Lei Liu
About Research Publications Docs and Datasets CV
Lei Liu

CV

Employment

Postdoctoral Research Scientist
Center for Climate Systems Research, Climate School, Columbia University, New York, USA
February 2025 – Present

Research Assistant
Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
September 2024 – February 2025

Education

Ph.D. in Atmospheric Sciences (2024)
McGill University
Advisors: Dr. Yi Huang and Dr. John Gyakum

M.S. in Atmospheric Sciences (2018)
Tsinghua University
Advisor: Dr. Feng Tian

B.E. in Mechanical Engineering (2016)
Tsinghua University

B.E. in The Management of Business Administration (2016)
Tsinghua University (Second Major)

Research interests

Atmosphere radiative transfer, remote sensing of the atmosphere, and climate change detection and attribution.

Field experiences

Participated in multiple international field campaigns with the National Research Council Canada (NRC), Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC), and the European Space Agency (ESA).

Core responsibilities:

  • Maintenance and operation of Atmospheric Emitted Radiance Interferometer (AERI)

    • Assembling and dissembling AERIs
    • Routine maintenance (e.g., laser and mirror replacements)
    • Calibration (e.g., 3rd blackbody test and field-of-view test)
    • Reconfiguration (e.g., reconfigure AERI with extended-AERI part)
    • Field operation and monitoring

  • Launching weather ballons to collect vertical profiles of temperature and water vapor

  • Organizing and coordinating observational cross-team activities during field campaigns

Campaigns:

  • January 2025 – February 2025 | WHAFFFERS Campaign, Montreal and Ottawa, Canada

    • WHAFFFERS (W-band, HiSRAMS, AERI, FIRR2, FINESSE and FIRMOS Experiment on Remote Sensing) Campaign

  • October 2024 – February 2025 | ECALOT Campaign, Montreal and Ottawa, Canada

    • ECALOT (EarthCARE Commissioning Cal/Val Campaign in Ottawa) Campaign

  • 2023 – 2024 | GHG-Montreal Project, Montreal, Canada

    • GHG-Montreal (Greenhouse gas Montreal) Project

  • October 2021 – December 2023 | Hyperspectral infrared and microwave radiometer sounding campaign, Ottawa, Canada

Research experiences

February 2025 – Present | Columbia University, Postdoctoral Research Scientist

Advisor: Dr. Zhonghai Jin

NASA GISS ModelE Radiative Kernels and Applications

  • Develop temperature and water vapor kernels under clear-sky and all-sky conditions using NASA GISS ModelE.

  • Benchmark ModelE kernels against existing datasets and applied them with cloud histogram kernels to analyze CERES-observed global and Arctic radiative interannual variability.

September 2025 – February 2025 | McGill University, Research Assistant

Advisor: Dr. Yi Huang

AERI Operation and Radiative Closure Analysis – WHAFFFERS & ECALOT Campaigns

  • Operated the Atmospheric Emitted Radiance Interferometer (AERI) at McGill University to support the ECALOT and WHAFFFERS campaigns.
  • Contributed to validating EarthCARE-retrieved cloud microphysical profiles and assessing cirrus cloud signals across the mid- and far-infrared spectral ranges.

September 2018 – August 2024 | McGill University, Ph.D. Project

Advisors: Dr. Yi Huang and Dr. John Gyakum

Detecting and Understanding Climate Change Using Hyperspectral Radiative Measurements

  • “Radiative Keeling Curve” in Downwelling Longwave Radiance (DLR) at Southern Great Plains (SGP): homogenized a long-term DLR record at the SGP site using observations from the Atmospheric Emitted Radiance Interferometer (AERI); detected and attributed long-term DLR trends at the SGP site; derived surface longwave forcing and feedback at the SGP site; developed an AERI forward model based on the Line-by-Line Radiative Transfer Model (LBLRTM)

  • Temperature and Water Vapor Retrievals from Joint Hyperspectral Airborne Microwave and Ground-based Infrared Radiometer Measurements: developed an AERI retrieval model using the optimal estimation method; conducted radiative closure tests for both AERI and the High Spectral Resolution Airborne Microwave Sounder (HiSRAMS); compared the radiative accuracy between AERI and HiSRAMS; performed temperature and water vapor retrievals based on AERI and HiSRAMS, including a retrieval performance comparison and joint retrievals

March 2016 – July 2018 | Tsinghua University, M.S. Project

Advisor: Dr. Feng Tian

Efficient Metal Emissions in the Upper Atmospheres of Close-in Exoplanets

  • Conducted a quantitative study on the cooling mechanisms of particle radiation (C, N, O, and their ions) in the upper atmospheres of exoplanets using a population balance method and a Monte Carlo model for planetary atmospheric escape.

June 2014 – September 2015 | Tsinghua University, Student Research Training Program

Advisor: Dr. Feng Tian

Theoretical and Observational Studies of Habitable Exoplanets

  • Utilized the latest Kepler planet data to test the existing models of exoplanet evolution and to analyze the accuracy of mass-loss rate models.

