Ocean-atmosphere interaction 

Large-scale ocean dynamics

ENSO dynamics

Ocean and Climate Extremes

2013 - Ph.D. (Meteorology), Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology (Former Nanjing Institute of Meteorology), Nanjing, China
2010 - M.S. (Meteorology), Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology, Nanjing, China
2007 - B.S. (Atmospheric Science), Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology, Nanjing, China 

Jul. 2013 – Nov. 2016,   Assistant Professor, State Key Laboratory of Tropical Oceanography, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China

Mar. 2015 – Aug. 2015, Postdoctoral Fellow, Earth System Science Programme, Faculty of Science, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong

Dec. 2016 – Nov. 2021,  Associate Professor, State Key Laboratory of Tropical Oceanography, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China

Jun. 2017 – Sep. 2017,   Postdoctoral Fellow, Earth System Science Programme, Faculty of Science, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong

Dec. 2021 – Present,      Professor, State Key Laboratory of Tropical Oceanography, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China

* Asterisk denotes corresponding author

51. Liu, Y.^#, K. Xu*, W. Wang*, Q. Xie, and Z. He, 2024: Asymmetric Impacts of ENSO on Boreal Winter Southern Subtropical Cell in the Indian Ocean. Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans, 129, e2023JC020692, doi: 10.1029/2023JC020692.

50. Jin, Z.^#, K. Xu*, F. Ge*, W. Wang, and Z. Lin, 2024: Boost to early spring compound heatwaves over South Asia from anomalous Tibetan Plateau atmospheric heat source. Atmospheric Research, 305, 107449, doi: 10.1016/j.atmosres.2024.107449.

49. Liu, K.^#, K. Xu*, T. Han, C. Zhu, N. Li, A. Guo, and X. Huang, 2024: Evaluation and projection of marine heatwaves in the South China Sea: Insights from CMIP6 multi-model ensemble. Acta Oceanologica Sinica, 43(7), doi: 10.1007/s13131-023-2279-2.

48. Cao, D., C.-Y. Tam*, and K. Xu, 2024a: Impacts of El Niño diversity on East Asian summertime precipitation extremes. Climate Dynamics, 62(5), 4171–4187, doi: 10.1007/s00382-024-07125-1.

47. Cao, D., C.-Y. Tam*, and K. Xu, 2024b: Simulating springtime extreme rainfall over Southern East Asia : unveiling the importance of synoptic-scale activities. Climate Dynamics, 62(9), 9073-9096, doi: 10.1007/s00382-024-07379-9.

46. Xin, H., W. Wang*, Q. Xie, W. Han, K. Huang, K. Xu, K. Arulananthan, and K. Tennakoon, 2024: Dynamics of the summer counter-wind current along south Sri Lanka coast 1: the dominant role of intra-seasonal variability. Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans, 129, e2023JC020618, doi: 10.1029/2023JC020618.

45. Xin, H., W. Wang*, Q. Xie, W. Han, K. Huang, K. Xu, K. Arulananthan, and K. Tennakoon, 2024: Dynamics​ of the summer counter-wind current along south Sri Lanka coast 2: relative contributions of local and remote forcing on intra-seasonal timescale. Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans, 129, e2023JC020619, doi: 10.1029/2023JC020619.

44. Jiang, J., K. Xu, Y. Liu*, W. Wang, and G. Wu, 2024: Sea surface temperature anomaly of Southwest Pacific dipole in boreal winter–spring: a mechanism for the Indian Ocean Dipole. Climate Dynamics, 62, 1909–1923, doi: 10.1007/s00382-023-07002-3. 

43. Zheng, Y., C.-Y. Tam*, K. Xu, and M. Collins, 2024: Origins of Underestimated Indian Ocean Dipole Skewness in CMIP5/6 Models. Journal of Climate, 37, 837–853, doi: 10.1175/JCLI-D-23-0412.1.

42.  Han, T., K. Xu*, L. Wang*, B. Liu, C.-Y. Tam, K. Liu, and W. Wang, 2023: Extremely long-lived marine heatwave in South China Sea during summer 2020: Combined effects of the seasonal and intraseasonal variations. Global and Planetary Change, 230, 104261, doi: 10.1016/j.gloplacha.2023.104261.

