Dr. Xuanji Wang | Climate | Best Researcher Award

Research Scientist | University of Wisconsin-Madison | United States

Dr. Xuanji Wang Assistant Scientist, Cooperative Institute for Meteorological Satellite Studies (CIMSS), Space Science and Engineering Center (SSEC), University of Wisconsin–Madison, USA Dr. Xuanji Wang is a leading atmospheric and climate scientist whose career spans over three decades in satellite climatology, cryospheric science, and remote sensing of the Earth’s atmosphere and surface. Currently serving as an Assistant Scientist at the University of Wisconsin–Madison’s CIMSS/SSEC, Dr. Wang has made pivotal contributions to the development of NOAA Climate Data Records (CDRs) and advanced satellite retrieval algorithms that have significantly enhanced the understanding of Arctic and global climate dynamics. His expertise encompasses radiation transfer modeling, remote sensing applications for natural disaster assessment, and the assimilation of satellite data into weather and climate prediction models. Dr. Wang’s research has been instrumental in developing and operationalizing the One-dimensional Thermodynamic Ice Model (OTIM) for estimating ice thickness and age, now integrated into NOAA’s polar and geostationary satellite systems. He has led numerous federally funded projects exceeding several million USD from agencies such as NOAA, NASA, and NSF, contributing to major initiatives like MetOp-SG Cryosphere Properties, GOES-R Ice Products, and Polar Pathfinder CDRs. His collaborations with modeling and AI scientists have fostered advancements in numerical weather prediction and climate forecast accuracy. A prolific scholar, Dr. Wang has authored or co-authored over 60 peer-reviewed publications, including influential papers in Remote Sensing, The Cryosphere, and PNAS, which collectively have garnered substantial citations globally. His 2019 PNAS article on Arctic surface albedo reduction remains widely referenced in climate change studies. Dr. Wang’s leadership extends beyond research to mentorship and editorial service. He serves on the Editorial Board of Remote Sensing and as a member of the AGU and AMS, while also reviewing for premier scientific journals and U.S. federal agencies. His long-term contributions to satellite climatology and cryosphere monitoring continue to advance international understanding of Earth’s climate system, supporting sustainable policy and scientific collaboration worldwide.

Profiles: Scopus | ORCID | ResearchGate

Featured Publications

1. Wang, X., Key, J. R., Liu, Y., & Dworak, R. J. (2022). A new perspective on four decades of changes in Arctic sea ice from satellite observations. Remote Sensing, 14(8), 1846. https://doi.org/10.3390/rs14081846 — 28 citations

2. Liu, Y., Key, J. R., Wang, X., & Tschudi, M. (2020). Multidecadal Arctic sea ice thickness and volume derived from ice age. The Cryosphere, 14(4), 1325–1345. https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-14-1325-2020 — 28 citations

3. Zhang, R., Wang, H., Fu, Q., Rasch, P. J., & Wang, X. (2019). Unraveling driving forces explaining significant reduction in satellite-inferred Arctic surface albedo since the 1980s. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 116(47), 23400–23406. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1915258116 — 63 citations

Dr. Xuanji Wang’s pioneering research in satellite climatology and cryosphere science has profoundly advanced global understanding of Arctic climate change and its long-term environmental implications. His innovative use of satellite data for monitoring ice dynamics and albedo variations contributes directly to improving climate models, supporting evidence-based environmental policy, and guiding strategies for global sustainability and climate resilience.