Dr. Xiaoqian Zhang

Research Interests

Air-sea coupling processes; Coastal circulation dynamics; Numerical Modeling; Bio-physical interactions; Tides and coastal mixing processes; Hypoxia; Satellite Oceanography

Proffesional Experience

• June 2011 - present: Assistant Research Scientist, Department of Oceanography, Texas A&M University
• May 2009 - May 2011: Postdoctoral Associate, Department of Oceanography, Texas A&M University
• 2008: Summer School Student - GFD Program, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
• 2005 - 2009: Graduate Assistant - Research, Department of Oceanography, Texas A&M University
• 2002 - 2005: Graduate Assistant - Research, Department of Oceanography, Ocean University of China

Honors and Awards

• Outstanding Student Paper Award, Ocean Science Meeting, Orlando, USA 2008
• Interdisciplinary Research Recognition Award, Texas A&M University 2008
• Outstanding Graduate Student Award in Shandong Province, China 2005
• Outstanding Graduate Student Award, Ocean University of China 2004
• Undergraduate Student Fellowship, Ocean University of China 1999-2002

Publications

Peer - Reviewed Publications

• Tian, J., X. Liang, X. Zhang, and L. Xie: Internal tides on the northern shelf and slope of the South China Sea. Journal of Physical Oceanography, Journal of Physical Oceanography, to be submitted.
• Zhang, X., R. D. Hetland, and M. Marta-Almeida: Interannual variability of the Mississippi/Atchafalaya plume on the Texas-Louisiana shelf. Geophysical Research Letters, to be submitted.
• Li, B., D. DiMarco, G. Jackson, and X. Zhang: double-pycnocline favored hypoxia development on the Texas-Louisiana shelf. Journal of Marine Systems, to be submitted.
• Zhang, Z., R. D. Hetland, and X. Zhang: Buoyancy-modulated seasonal alongshore flow over the Texas-
  Louisiana continental shelf. Journal of Geophysical Research – Oceans, to be submitted.
• Thyng, K. M., R. D. Hetland, M. T. Ogle, X. Zhang, F. Chen, and L. Campbell: Origins of harmful algal blooms along the Texas coast. Limnology and Oceanography: Fluids and Environments, submitted.
• Marta-Almeida, M., R. D. Hetland, and X. Zhang: Evaluation of model nesting performance on the Texas-Louisiana shelf. Journal of Geophysical Research - Oceans, in press. 
• Marta-Almeida, M., M. Ruiz-Villarreal, J. Pereira, P. Otero, M. Cirano, X.Zhang., and R. D. Hetland: Efficient tools for marine operational forecast and oil spill tracking. Marine Pollution Bulletin, in press.
• Zhang, X., R. D. Hetland, M. Marta-Almeida, and S. F. DiMarco, 2012: A numerical investigation of the Mississippi and Atchafalaya freshwater transport, filling and flushing times on the Texas-Louisiana shelf. Journal of Geophysical Research - Oceans, 117, C11009, doi:10.1029/2012JC008108.  
• Wang, Z., S. F. DiMarco, M. Stoessel, X. Zhang, M. K. Howard, and K.D. Vall, 2012: Oscillation responses to tropical cyclone Gonu in northern Arabian Sea from a moored observing system. Deep Sea Research I, 64, 129-145.
• Zhang, X. M. Marta-Almeida, and R.D. Hetland, 2012: A high-resolution pre-operational forecast model of circulation on the Texas-Louisiana continental shelf and slope. Journal of Operational Oceanography, 5, 19-34.
• Zhang, X., D. C. Smith, IV, S. F. DiMarco, and R. D. Hetland, 2010: A numerical study of sea breeze driven ocean Poincare wave propagation and mixing near the critical latitude. Journal of Physical Oceanography, 40, 48-66.
• Zhang, X., S. F. DiMarco, D. C. Smith, IV, M. K., Howard, A. E. Jochens, and R. D. Hetland, 2009: Near-resonant ocean response to sea breeze on a stratified continental shelf. Journal of Physical Oceanography, 39, 2137-2155.
• Tian J., L. Zhou, and X. Zhang, 2006: Latitudinal distribution of mixing rate caused by the M2 internal tide. Journal of Physical Oceanography, 36, 35-42.
• Liang, X., J. Tian, and X. Zhang, 2006: Observations of thermal microstructure over shelf break in the EAST China Sea. Progress in Natural Science, 16(10), 1268-1274.
• Zhou L., J. Tian, and X. Zhang, 2005: Observations of small-scale processes over shelf break in the East China Sea. Chinese Science Bulletin, 50(24), 2885-2890.
• Zhang, X., X. Liang, and J. Tian, 2005: Observations of internal tides and near-inertial motions in the upper 450 m layer of the northern South China Sea. Chinese Science Bulletin, 50(24), 2890-2895.
• Zhang. X, X. Liang, and L. Zhou, 2005: Estimates of M2 internal tide energy fluxes in the Pacific Ocean using TOPEX/POSEIDON altimeter data. Acta Oceanological Sinica, 27(5), 9~14.
• Zhang. X, X. Liang, and J. Tian, 2005: Estimates of mixing on the South China Sea shelf. Acta Oceanological Sinica, 24(3), 1-8.
• Tian J. W., L. Zhou, X. Zhang, X. Liang, Q. Zheng, and W. Zhao, 2003: Estimates of M2 internal tide energy fluxes along the margin of northwestern Pacific using TOPEX/POSEIDON altimeter data. Geophysical Research Letters, 30, 1889, doi: 10.1029/2003GL018008.

