Ru Chen

PhD advisor in Science, Technology and Dynamics of Marine Environment, Physical Oceanography,

Master student advisor in Marine Science and Marine Technology

Physical oceanography, multi-scale oceanic processes, eddies and ocean circulation

2007-2013 Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) - Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) Joint Program, Ph.D. in Physical Oceanography

2006-2007 Ocean University of China, Master education in Physical Oceanography

2002-2006 Ocean University of China, B. S. in Marine Science

Professor, School of marine science and technology, Tianjin University, 2019-present;

Assistant researcher, University of California, Los Angeles, 2017-2019;

Postdoctoral Scholar, University of California, San Diego - Scripps Institution of Oceanography, 2013-2017.

For Undergraduates: Physical Oceanography

For Graduates: Ocean Dynamics

[1] Oceanic mixing at the Kuroshio Extension: Characteristics, mechanisms and prediction, NSFC, PI;

[2] Oceanic eddies and general circulation, PI;

[3] Mesoscale and submesoscale processes in the ocean: Transport, Mechanism and Simulation, Independent Innovation Fund Project in Tianjin University, PI;

[4] First-class University Construction Fund in China, PI.

[29] Tianmu Zheng, Ru Chen*, Xin Su, Julian Mak, Gang Huang, Bingzheng Yan, 2026, Climate-Adaptive and Cascade-Constrained Machine Learning Prediction for Sea Surface Height under Greenhouse Warming, Journal of Advances in Modeling Earth Systems, https://doi.org/10.1029/2025MS005717.

[28] Tian Jing, Ru Chen*, Andrew Stewart, Fanbin Cao, Chunhua Qiu, 2026, Full-depth scale-dependent eddy diffusivities in the Kuroshio Extension, Journal of Physical Oceanography, DOI: 10.1175/JPO-D-25-0109.1.

[27] Xin Su, Ru Chen*, Qianqian Geng, Zhengguang Zhang, Andrew Stewart, Guihua Wang, 2026, Satellite altimetry reveals spatially nonlocal kinetic energy cascade in the global ocean, Science Advances, DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adz0593

[26] Chengyan Liu, Zhaomin Wang, Dake Chen, and 62 co-authors [including Ru Chen], 2026, The coupled Southern Ocean–Sea ice–Ice shelf Model (SOSIM v1.0): configuration and evaluation. Geoscientific Model Development, in press.

[25] Bingzheng Yan, Junyi Wang, Ru Chen*, Shan Huang, Tianmu Zheng, Kun Gao, 2026, A scaling-constrained symbolic intelligence approach for parameterizing submesoscale vertical heat transport, Ocean Modelling, DOI: 10.1016/j.ocemod.2026.102717.

[24] Jun Yang, Dongxiao Wang, Chunhua Qiu*, Xiaoming Zhai, Ru Chen, Jiawei Qiao, 2025: The importance of strain in the cross-scale kinetic energy conversion during a filamentation process from an anisotropic perspective, Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans, DOI: 10.1029/2024jc022186.

[23] Qianqian Geng, Xin Su, Ru Chen*, Gang Huang, Wanli Shi, 2025: Kinetic energy cascade in the frequency domain from satellite altimetry. Remote Sensing, DOI: 10.3390/rs17050877.

[22] Yongqing Cai*, Dake Chen, Ru Chen, Ruibo Lei, Lichuan Wu, 2024: Factors modulating the variability of eddy kinetic energy in the Southern Ocean from idealized simulations. Ocean-Land-Atmos Res. DOI:10.34133/olar.0042.

[21] Andrew Stewart*, Yan Wang, Aviv Solodoch, Ru Chen, and James C. McWilliams, 2024. Formation of eastern boundary undercurrents via mesoscale eddy rectification. Journal of Physical Oceanography, DOI: 10.1175/jpo-d-23-0196.1.

[20] Yang Chen, Ru Chen*, Guihua Wang, Xiaozhou Ruan, Wei Li, Qianqian Geng, Junyi Wang, 2024: Submesoscale vertical heat transport at the Kuroshio Extension: Characteristics and mechanisms. Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans, DOI: 10.1029/2023jc020612.

[19] Ru Chen, Yi Yang, Qianqian Geng*, Andrew Stewart, Glenn Flierl, and Junyi Wang, 2024: Diagnostic framework linking eddy flux ellipse with eddy-mean energy exchange. Ocean-Land-Atmos Res.,DOI: 10.34133/olar.0072 .

[18] Fan, Y., W. Liu, P. Zhang, R. Chen, and L. Li*, 2023: North Atlantic Oscillation contributes to the subpolar North Atlantic cooling in the past century; Climate Dynamics, DOI: 10.1007/s00382-023-06847-y.

[17] Liu, M., R. Chen*, G. R. Flierl, W. Guan, H. Zhang, and Q. Geng, 2023: Scale-dependent eddy diffusivities at the Kuroshio Extension: A particle-based estimate and comparison to theory; Journal of Physical Oceanography, https://doi.org/10.1175/JPO-D-22-0223.1.

