Overview
Dr. Li's research interests focus primarily on climate dynamics, land-atmosphere interaction, hydroclimatology, and climate modeling. Her current research is to understand how the hydrological cycle changes in the current and future climate and their impacts on the ecosystems, subtropical high variability and change, unforced global temperature variability, and climate and health issues.
Current Appointments & Affiliations
Professor of Climate in the Division of Earth and Climate Science
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2025 - Present
Earth and Climate Sciences,
Nicholas School of the Environment
Associate Professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
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2024 - Present
Civil and Environmental Engineering,
Pratt School of Engineering
Recent Publications
Eco-hydrological recovery following large vegetation disturbances from a mega earthquake on the eastern Tibetan plateau
Journal Article Journal of Hydrology · April 1, 2025 Catastrophic earthquakes induce significant, enduring vegetation disturbances through extensive landslides and geomorphological alterations. The post-earthquake vegetation recovery hinges on the disturbance severity, climatic variability, and strategic hum ... Full text CiteTemperature and Water Levels Collectively Regulate Methane Emissions From Subtropical Freshwater Wetlands
Journal Article Global Biogeochemical Cycles · March 1, 2025 Wetlands are the largest and most climate-sensitive natural sources of methane. Accurately estimating wetland methane emissions involves reconciling inversion (“top-down”) and process-based (“bottom-up”) models within the global methane budget. However, es ... Full text CiteEarth's record-high greenness and its attributions in 2020
Journal Article Remote Sensing of Environment · January 1, 2025 Terrestrial vegetation is a crucial component of Earth's biosphere, regulating global carbon and water cycles and contributing to human welfare. Despite an overall greening trend, terrestrial vegetation exhibits a significant inter-annual variability. The ... Full text CiteRecent Grants
Improving Forests to Faucets Data and Analyses to Support Landscape Scale Restoration Decision-making for Benefiting Water Quality
ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by US Forest Service · 2023 - 2027Assessing The Impacts of Wildland Fire on Watersheds Under Climate Change
ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by US Forest Service · 2023 - 2026IUCRC Planning Grant Duke University: Center for Innovation in Risk-analysis for Climate Adaptation and Decision-making (CIRCAD)
ResearchParticipating Faculty Member · Awarded by National Science Foundation · 2024 - 2025View All Grants