Xindi (Randy) Bian
Meteorologist
Climate, Fire, and Carbon Cycle Sciences
3101 Discovery Dr., Ste. F
Lansing, MI 48910
United States
Lansing, MI 48910
United States
Phone
517-884-8050
Current Research
Development of improved understanding and descriptions of surface and boundary-layer processes for accurate high resolution forecasting of fire-weather indices and smoke transport, on the impacts of global change on forest microclimates and water resources. The current research is very important for land/fire managers and public people to use of our research products as state-of-art tools for keeping ecosystem health in safe and effective manner.
Research Interest
Atmosphere interaction with the physical, biological, and social components of ecosystems at multiple spatial and temporal scales.
Education
- Iowa State University, M.S., Water Resources, 1993
- Nanjing University, M.S., Atmospheric Physics, 1985
- Nanjing University, B.S., Atmospheric Physics, 1982
Professional Organizations
- American Meteorological Society, Current
- American Geophysical Union, Current
Featured Publications
- Heilman, Warren E.; Bian, Xindi. 2010. Turbulent kinetic energy during wildfires in the north central and north-eastern US
- Winkler, Julie A.; Potter, Brian E.; Wilhelm, Dwight F.; Shadbolt, Ryan P.; Piromsopa, Krerk; Bian, Xindi. 2007. Climatological and statistical characteristics of the Haines Index for North America
- Clements, Craig B.; Zhong, Shiyuan; Goodrick, Scott; Li, Ju, Potter.; Bian, Xindi; Heilman, Warren E.; Charney, Joseph J.; Perna, Ryan; Jang, Meongdo; Lee, Daegyun; Patel, Monica; Street, Susan; Aumann, Glenn. 2007. Observing The Dynamics Of Wildland Grass Fires: FireFlux -A Field Validation Experiment
- Heilman, Warren E.; Bian, Xindi. 2007. Combining turbulent kinetic energy and Haines Index predictions for fire-weather assessments
- Clements, Craig B.; Zhong, Shiyuan; Goodrick, Scott; Li, Ju; Potter, Brian E.; Bian, Xindi; Heilman, Warren E.; Charney, Joseph J.; Perna, Ryan; Jang, Meongdo; Lee, Daegyun; Patel, Monica; Street, Susan; Aumann, Glenn. 2007. Observing the dynamics of Wildland grass fires: Fireflux - a field validation experiment
Other Publications
- Yu, Lejiang ; Zhong, Shiyuan ; Winkler, Julie A.; Doubler, Dana L.; Bian, Xindi ; Walters, Claudia K.. 2017. The inter annual variability of southerly low level jets in North America
- Kiefer, Michael T.; Heilman, Warren E.; Zhong, Shiyuan ; Charney, Joseph J.; Bian, Xindi ; Skowronski, Nicholas S.; Clark, Kenneth L.; Gallagher, Michael R.; Hom, John L.; Patterson, Matthew. 2022. Representing low-intensity fire sensible heat output in a mesoscale atmospheric model with a canopy submodel: a case study with ARPS-CANOPY (version 5.2.12)
- Heilman, Warren E.; Clark, Kenneth L.; Bian, Xindi ; Charney, Joseph J.; Zhong, Shiyuan ; Skowronski, Nicholas S.; Gallagher, Michael R.; Patterson, Matthew. 2021. Turbulent Momentum Flux Behavior above a Fire Front in an Open-Canopied Forest
- Clark, Kenneth ; Gallagher, Michael ; Skowronski, Nick ; Patterson, Matthew ; Heilman, Warren E.; Bian, Xindi ; Charney, Joseph J.; Hom, John ; Mueller, Eric ; Hadden, Rory ; Campbell-Lockrie, Zakary ; Walker-Ravena, Carlos ; Kremens, Robert. 2019. Intermediate-scale fire behavior measurements in the field: Bridging the gap between laboratory experiments and management-scale prescribed fires
- Heilman, Warren E.; Banerjee, Tirtha ; Clements, Craig B.; Clark, Kenneth L.; Zhong, Shiyuan ; Bian, Xindi. 2021. Observations of Sweep Ejection Dynamics for Heat and Momentum Fluxes during Wildland Fires in Forested and Grassland Environments
- Kiefer, Michael T.; Charney, Joseph J.; Zhong, Shiyuan ; Heilman, Warren E.; Bian, Xindi ; Mathewson, Timothy O.. 2020. A Multiscale Numerical Modeling Study of Smoke Dispersion and the Ventilation Index in Southwestern Colorado
- Zhong, Shiyuan ; Yu, Lejiang ; Heilman, Warren E.; Bian, Xindi ; Fromm, Hannah. 2020. Synoptic weather patterns for large wildfires in the northwestern United States a climatological analysis using three classification methods
- Charney, Joseph J.; Kiefer, Michael T.; Zhong, Shiyuan ; Heilman, Warren E.; Nikolic, Jovanka ; Bian, Xindi ; Hom, John L.; Clark, Kenneth L.; Skowronski, Nicholas S.; Gallagher, Michael R.; Patterson, Matthew ; Liu, Yongqiang ; Hawley, Christie. 2019. Assessing Forest Canopy Impacts on Smoke Concentrations Using a Coupled Numerical Model
- Heilman, Warren E.; Bian, Xindi ; Clark, Kenneth L.; Zhong, Shiyuan. 2019. Observations of Turbulent Heat and Momentum Fluxes during Wildland Fires in Forested Environments
- Nikolic, Jovanka ; Zhong, Shiyuan ; Pei, Lisi ; Bian, Xindi ; Heilman, Warren E.; Charney, Joseph J.. 2019. Sensitivity of low-level jets to land-use and land-cover change over the continental U.S.
