Scientists & Staff
Xindi (Randy) Bian
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 Interests
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
- American Geophysical Union
Featured Publications & Products
- Heilman, Warren E.; Bian, Xindi. 2010. Turbulent kinetic energy during wildfires in the north central and north-eastern US. International Journal of Wildland Fire. 19: 346-363.
- 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. Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society 88:1369-1382.
- Clements, Craig B.; Zhong, Shiyuan; Goodrick, Scott; Li, Ju; 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. Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society. 88(9):1369-1382.
- Heilman, Warren E.; Bian, Xindi. 2007. Combining turbulent kinetic energy and Haines Index predictions for fire-weather assessments. In: Butler, Bret W.; Cook, Wayne, comps. The fire environment--innovations, management, and policy; conference proceedings. 26-30 March 2007; Destin, FL. Proceedings RMRS-P-46CD. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. CD-ROM. p. 159-172
- 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. International Journal of Wildland Fire 16(2) 139.152
Publications & Products
- 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). Geoscientific Model Development
- 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. Journal of Applied Meteorology and Climatology
- 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. Atmosphere
- 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. Atmosphere
- 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. Theoretical and Applied Climatology
- 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. Atmosphere
- 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. In: Proceedings of the 6th Fire Behavior and Fuels Conference, April 29 - May 3, 2019, Albuquerque, New Mexico USA. Missoula, MT: International Association of Wildland Fire: 615-620.
- Heilman Warren E., ; Clements Craig B., ; Zhong, Shiyuan ; Clark, Kenneth L.; Bian, Xindi. 2019. Atmospheric turbulence. In: Manzello, S.L., ed. Encyclopedia of wildfires and wildland-urban interface (WUI) fires. Cham, Switzerland: Springer: 1-17.
- Heilman, Warren E.; Bian, Xindi ; Clark, Kenneth L.; Zhong, Shiyuan. 2019. Observations of Turbulent Heat and Momentum Fluxes during Wildland Fires in Forested Environments. Journal of Applied Meteorology and Climatology
- 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. Journal of Applied Meteorology and Climatology
- 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.. Atmosphere. 10(4): 174. 17 p.
- 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. Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres
- 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. Scientific Reports. 8(1): 3435.
- 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. Journal of Applied Meteorology and Climatology. 56(12): 3133-3150.
- Yu, Lejiang ; Heilman, Warren E.; Zhong, Shiyuan ; Bian, Xindi. 2017. Relationships of the symmetric and asymmetric components of ENSO to US extreme precipitation. Atmospheric Science Letters
- 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. International Journal of Climatology
- Yu, Lejiang; Zhong, Shiyuan; Heilman, Warren E.; Bian, Xindi. 2017. A comparison of the effects of El Niño and El Niño Modoki on subdaily extreme precipitation occurrences across the contiguous United States. Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres
- 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. Climate Research
- 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. Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics. 16(13): 8499-8509.
- 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. Environmental Research Letters. 11(4): 044003.
- 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. Atmospheric Science Letters. doi: 10.1002/asl.581.
- 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. Fire Management Today. 74(3): 22-27.
- 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. Journal of Applied Meteorology and Climatology. 54(1): 42-57.
- 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. Annals of the Association of American Geographers. 105(1): 1-21.
- 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. Journal of Climate. 28(3): 1166-1183.
- 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. Journal of Applied Meteorology and Climatology. 53: 793-812.
- 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. International Journal of Climatology. 34(13): 3499-3514.
- 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. Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres. 118(12): 6175-6188.
- Luo, Lifeng; Tang, Ying; Zhong, Shiyuan; Bian, Xindi; Heilman, Warren E. 2013. Will future climate favor more erratic wildfires in the western United States?. Journal of Applied Meteorology and Climatology. 52(11): 2410-2417.
- 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. In: Piantadosi, J.; Anderssen, R.S.; Boland, J., eds. MODSIM2013, 20th International Congress on modelling and simulation; 2013 December 1-6; Adelaide, Australia. [Place of publication unknown]: Modelling and Simulation Society of Australia and New Zealand: 270-276.
- Yu, Lejiang; Zhong, Shiyuan; Bian, Xindi; Heilman, Warren E.; Charney, Joseph J. 2013. The interannual variability of the Haines Index over North America. Journal of Applied Meteorology and Climatology. 52(11): 2396-2409.
- 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. Journal of Great Lakes Research. 38: 212-225.
- 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. In: Ninth symposium on fire and forest meteorology; 17-20 October 2011; Palm Springs, CA. Boston, MA: American Meteorological Society. 5 p.
- Lu, Wei; Charney, Joseph J. (Jay); Zhong, Sharon; Bian, Xindi; Liu, Shuhua. 2011. A North American regional reanalysis climatology of the Haines Index. International Journal of Wildland Fire. 20: 91-103.
- Heilman, Warren E.; Bian, Xindi. 2010. Climatic variability of a fire-weather index based on turbulent kinetic energy and the Haines Index. In: Proceedings of the 3rd fire behavior and fuels conference; 2010 October 25-29; Spokane, WA. Birmingham AL: International Association of Wildland Fire. 8 p. [On CD-ROM].
- 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. Journal of Geophysical Research. 115(D18107): 1-15.
- 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. Weather and Forecasting. 20: 63-81.
- 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. In: 2d International Wildland Fire Ecology and Fire Management Congress: 5th Symposium on Fire and Forest Meteorology; 2033 November 16-20; Orlando, FL. Boston, MA: American Meteorological Society: 1.5.
- 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.. In: 5th Symposium on fire and forest meteorology joint with 2nd International wildland fire ecology and fire management congress; 2003 November 16-20; Orlando, FL. Boston, MA: American Meteorological Society: n.p.
- 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 .. In: 5th Symposium on fire and forest meteorology joint with 2nd International wildland fire ecology and fire management congress; 2003 November 16-20; Orlando, FL. Boston, MA: American Meteorlogical Society: n.p. Available only on CD.
- 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. In: Proceedings of the 10th Conference on Mesoscale Processes; 2003 June 23-27; Portland, OR. American Meteorological Society: n.p.
- Heilman, Warren E.; Bian, Xindi; Charney, Joseph J.; Potter, Brian E. 2003. Combining the Haines Index and turbulent kinetic energy for fire-weather predictions.. In: 5th Symposium on fire and forest meteorology joint with 2nd International wildland fire ecology and fire management congress; 2003 November 16-20; Orlando, FL. Boston, MA: American Meteorlogical Society: n.p. Available only on CD.
- Heilman, Warren E.; Bian, Xindi; Charney, Joseph J.; Potter, Brian E. 2003. National Fire Plan--Eastern Area Modeling Consortium: Research, product development, and partnerships.. In: 5th Symposium on fire and forest meteorology joint with 2nd International wildland fire ecology and fire management congress; 2003 November 16-20; Orlando, FL. Boston, MA: American Meteorlogical Society: n.p. Available only on CD.
- 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. Journal of Geophysical Research 107(D16): ACH 13-1--ACH 13-22
National 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 forested wildland fire environments to ultimately improve predictive tools for fire and smoke management.
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 extreme precipitation occurrence patterns resulting from episodes of eastern Pacific Ocean warming (El Niño) and central Pacific Ocean warming (El Niño Modoki).
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 environments.
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 and within prescribed fires in the New Jersey Pine Barrens. The tools and observational data from this project help fire and forest managers in planning for prescribed burns to minimize adverse air-quality impacts in the vicinity of the burns.