AOGS Fellows
Fei CHEN
The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
Professor Fei Chen is internationally recognized for his pioneering and sustained contributions to land–atmosphere interactions, land and hydrologic modeling, urban climate science, and Earth system prediction. Over a distinguished career spanning more than three decades, he has fundamentally advanced scientific understanding of the coupled processes linking land surfaces, hydrology, weather, climate, and urban environments, while developing transformative modeling systems now used worldwide, particularly throughout the Asia–Oceania region.
Professor Chen made foundational contributions to the development of the Noah and Noah-MP land surface models, which have become community-standard tools for weather, hydrologic, and climate prediction. His leadership in developing these models introduced unprecedented flexibility in representing hydrologic, vegetation, and snow processes across diverse environments ranging from the Tibetan Plateau to tropical Southeast Asia. These advances have significantly strengthened regional weather prediction and water-resource research throughout Asia and beyond.
His landmark research on land–atmosphere coupling reshaped the scientific framework for understanding how land-surface heterogeneity influences regional weather and climate. His seminal 2001 Monthly Weather Review paper established a new paradigm for integrating fine-scale land and hydrologic processes into atmospheric models and remains among the most highly cited papers in the 100-year journal’s history. His broader body of work has become foundational for understanding soil moisture–precipitation feedback, impacts of urbanization, and regional climate variability across Asia–Oceania.
In recent years, Professor Chen has provided visionary leadership in advancing climate resilience for Southeast Asia through the SEA4C initiative. SEA4C addresses one of the region’s most urgent scientific challenges: the lack of high-resolution climate information for rapidly urbanizing tropical environments vulnerable to extreme weather and climate change. SEA4C developed the first kilometer-scale regional climate dataset for Southeast Asia combining more than 50 years of historical reanalysis with future climate projections at 4-km resolution. This breakthrough capability substantially improves simulation of tropical cyclones, extreme rainfall, flooding, and urban heat risks, providing a critical scientific foundation for climate adaptation, disaster risk reduction, and sustainable urban planning across the region.
Professor Chen has also transformed urban climate science through leadership in developing MPAS-Urban as next-generation urban weather prediction systems for dense tropical cities. His work now underpins major international initiatives including the World Meteorological Organization World Weather Research Programm’s Urban-PREDICT project, which he co-chairs to advance global urban weather extreme early-warning and climate resilience research.
Beyond his scientific accomplishments, Professor Chen has demonstrated exceptional leadership and service to the geoscience community through international collaboration, regional capacity building, mentorship of young scientists across Asia, and sustained contributions to AOGS activities and scientific exchange.