41. Li, J., K. Xu*, W. Wang*, Z. He, and K. Huang, 2023: Biases and improvements of the boreal winter–spring equatorial undercurrent in the Indian Ocean in the CMIP5 and CMIP6 models. Frontiers in Marine Science, 10, 1168385, doi: 10.3389/fmars.2023.1168385.

40. Liu, B., C. Zhu, K. Xu, S. Ma, M. Lu, X. Han, and L. Hua, 2023: Record-breaking pre-flood rainfall over South China in 2022: role of historic warming over the Northeast Pacific and Maritime Continent. Climate Dynamics, doi:10.1007/s00382-023-06734-6.

39. Chen, Y., N. Jiang, A. Yang, K. Xu, and L. Mao, 2023: Influences of MJO-induced Tropical Cyclones on the Circulation-Convection Inconsistency for the 2021 South China Sea Summer Monsoon Onset. Advances in Atmospheric Sciences, 40(2), 262-272, doi: 10.1007/s00376-022-2103-5.

38. Wang, W., X. Zhang, K. Xu, J. Li, and H. Miao, 2023: Assessment of El Nino diversity simulations by CMIP6 and CMIP5 models. Journal of Tropical Oceanography, 42(2), 21-33. (in Chinese with English abstract)

37. Tang, J. , W. Wang, K. Xu, Z. Zhang, 2023: Interannual variability of subsurface high salinity water in eastern equatorial Indian Ocean. Journal of Tropical Oceanography, 42(1), 10-21. (in Chinese with English abstract)

36. Lu, H., Z. Chen, K. Xu, Z. Liu, J. Xu, Y. Gong, and S. Cai, 2022: Interannual variability of near-inertial energy in the South China Sea and western North Pacific. Geophysical Research Letters, e2022GL100984, doi: 10.1029/2022GL100984.

35. Zhang, X., K. Xu*, W. Wang*, and Z. He, 2022: Revisiting the different responses of the following Indian summer monsoon rainfall to the diversity of El Niño events. Frontiers in Earth Science, 10, 978509, doi: 10.3389/feart.2022.978509.

34. Cao, D., K. Xu*, Q.-L. Huang, C.-Y. Tam, S. Chen, Z. He, and W. Wang, 2022: Exceptionally prolonged extreme heat waves over South China in early summer 2020: The role of warming in the tropical Indian Ocean. Atmospheric Research, 278, 106335, doi: 10.1016/j.atmosres.2022.106335.

33. Liu, K., K. Xu*, C. Zhu, and B. Liu, 2022: Diversity of Marine Heatwaves in the South China Sea regulated by the phase of ENSO. Journal of Climate, 35, 877–893, doi: 10.1175/JCLI-D-21-0309.1.

32. Li, J., K. Xu*, W. Wang, and Q. Xie, 2022: Interannual variability of Indian Ocean equatorial undercurrent and its link to the Indian Ocean Dipole. Oceanologia et Limnologia Sinica, 53(1), 19-32. (in Chinese with English abstract)

31. Xing, H., W. Wang, D. Wang, and K. Xu, 2022: Roles of equatorial ocean currents in sustaining the Indian Ocean Dipole peak. Journal of Ocean University of China, 21(3), doi: 10.1007/s11802-022-4864-y.

30. Xing, H., S. Chen, K. Xu, and W. Wang, 2021: Interannual variability of meridional heat transport and its mechanism in the Indian Ocean during monsoon transitions. Haiyang Xuebao, 43(12), 26-37. (in Chinese with English abstract)

29. Liu Y., K. Xu*, W. Wang, Q. Xie, and Y. Wang, 2021: Difference of the shallow meridional overturning circulation in the Indian ocean between winter and summer. Oceanologia et Limnologia Sinica, 52(5), 1104-1114. (in Chinese with English abstract)

28. Zhang, T., W. Wang, Q. Xie, K. Liu, D. Wang, X, Wu, X. Zhang, K. Xu, and W. Yuan, 2021: A new presentation of the Indian Ocean shallow overturning circulation from a vertical perspective. Atmospheric and Oceanic Science Letters, 14(5), 100061, doi: 10.1016/j.aosl.2021.100061.