Unreviewed Publications

• Zhang. X., D. C. Smith, IV, S. F. DiMarco, M. K. Howard, A. E. Jochens, and R. D. Hetland, 2008: Oceanic response to diurnal forcing in the Gulf of Mexico: observations and models. Proceedings: Twenty-fourth Gulf of Mexico information transfer meeting, January 2007. Eds., MaKay, M. and J. Nides, U.S. Dept. of the Interior, Minerals Management Service.
• Tian, J., L. Zhou, X. Zhang, and Q. Zheng, 2004: Global flux of M2 internal tides and latitudinal distribution of mixing rate caused by M2 internal tide. Development and Prospect of Physical Oceanography in China, ed. by S. Feng and H. Wang, Ocean University of China Press, Qingdao, pp. 221-227.

Professional Affiliations

• Sigma Xi
• The Oceanography Society
• American Geophysical Union

FUNDED/PENDING PROJECTS

1. Texas Automated Buoy System Research and Development Project Extension: Surface Gravity Wave Forecasts, Jan 1 2013 – Aug 31 2013, $67,090, PI: R. Hetland, Co-PI: Xiaoqian Zhang
2. Salinity assessments using the Texas –Louisiana shelf ROMS model, Texas Water Development Board, Nov 1 2012 – Mar 1 2014, $20,000, PI: Xiaoqian Zhang
3. Multipl-scale oceanic dynamics around the major islands in the South China Sea, Jan 2014 - Dec 2018, The National Basic Research Program of China (973), $5,000,000, PI: Jiwei Tian, Co-PI: Xiaoqian Zhang
4. Improving Hydrodynamic Predictions of Surface Currents Near the Texas Coast used for rapid Oil Spill
   Response – Phase 3, Sep 1 2013 – Aug 31 2015, $378,848, PI: R. Hetland, Co-PI: Xiaoqian Zhang, Pending.
5. The effects of Texas physical oceanic environment on the Movements of Kemp’s Ridley Sea Turtles, Jan 2014 – Jan 2016, Texas Sea Grant, $300,000, PI: S. DiMarco, Co-PI: Xiaoqian Zhang, Pending
6. Effects of tide-river plume interaction on the generation of internal waves near the Changjiang Estuary, Jan 2014 – Jan 2016, National Science Foundation in China, $50,000, Co-PI: Xiaoqian Zhang, Pending