July 2015 – August 2015 | University of Leicester, Summer Oversea Study Program

Advisor: Dr. Martin Barstow

Stellar UV/EUV Radiation and its Influence on the Evolution of Exoplanets

  • Tested the impact of changes in exoplanets’ mass loss rate and stellar UV/EUV radiation over time on atmospheric escape models to establish a more accurate model of planetary evolution.

Teaching experiences

**Teaching Assistant for Atmospheric Radiation (ATOC 525) | McGill University | Fall 2020 and Fall 2021**
  • Completed each assignment and marked students’ work using a quantitative rubric
  • Delivered brief lab lectures; guided and supervised hands-on laboratory sessions
  • Held weekly office hours to support student learning and answer questions

Mentoring

  • Benjamin Riot-Bretêcher (Ph.D. Candidate at McGill University): Trained in AERI fieldwork; supported a project on long-term climate change detection and attribution using AERI data at an Arctic site
  • Beatriz Ghirardi (Master student at McGill University): Advised on CO2 vertical profile retrievals using hyperspectral infrared radiative measurements
  • Ziqian Han (Undergraduate student at McGill University): Supervised a climatological analysis of downwelling longwave radiance

PUBLICATIONS

In Preparation

Liu, L., Huang, Y., Qu, Z., Riot-Bretêcher, B., Cole, J., Barker, H., et al. (2025). Validation of EarthCARE Cloud Microphysical Profiles by Spectral Radiance Closure and Broadband Flux Analysis. In preparation

Liu, L. & Jin, Z. (2025). Local Radiative Feedbacks Dominate Interannual Variability of Arctic Outgoing Longwave Radiation. In preparation

Liu, L., Bliankinshtein, N., Huang, Y., Gyakum, R.J., Gabriel, P., Nguyen, C., et al. (2025). An Airborne All-Sky Radiative Closure Test of Microwave Radiometers. In preparation

Peer-Reviewed Journal Papers

Riot-Bretêcher, B., Huang, Y., Liu, L., & Gero, P.J. (2025). Strengthening atmospheric greenhouse effect at the Arctic North Slope of Alaska site evidenced by long-term records of the downwelling longwave radiance spectrum. Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres, 130, e2025JD043680. https://doi.org/10.1029/2025JD043680

Liu, L., Huang, Y., & Gyakum, R.J. (2025). Clouds reduce downwelling longwave radiation over land in a warming climate. Nature, 637, 868-874. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-024-08323-x

Liu, L., Bliankinshtein, N., Huang, Y., Gyakum, R.J., Gabriel, P., Xu, S., & Wolde, M. (2025). Comparative experimental validation of microwave hyperspectral atmospheric soundings in clear-sky conditions. Atmospheric Measurement Technique, 18, 471–485. https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-18-471-2025

Liu, L., Bliankinshtein, N., Huang, Y., Gyakum, R.J., Gabriel, P., Xu, S., & Wolde, M. (2024). Radiative closure tests of collocated hyperspectral microwave and infrared radiometers. Atmospheric Measurement Techniques, 17, 2219–2233. https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-2023-215

Liu, L., Huang, Y., Gyakum, R.J., Turner, D.D., & Gero, P.J. (2022). Trends in downwelling longwave radiance over the Southern Great Plains. Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres, 127, e2021JD035949. https://doi.org/10.1029/2021JD035949

Liu L., & Tian, F. (2018). Efficient metal emissions in the upper atmospheres of close-in exoplanets. Earth Planetary Physics, 2:22–39. https://doi.org/10.26464/epp2018003

Bin, J., Tian, F., & Liu, L. (2018). New inner boundaries of the habitable zones around M dwarfs. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 492, 121-129. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.epsl.2018.04.003

Peer-Reviewed Conference Papers

Bliankinshtein, N., Liu, L., Gabriel, P., Xu, S., Bala, K., Wolde, M., et al. (2023). Airborne validation of HiSRAMS atmospheric soundings. 2023 IEEE International Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium (IGARSS), Pasadena, USA. https://doi.org/10.1109/IGARSS52108.2023.10281883

Bliankinshtein, N., Gabriel, P., Auriacombe, O., Huang, Y., Wolde, M., Xu, S., Liu, L., & Angevain, J.-C. (2023). Radiometric calibration of a hyperspectral microwave sounder. 2023 48th International Conference on Infrared, Millimeter, and Terahertz Waves (IRMMW-THz), Montreal, Canada. https://doi.org/10.1109/IRMMW-THz57677.2023.10299101

Xu, S., Bliankinshtein, N., Gabriel, P., Liu, L., Wolde, M., Huang, Y., et al. (2023). Low-level processing of passive hyperspectral microwave measurements from HiSRAMS. 2023 IEEE International Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium (IGARSS), Pasadena, USA. https://doi.org/10.1109/IGARSS52108.2023.10283050