27. Wang, P., C.-Y. Tam, N.-C. Lau and K. Xu, 2021: Future impacts of two types of El Niño on East Asian rainfall based on CMIP5 model projections. Climate Dynamics, 56, 899–916, doi: 10.1007/s00382-020-05510-0.

26. Zhu, C., B. Liu, K. Xu, N. Jiang, and K. Liu, 2021: Diversity of the coupling wheels in the East Asian summer monsoon on interannual timescale: Challenge of summer rainfall forecast in China. Advances in Atmospheric Sciences, 38(4), 546−554, doi: 10.1007/s00376-020-0199-z.

25. Xu, K., H.-Y. Miao, B. Liu, C.-Y. Tam, and W, Wang, 2020: Aggravation of record-breaking drought over the mid-to-lower reaches of the Yangtze River in the post-monsoon season of 2019 by anomalous Indo-Pacific oceanic conditions, Geophysical Research Letters, 47(24), e2020GL090847, doi: 10.1029/2020GL090847.

24. Zheng T., T. Feng, K. Xu*, and X. Cheng, 2020: Precipitation and the associated moist static energy budget off western Australia in conjunction with Ningaloo Niño, Frontiers in Earth Science, 8, 597915, doi: 10.3389/feart.2020.597915.

23. Xu K., C.-Y. Tam, B. Liu, S. Chen, X. Yang, Z. He, Q. Xie, and W. Wang, 2020: Attenuation of Central Pacific El Niño amplitude by North Pacific sea surface temperature anomalies, J. Climate, 33, 6673–6688, doi: 10.1175/JCLI-D-19-0767.1.

22. Xu, K., B. Liu, Y. Liu, W. Wang, and Z. He, 2020: Effects of monsoon onset vortex on heat budget in the mixed layer of the Bay of Bengal. Journal of Oceanology and Limnology, 38(6), 1616-1631, doi: 10.1007/s00343-019-9061-5.

21. He, Z., W. Wang, R. Wu, I.-S. Kang, C. He, X. Li, K. Xu, S. Chen, 2020: Change in coherence of summer rainfall variability over the western Pacific around the early 2000s: ENSO influence, J. Climate, 33, 1105–1119, doi: 10.1175/JCLI-D-19-0150.1.

20. Xu, K., W. Wang, B. Liu, and C. Zhu, 2019: Weakening of the El Niño amplitude since the late 1990s and its link to decadal change in the North Pacific climate, Int. J. Climatol., 39, 4125-4138, doi: 10.1002/joc.6063.

19. Xu, K., Q.-L. Huang, C.-Y. Tam, W. Wang, S. Chen, and C. Zhu, 2019: Roles of tropical SST patterns during two types of ENSO in modulating wintertime rainfall over southern China, Climate Dyn., 52, 523-538, doi:10.1007/s00382-018-4170-y.

18. Wang, Y., Z. Jian, P. Zhao, K. Xu, H. Dang, Z. Liu, D. Xiao, and J. Chen, 2019: Precessional forced zonal triple-pole anomalies in the tropical Pacific annual cycle, J. Climate, doi: 10.1175/JCLI-D-18-0668.1.

17. Wang, P., C.-Y. Tam, and K. Xu, 2019: El Niño-East Asian monsoon teleconnection and its diversity in CMIP5 models. Climate Dynamics, 53, 6417–6435, doi: 10.1007/s00382-019-04938-3.

16. Liu, B., C. Zhu, J. Zhu, S. Ma, and K. Xu, 2019: Record-breaking northward shift of the western North Pacific Subtropical High in July 2018, J. Meteor. Soc. Japan, 97(4), 913-925, doi:10.2151/jmsj.2019-047.

15. Sang, Y.-F., V. P. Singh, and K. Xu, 2019: Evolution of IOD-ENSO relationship at multiple time scales, Theor. Appl. Climatol., 136, 1303-1309, doi: 10.1007/s00704-018-2557-7.

