Applications of Complex Networks in Monsoons and Tropical Cyclone Research / Prof Kevin K. W. Cheung (School of Emergency Management, Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology, Nanjing) [張麒偉 教授（南京信息科技大學）]

Abstract:
In the past two decades, nonlinear system dynamics has emerged as a novel and promising approach in climate science research, with complex network analysis becoming one of the most rapidly developing methods with a fully data-driven approach. Complex networks offer a powerful tool to uncover interactions among various geographic locations and teleconnection patterns. In particular, extreme precipitation-based complex networks have been successfully applied to the development and forecasting of monsoons and related weather systems, such as tropical cyclone rainfall and meiyu front. Often, the network metrics and communities can provide new insights to understand key physical processes behind these weather systems. Network-based prediction schemes have also been developed with new predictors unidentified in previous work. In this talk, recent advances in applications of complex network in monsoons and tropical cyclone research are first reviewed. While most past studies focused on climate timescales, illustrations will be provided on how networks can be constructed for individual weather events, especially potential contributions from coupled networks.


Biography:
Dr. Cheung received his PhD in physics (atmospheric science) from the City University of Hong Kong, and after he conducted postdoctoral research at the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School. He then joined the National Center for Disaster Reduction in Taiwan to work on hazard mitigation, followed by a teaching position in Macquarie University of Australia. Before he became a professor at NUIST during late 2023, he served in the New South Wales government’s Climate and Atmospheric Science as a principal scientist for a short period. In 2025, Dr. Cheung was awarded the Class A Innovation Project of National Major Talent Program in China.
Dr. Cheung's research focuses on high-impact weather systems, convection and precipitation, climate variability and climate change, renewable energy meteorology, using various tools such as numerical modelling, dynamical system concepts and recently also big data approach and deep learning models.