Conferences/Workshops attended/Talks given

Liu, L., Bliankinshtein, N., Huang, Y., Gyakum, R.J., Gabriel, P., Xu, S., & Wolde, M. (October 2025). Temperature and water vapor retrievals using microwave and infrared hyperspectrometers, NRAO Astro Water Vapor Seminar, online talk. [Invited Seminar]

Liu, L., Riot-Bretêcher, B., Huang, Y., Qu, Z., Cole, J., Barker, H., Kacimi, M., Mariani, Z., Mason, S., Treserras, B.P. (March 2025). Validation of EarthCARE cloud retrievals using surface spectral infrared radiances from ECALOT campaign, 2nd ESA-JAXA EarthCARE In Orbit Validation Workshop, Frascati, Italy. [Oral, online participation]

Liu, L., Huang, Y., & Gyakum, R.J. (December 2024). Cloud Changes Mitigate the Increase in Downwelling Longwave Radiation over Land as Revealed by Long-Term Spectrally Resolved Radiance Observations, AGU Fall Meeting, Washington, D.C., U.S.A.. [Invited Oral]

Liu, L., Bliankinshtein, N., Huang, Y., Gyakum, R.J., Gabriel, P., Xu, S., & Wolde, M. (April 2024). Clear-sky temperature and water vapor retrievals utilizing collocated microwave and infrared hyperspectrometers, EGU General Assembly 2024, Vienna, Austria. [Oral]

Huang, Y., Liu, L., & Gyakum, R.J. (April 2024). Climate change signals of radiative forcing and feedback unveiled from long-term trends of spectrally resolved surface longwave radiation, EGU General Assembly 2024, Vienna, Austria. [Oral]

Liu, L., Huang, Y., & Gyakum, R.J. (March 2024). The climate trends in observed long-term downwelling longwave spectrally-resolved radiance at the Southern Great Plains and its comparison with global climate models. US CLIVAR Workshop on Confronting Earth System Model Trends with Observations: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly, Boulder, U.S.A.. [Poster]

Liu, L., Huang, Y., & Gyakum, R.J. (December 2023). Observational determination of surface cloud longwave feedback from long-term spectrally-resolved downwelling longwave radiance record. AGU Fall Meeting, San Francisco, U.S.A.. [Poster]

Liu, L., Huang Y., Gyakum, R.J., Bliankinshtein, N., Gabriel, P., Xu, S., & Wolde, M. (May 2023). Temperature and water vapor retrievals from joint airborne hyperspectral microwave radiometer and ground-based hyperspectral infrared radiometer measurements. The Canadian Meteorological and Oceanographic Society (CMOS) 57th Congress, St. John’s, Canada. [Oral]

Liu, L., Huang, Y., Gyakum, R.J., Turner, D.D., & Gero, P.J. (April 2023). Embedded climate change signals in long-term trends of spectrally resolved surface longwave radiation. Climate Dynamics Group Seminar, online talk. [Invited Seminar]

Liu, L., Huang, Y., Gyakum, R.J., Turner, D.D., & Gero, P.J. (August 2022). Can climate change be detected by long-term downwelling longwave radiance observations at Southern Great Plains? Princeton Center for Theoretical Science: From Spectroscopy to Climate, Princeton, U.S.A.. [Oral]

Liu, L., Huang, Y., Gyakum, R.J., Turner, D.D., & Gero, P.J. (August 2022). The climate trends in surface longwave radiation diagnosed from long-term site measurements of AERI. AMS Collective Madison Meeting, Madison, U.S.A.. [Oral]

Liu, L., Huang, Y., Gyakum, R.J. (July 2022). The role of sub-visual cirrus in achieving radiance closure in atmospheric emitted radiance measurements. 10th International Conference on Agro-Geoinformatics and the 43rd Canadian Symposium on Remote Sensing, Quebec City, Canada. [Oral]

Liu, L., Huang, Y., Gyakum, R.J., Turner, D.D., & Gero, P.J. (December 2020). Trends in downwelling spectral infrared radiances at SGP. AGU Fall Meeting, online. [Poster]

Liu, L., Gyakum, R.J., & Huang, Y. (July 2019). Interannual variability in downwelling spectral infrared radiances, 27th IUGG General Assembly, Montreal, Canada. [Poster]

Liu, L. & Tian, F. (August 2017). Emission rates of atoms and ions in the upper atmosphere, Chinese Astronomical Society Annual Meeting, Urumqi, China. [Oral]

Awards and fellowships

2021 – 2022 | Dr. and Mrs. Milton Leong Fellowship in Science at McGill University

2022 – 2024 | GREAT Award at McGill University

2013 – 2014 | Tsinghua Academic Excellence Scholarship

2013 – 2014 | Tsinghua Friends-Urumqi Economic Development Zone Scholarship