[16] Zhang, G., R. Chen*, X. Li, L. Li, H. Wei, and W. Guan, 2023: Temporal variability of global surface eddy diffusivities: Estimates and machine learning prediction; Journal of Physical Oceanography, https://doi.org/10.1175/JPO-D-22-0251.1.

[15] Damien, P., D. Bianchi, J. C. McWilliams, F. Kessouri, C. Deutsch, R. Chen, and L. Renault, 2022: Enhanced biogeochemical cycling along the US West Coast shelf. Global Biogeochemical Cycles, p.e2022GB007572.

[14] Guan, W., R. Chen*, H. Zhang, Y. Yang, and H. Wei, 2022: Seasonal surface eddy mixing in the Kuroshio Extension: Estimation and machine learning prediction; Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans, 127, e2021JC017967.

[13] Ivanova, D., J. McClean, J. Sprintall, and R. Chen, 2021: The oceanic barrier layer in the Eastern Indian Ocean as a predictor for rainfall over Indonesia and Australia; Geophysical Research Letters;48 (22): e2021GL094519.

[12] Chen, R.*, J. C. McWilliams, and L. Renault, 2021: Momentum governors of California Undercurrent transport; Journal of Physical Oceanography; Vol. 51, No. 9, pp. 2915-2932.

[11] Renault, L., J. C. McWilliams, F. Kessouri, A. Jousse, H. Frenzel, R. Chen, and C. Deutsch, 2021: Evaluation of high-resolution atmospheric and oceanic simulations of the California Current System; Progress in Oceanography,195, p.102564.

[10] Chen, R.* and S. Waterman, 2017: Mixing nonlocality and mixing anisotropy in an idealized western boundary current jet; Journal of Physical Oceanography; Vol. 47, No. 12, pp. 3015-3036.

[9] Chen, R.*, S. Gille, and J. McClean, 2017: Isopycnal eddy mixing across the Kuroshio Extension: Stable versus unstable states in an eddying model; Journal of Geophysical Research-Oceans; Vol. 122, No.5, pp.4329-4345.

[8] Chen, R.*, A. Thompson, and G. Flierl, 2016: Time-dependent eddy-mean energy diagrams and their application to the ocean; Journal of Physical Oceanography; Vol. 46, No. 9, pp. 2827-2850.

[7] Chen, R.*, S. Gille, J. McClean, G. Flierl, and A. Griesel, 2015: A multiwavenumber theory for eddy diffusivities and its application to the southeast Pacific (DIMES) region; Journal of Physical Oceanography; Vol. 45, No. 7, pp. 1877-1896.

[6] Chen, R.*, and G. Flierl, 2015: The contribution of striations to the eddy energy budget and mixing: Diagnostic frameworks and results in a quasi-geostrophic barotropic system with mean flow; Journal of Physical Oceanography; Vol. 45, No. 8, pp. 2095-2113.

[5] Chen, R.*, G. Flierl, and C. Wunsch, 2015: Quantifying and interpreting striations in a subtropical gyre: A spectral perspective; Journal of Physical Oceanography; Vol. 45, No. 2, pp. 387-406.

[4] Chen, R.*, G. Flierl, and C. Wunsch, 2014: A description of local and nonlocal eddy-mean flow interaction in a global eddy-permitting state estimate; Journal of Physical Oceanography; Vol. 44, No. 9, pp. 2336-2352.

[3] Chen, R.*, J. McClean, S. Gille, and A. Griesel, 2014: Isopycnal eddy diffusivities and critical layers in the Kuroshio Extension from an eddying ocean model; Journal of Physical Oceanography; Vol. 44, No. 8, pp. 2191-2211.

[2] Jiang, H., J. Farrar, R. Beardsley, R. Chen, and C. Chen, 2009: Zonal surface wind jets across the Red Sea due to mountain gap forcing along both sides of the Red Sea. Geophysical Research Letters, 36, L19605.

[1] Chen, R., Q. Liu, and H. Hu, 2009: Analysis of formation mechanism about SST anomaly persistence during late winter in the North Pacific. Oceanologia Et Limnologia Sinica; Vol. 40, No. 4, pp. 407-413

[1] Committee Member for the Marine Technology and Instrument Committee in the Chinese Society of Oceanography (CSO);

[2] Young Committee Member for the Marine Technology and Instrument Committee in the Chinese Society of Oceanography (CSO);

[3] Reviewer for the “Distinguished Research Award at Colleges and Universities”;

[4] Reviewer for NSFC proposals;

[5] Reviewer for NSF proposals;

[6] Executive Committee Member for the Chinese-American Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (COAA);

[7] Reviewer for academic journals (e.g. Science Advances, Journal of Physical Oceanography, Journal of Climate, Journal of Geophysical Research, Journal of the Atmospheric Sciences, Ocean Modeling, Deep Sea Research, Fluids, Frontiers in Marine Science, Remote Sensing, Applied Sciences, Acta Oceanologica Sinica, etc).