- Kiefer, Michael T.; Charney, Joseph J.; Zhong, Shiyuan ; Heilman, Warren E.; Bian, Xindi ; Hom, John L.; Patterson, Matthew. 2019. Evaluation of the Ventilation Index in Complex Terrain: A Dispersion Modeling Study
- Heilman Warren E., ; Clements Craig B., ; Zhong, Shiyuan ; Clark, Kenneth L.; Bian, Xindi. 2019. Atmospheric turbulence
- Kiefer, Michael T.; Zhong, Shiyuan ; Heilman, Warren E.; Charney, Joseph J.; Bian, Xindi. 2018. A Numerical Study of Atmospheric Perturbations Induced by Heat From a Wildland Fire: Sensitivity to Vertical Canopy Structure and Heat Source Strength
- Yu, Lejiang; Zhong, Shiyuan; Heilman, Warren E.; Bian, Xindi. 2018. Trends in seasonal warm anomalies across the contiguous United States: Contributions from natural climate variability
- Heilman, Warren E.; Bian, Xindi; Clark, Kenneth L.; Skowronski, Nicholas S.; Hom, John L.; Gallagher, Michael R.. 2017. Atmospheric turbulence observations in the vicinity of surface fires in forested environments
- Yu, Lejiang ; Heilman, Warren E.; Zhong, Shiyuan ; Bian, Xindi. 2017. Relationships of the symmetric and asymmetric components of ENSO to US extreme precipitation
- Zhong, Shiyuan; In, Hee-Jin; Bian, Xindi; Charney, Joseph; Heilman, Warren; Potter, Brian. 2005. Evaluation of real-time high-resolution MM5 predictions over the Great Lakes region
- Yu, Lejiang; Zhong, Shiyuan; Heilman, Warren E.; Bian, Xindi. 2017. A comparison of the effects of El Ni o and El Ni o Modoki on subdaily extreme precipitation occurrences across the contiguous United States
- Zhong, Shiyuan; Yu, Lejiang; Winkler, Julie A.; Tang, Ying; Heilman, Warren E.; Bian, Xiandi. 2017. The impact of climate change on the characteristics of the frost-free season over the contiguous USA as projected by the NARCCAP model ensembles
- Kiefer, Michael T.; Heilman, Warren E.; Zhong, Shiyuan; Charney, Joseph J. (Jay); Bian, Xindi (Randy). 2016. A study of the influence of forest gaps on fire atmosphere interactions
- Yu, Lejiang; Zhong, Shiyuan; Pei, Lisi; Bian, Xindi (Randy); Heilman, Warren E.. 2016. Contribution of large-scale circulation anomalies to changes in extreme precipitation frequency in the United States
- Heilman, Warren E.; Tang, Ying; Luo, Lifeng; Zhong, Shiyuan; Winkler, Julie; Bian, Xindi. 2015. Potential climate change impacts on fire weather in the United States
- Heilman, Warren E.; Clements, Craig B.; Seto, Daisuke; Bian, Xindi; Clark, Kenneth L.; Skowronski, Nicholas S.; Hom, John L.. 2015. Observations of fire-induced turbulence regimes during low-intensity wildland fires in forested environments: implications for smoke dispersion
- Kiefer, Michael T.; Heilman, Warren E.; Zhong, Shiyuan; Charney, Joseph J.; Bian, X.; Shadbolt, Ryan P.; Hom, John; Clark, Kenneth; Skowronski, Nicholas; Gallagher, Michael; Patterson, Matthew. 2011. Development of a fine scale smoke dispersion modeling system. Part II: Case study of a prescribed burn in the New Jersey Pine Barrens
- Yu, Lejiang; Zhong, Shiyuan; Bian, Xindi; Heilman, Warren E.. 2015. Temporal and spatial variability of wind resources in the United States as derived from the Climate Forecast System Reanalysis
- Simpson, Colin C.; Katurji, Marwan; Kiefer, Michael T.; Zhong, Shiyuan; Charney, Joseph J.; Heilman, Warren E.; Bian, Xindi. 2013. Atmosphere-fire simulation of effects of low-level jets on pyro-convective plume dynamics
- Kiefer, Michael T.; Heilman, Warren E.; Zhong, Shiyuan; Charney, Joseph J.; Bian, Xindi. 2015. Mean and turbulent flow downstream of a low-intensity fire: influence of canopy and background atmospheric conditions
- Tang, Ying; Zhong, Shiyuan; Luo, Lifeng; Bian, Xindi; Heilman, Warren E.; Winkler, Julie. 2015. The potential impact of regional climate change on fire weather in the United States
- Yu, Lejiang; Zhong, Shiyuan; Bian, Xindi; Heilman, Warren E.; Andresen, Jeffrey A.. 2014. Temporal and spatial variability of frost-free seasons in the Great Lakes region of the United States
- Kiefer, Michael T.; Heilman, Warren E.; Zhong, Shiyuan; Charney, Joseph J.; Bian, Xindi; Skowronski, Nicholas S.; Hom, John L.; Clark, Kenneth L.; Patterson, Matthew; Gallagher, Michael R.. 2014. Multiscale simulation of a prescribed fire event in the New Jersey Pine Barrens using ARPS-CANOPY