14. Zheng J., K. Xu*, G. Chen, K. Hu, J. Chen, L. Yang, Q. Wang, X. Wang, W. Wang, and D. Wang, 2018: Research progress on the interaction between tropical Indian Ocean circulation dynamics and monsoon, Journal of Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology (Natural Science Edition), 10(3), 275-281. (in Chinese with English abstract)

13. Zuo, Z., S. Yang, K. Xu, R. Zhang, Q. He, T. Zhao, and J. Cong, 2018: Land surface air temperature variations over Eurasia and possible causes in the past century. Int. J. Climatol., 38(4), 1925-1937, doi: 10.1002/joc.5306.

12. Xu, K., R. X. Huang, W. Wang, C. Zhu, and R. Lu, 2017: Thermocline fluctuations in the equatorial Pacific related to the two types of El Niño events, J. Climate, 30, 6611-6627, doi:10.1175/JCLI-D-16-0291.1.

11. Xu, K., C.-Y. Tam, C. Zhu, B. Liu, and W. Wang, 2017: CMIP5 projections of two types of El Niño and their related tropical precipitation in the twenty-first Century, J. Climate, 30, 849-864, doi:10.1175/JCLI-D-16-0413.1.

10. Xu, K., C. Zhu, and W. Wang, 2016: The cooperative impacts of the El Niño–Southern Oscillation and the Indian Ocean Dipole on the interannual variability of autumn rainfall in China. Int. J. Climatol., 36, 1987-1999, doi: 10.1002/joc.4475.

9. Sang, Y.-F., V. P. Singh, T. Gong, K. Xu, F. Sun, C. Liu, W. Liu, and R. Chen, 2016: Precipitation variability and response to changing climatic condition in the Yarlung Tsangpo River basin, China. J. Geophys. Res. Atmos., 121, 8820-8831, doi:10.1002/2016JD025370.

8. Liu, B., C. Zhu, Y. Yuan, and K. Xu, 2016: Two types of interannual variability of South China Sea summer monsoon onset related to the SST anomalies before and after 1993/94. J. Climate, 29, 6957-6971, doi: 10.1175/JCLI-D-16-0065.1.

7. Xu, K., J. Su, and C. Zhu, 2014: The natural oscillation of two types of ENSO events based on analyses of CMIP5 model control runs. Adv. Atmos. Sci., 31(4), 801-813, doi: 10.1007/s00376-013-3153-5.

6. Xu, K., C. Zhu, and J. He, 2013: Two types of El Niño-related Southern Oscillation and their different impacts on global land precipitation. Adv. Atmos. Sci., 30(6), 1743-1757, doi: 10.1007/s00376-013-2272-3.

5. Xu, K., C. Zhu, and J. He, 2012: Linkage between the dominant modes in Pacific subsurface ocean temperature and the two type ENSO events. Chin. Sci. Bull., 57(26), 3491-3496, doi: 10.1007/s11434-012-5173-4.

4. Xu, K., J. He, and C. Zhu, 2011: The interdecadal linkage of summer precipitation in eastern China with the surface air temperature over Lake Baikal in the past 50 years. Acta Meteorologica Sinica, 69, 570-580. (in Chinese with English abstract)

3. Xu, K., C. Zhu, and J. He, 2011: The impact of the surface air temperature warming around Lake Baikal on the trend of summer precipitation in North China over the past 50 years. Plateau Meteorology, 30(2), 309-317. (in Chinese with English abstract)

2. Xu, K., and C. Zhu, 2010: Tropical pacific decadal oscillation in subsurface ocean temperature. Atmos. Oceanic Sci. Lett., 3(2), 106-110, doi: 10.1080/16742834.2010.11446850.

1. Zhu C., K. Xu, S. Zhang, and L. Guo, 2010: Interdecadal variation of spring dust storms in China and its seasonal statistical forecast. Meteorological science and technology, 38(2), 201-204. (in Chinese with English abstract)

• Rising Star of the South China Sea Institute of Oceanology CAS, 2019

• Member of the Youth Innovation Promotion Association CAS, 2020

• Guangdong Natural Science Funds for Distinguished Young Scholar, 2023