Henan Province of China in July 21? Mon. Wea. Rev.*, (in press).
2.	Liu, H.-Y., J.-F. Gu and Y. Wang, 2023: Consistent Pattern of Rainfall Asymetry in Binary Tropical Cyclones. Geophys. Res. Lett., 50, e2022GL101866.
3.	Yang, B., X. Guo, J.-F. Gu, and J. Nie, 2022: Cloud-Radiation Feedback Prevents Tropical Cyclones from Reaching Higher Intensities. Geophys. Res. Lett.,49, e2022GL100067.
4.	Liu, H., X. Tang and J.-F. Gu, 2022: Effects of Volcanic Aerosols on the Genesis of Tropical Cyclone Wukong (2018). J. Geophys. Res., 127, e2022JD036775.
5.	Li, M., K. Chu, J.-F. Gu and Zhe-Min Tan, 2022: On the Relationship between Tropical Cyclone Size and Environmental Helicity in the South China Sea. Atmos. Ocean. Sci. Lett., 15, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aosl.2022.100205.
6.	Liu, H.-Y., J.-F. Gu, Y. Wang and J. Xu, 2022: Contributions of Anomalous Large-Scale Circulations to the Absence of Tropical Cyclones over the Western North Pacific in July 2020. Geophys. Res. Lett., 49, e2021GL096652.
7.	Gu, J.-F., R. S. Plant, C. E. Holloway and Todd Jones, 2021: Composited Structure of Shallow Cumulus Clouds. Quart. J. Roy. Meteorol. Soc., 147, 2818-2833.
8.	Xi, D., K. Chu, Z.-M. Tan, J.-F. Gu, W. Shen, Y. Zhang and J. Tang, 2021: Characteristics of Warm Cores of Tropical Cyclones in a 25-km-mesh Regional Climate Simulation over CORDEX East Asia Domain. Clim. Dyn., 57, 2375-2389.
9.	Chen, X., J.-F. Gu, J. A. Zhang, F. D. Marks, R. F. Rogers, and J. J. Cione, 2021: Boundary Layer Recovery and Precipitation Symmetrization of Rapidly Intensifying Tropical Cyclones under Shear. J. Atmos. Sci., 78, 1523-1544.
10.	Liu, H.-Y., Yuqing Wang, and J.-F. Gu, 2021: Intensity Change of Binary Tropical Cyclones (TCs) in Idealized Numerical Simulations: Two Initially Identical Mature TCs. J. Atmos. Sci., 78, 1001-1020.
11.	Gu, J.-F., R. S. Plant, C. E. Holloway and M. R. Muetzelfeldt, 2020: Pressure Drag for Shallow Cumulus Clouds: From Thermals to the Cloud Ensemble. Geophys. Res. Lett., 47, e2020GL090460.
12.	Gu, J.-F., R. S. Plant, C. E. Holloway, T. R. Jones, A. Stirling, P. A. Clark and S. J. Woolnough, 2020: Evaluation of Bulk Mass Flux Approximation using Large Eddy Simulations. J. Atmos. Sci., 77, 2115-2137.
13.	Gu, J.-F., Z.-M., Tan and X., Qiu, 2019: Intensification Variability of Tropical Cyclones in Directional Shear Flows: Vortex tilt-Convection Coupling. J. Atmos. Sci., 76, 1827-1844.
14.	Gu, J.-F., Z.-M., Tan and X., Qiu, 2018: The Evolution of Vortex Tilt and Vertical Motion of Tropical Cyclones in Directional Shear Flows. J. Atmos. Sci., 75, 3565-3578.
15.	Gu, J.-F., Z.-M., Tan and X., Qiu, 2016: Quadrant-depedent Evolution of Low-level Tangential Wind of a Tropical Cyclone in the Shear Flow. J. Atmos. Sci., 73, 1159-1177.
16.	Gu, J.-F., Z.-M., Tan and X., Qiu, 2015: Effects of Vertical Wind Shear on Inner-Core Thermodynamics of an Idealized Simulated Tropical Cyclone. J. Atmos. Sci., 72, 511-530.
17.	Chu, K. K., Q. Xiao, Z.-M. Tan and J.-F. Gu, 2011: A Forecast Sensitivity Study on the Intensity Change of Typhoon Sinlaku (2008). J. Geophys. Res., 116(72), DOI: 10.1029/2011JD016127.

Awards, honors, positions and services

Research Output Award, University of Reading
Celebrating Success Award, University of Reading