- Yu, Lejiang; Zhong, Shiyuan; Bian, Xindi; Heilman, Warren E.; Charney, Joseph J.. 2013. The interannual variability of the Haines Index over North America
- Luo, Lifeng; Tang, Ying; Zhong, Shiyuan; Bian, Xindi; Heilman, Warren E.. 2013. Will future climate favor more erratic wildfires in the western United States
- Kiefer, M. T.; Zhong, S.; Heilman, W. E.; Charney, J. J.; Bian, X.. 2013. Evaluation of an ARPS-based canopy flow modeling system for use in future operational smoke prediction efforts
- Zhong, Shiyuan; Li, Xiuping; Bian, Xindi; Heilman, Warren E.; Leung, L. Ruby; Gustafson, William I. Jr.. 2012. Evaluation of regional climate simulations over the Great Lakes region driven by three global data sets
- Lu, Wei; Charney, Joseph J. (Jay); Zhong, Sharon; Bian, Xindi; Liu, Shuhua. 2011. A North American regional reanalysis climatology of the Haines Index
- Heilman, Warren E.; Bian, Xindi. 2010. Climatic variability of a fire-weather index based on turbulent kinetic energy and the Haines Index
- Li, X.; Zhong, S.; Bian, X.; Heilman, W.E.. 2010. Climate and climate variability of the wind power resources in the Great Lakes region of the United States
- Charney, Joseph J.; Bian, Xindi; Potter, Brian E.; Heilman, Warren E.. 2003. Mesoscale Simulations During the Double Trouble State Park Wildfire in East-Central New Jersey on June 2, 2002
- Charney, Joseph J.; Bian, Xindi; Potter, Brian E.; Heilman, Warren E.. 2003. Low Level Impacts on Fire Evolution in the Mack Lake and Other Severe Wildfires
- Fast, Jerome D.; Zaveri, Rahul A.; Bian, Xindi; Chapman, Elaine G.; Easter, Richard C.. 2002. Effect of regional-scale transport on oxidants in the vicinity of Philadelphia during the 1999 NE-OPS field campaign
- Charney, Joseph J.; Bian, Xindi; Potter, Brian E.; Heilman, Warren E.. 2003. The role of a stratospheric intrusion in the evolution of the Double Trouble State Park wildfire .
- Charney, Joseph J.; Bian, Xindi; Potter, Brian E.; Heilman, Warren E.. 2003. Low level jet impacts on fire evolutions in the Mack Lake and other severe wildfires.
- Heilman, Warren E.; Bian, Xindi; Charney, Joseph J.; Potter, Brian E.. 2003. Combining the Haines Index and turbulent kinetic energy for fire-weather predictions.
- Heilman, Warren E.; Bian, Xindi; Charney, Joseph J.; Potter, Brian E.. 2003. National Fire Plan--Eastern Area Modeling Consortium: Research, product development, and partnerships.
Research Highlights
Understanding Wind Gusts During Fire can Help Fire and Smoke Managers
Year: 2018
Wind fields in the vicinity of wildland fires can be highly variable or turbulent, exhibiting significant gusts that can lead to erratic fire behavior and enhanced mixing of smoke into the atmosphere. Northern Research Station scientists are examining the properties of turbulent circulations in for...
El Niño and El Niño Modoki impacts on extreme precipitation in the U.S.
Year: 2017
Many areas of the U.S. are vulnerable to socioeconomic disruptions caused by extreme precipitation and resulting floods, and there has been an increasing trend in both the frequency and particularly the intensity of extreme precipitation. Forest Service research is helping to identify the different ...
The Influence of Forest Gaps on Fire-Atmosphere Interactions
Year: 2016
Model simulations have been used to examine how gaps in forest stands can affect the response of the atmosphere to low-intensity wildland fires occurring in those stands. The study provides insight into potential smoke dispersion and fire behavior during low-intensity prescribed fires in forested en...
Fireflux Experiments Improve Safety of Prescribed Burns in the New Jersey Pine Barrens
Year: 2011
Predicting the effects of smoke from low-intensity prescribed fires on local air-quality is being made easier by new tools developed by Forest Service scientists. These tools are now being validated through data collected from fuels, meteorological, and air quality monitoring networks set up near an...