Yong in his office

Yong Wei

  • Senior Research Scientist
  • Education:
    • PhD, Ocean Engineering, University of Hawaii, 2006
    • MS, Physical Oceanography, Ocean University of China, 1998
    • 
BA, Civil Engineering, Ocean University of China, 1995
  • Email:
  • Phone:
    • 206-526-6630
  • Location:
    • NOAA/PMEL, Building 3, Room 2088B

I am a senior research scientist and principal investigator with expertise in tsunami modeling and forecasting, coastal inundation modeling and hazard mitigation, geophysical data analysis, computational methods and water wave mechanics, and tsunami loads and effects on structures. I lead the UW/CICOES tsunami group. My professional activities have significantly contributed to CICOES’s research theme that focuses on tsunami observation, modeling and forecasting, which aligns with NOAA’s primary mission in tsunami research. I’ve published 60+ scientific journal papers and technical reports, with extensive skills and proficiencies in various computer models dealing with the hydrodynamics of long waves, including tsunami and storm surge. I serve the university and scientific community through the roles of committee member, panelist, and reviewer for a variety of professional organizations and scientific journals. I have been a voting member of the ASCE Tsunami Loads and Effects Subcommittee since 2011, and I possess extensive knowledge and experience in method development and mapping of probabilistic tsunami design zone for building resilience.

Research Projects

  • Tsunami inundation assessment for select at-risk diplomatic posts, 2020-, sponsored by Department of States (DOS) Bureau of Overseas Building Operations, (PI)
  • Cascadia Coastlines and People Hazards Research Hub (CoPes Hub), 2021-, sponsored by National Science Foundation (Co-PI)
  • Development of comprehensive high-resolution probabilistic tsunami design zone maps compatible with ASCE 7-16 for the State of Hawaii, 2018-2023, sponsored by State of Hawaii Office of Planning through INR inc. (PI)
  • Evaluation outer-rise earthquake hazards from the Puerto Rico Trench by calibrating inundation models with geologic evidence, 2020-2021, sponsored by USGS Earthquake Hazard Program (PI)
  • Collaborative research: Tsunami hazard to West Antarctic ice shelves, 2018-2020, sponsored by National Science Foundation (Co-PI)
  • Update UFC for tsunami coastal inundation mapping for DOD OCONUS, 2017-2018, sponsored by NAVFAC (PI)
  • Tsunami inundation modeling and site-specific modeling of debris tracking for the OSU Marine Science Institute Building, 2016-2017, sponsored by YGH Architecture (PI)
  • Probabilistic tsunami hazard maps for reference sites for benchmarking Hawaii design maps, 2016, sponsor by Hawaii Emergency Management Agency (PI)
  • Probabilistic tsunami design zone maps for the ASCE 7-16 standard, 2014-2015, sponsored by the American Society of Civil Engineers (PI)

Selected publications

Book Chapter

Wei, Y. (2024): Global tsunami hazards and risks, Chapter 13 of “Probabilistic Tsunami Hazards and Risk Analysis Towards Disaster Reduction and Resilience”, Ed. Goda, K., Risi R., Gusman, A. and Nistor, I., 1st Edition, Oct. 18, 2024. Paperback ISBN: 9780443189876. eBook ISBN: 9780443189883

Selected Journal Publications

Wei, Y., U.S. ten Brink, and B.F. Atwater (2024): Modeled flooding by tsunamis and a storm versus observed extent of coral erratics on Anegada, British Virgin Islands—Further evidence for a great Caribbean earthquake six centuries ago. J. Geophys. Res. (Solid Earth), 129(3), e2023JB028387, doi: 10.1029/2023JB028387.

Fernandez, E.G., M.J.C. Diaz, Y. Wei, and C. Moore (2024): Modeling sediment movement in the shallow-water framework: a morpho-hydrodynamic approach with numerical simulations and experimental validation, Ocean Modeling, 192, 102445, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ocemod.2024.102445.

Bernard, E., C. Meinig, V.V. Titov, and Y. Wei (2023): 50 years of PMEL tsunami research and development. Oceanography, 36(2–3), 175–185, doi: 10.5670/oceanog.2023.208.

ten Brink, U.S., J.D. Chaytor, C.H. Flores, Y. Wei, S. Detemer, L.C. Lucas, B.D. Andrews, and A. Georgiopoulou (2023): Seafloor observations eliminate a landslide as the source of the 1918 Puerto Rico tsunami. Bull. Seismol. Soc. Am., 113(1), 268–280, doi: 10.1785/0120220146.

Titov, V.V., C. Meinig, S. Stalin, Y. Wei, C. Moore, and E. Bernard (2023): Technology transfer of PMEL tsunami research protects populations and expands the New Blue Economy. Oceanography, 36(2–3), 186–195, doi: 10.5670/oceanog.2023.205.

Dziak, R. P, B.A. Black, Y. Wei, and S.G. Merle (2021), Assessing local impacts of the A.D. 1700 Cascadia earthquake and tsunami using tree ring growth histories: A case study in South Beach, Oregon, U.S.A., Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences, 21, 1971-1982, https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-21-1971-2021

Chock, G.Y.K, L. Carden, I. Robertson, Y. Wei, R. Wilson and J. Hooper (2018), Tsunami resilient building design considerations for communications of Washington, Oregon, and California, Journal of Structure Engineering, 144(8), 04018116, doi: 10.1061/(ASCE)ST.1943-541X.0002068.

Savastano, G., A. Komjathy, O. Verkhoglyadova, O. Yang, A. Mazzoni, M. Crespi, Y. Wei and A.J. Mannucci (2017), Real-time detection of tsunami ionospheric disturbances with a stand-alone GNSS receiver: a preliminary feasibility demonstration, Scientific Reports (Nature), 7, 46607, doi:10.1038/srep46607.

Atwater, B.F., ten Brink, U.S., Cescon, A.L., Feuillet, N. Fuentes, Z., Halley, R.B., Reinhardt, E.G., Roger, J.H., Spiske, M., Tuttle, M.P., Wei, Y., Weil Accardo, J. (2017): Brain-coral evidence for a near-field tsunami of pre-Columbian age along the Puerto Rico Trench at Anegada, British Virgin Islands, GeoSphere, 13(2).

Naito, C., H.R. Riggs, Y. Wei, and C. Cercone (2016): Shipping container impact assessment for tsunamis. J. Waterw. Port Coast. Ocean Eng., 05016003, doi: 10.1061/(ASCE)WW.1943-5460.0000348.

Wei, Y., H. Fritz, V. Titov, B. Uslu, C. Chamberlin, and N. Kalligeris (2015): Source models and near-field impact of the April 1, 2007 solomon islands tsunami. Pure Appl. Geophys., 172(3), doi: 10.1007/s00024-014-0777-z, 3281-3305.

Wei, Y., A.V. Newman, G.P. Hayes, V.V. Titov, and L. Tang (2014). Tsunami forecast by joint inversion of real-time tsunami waveforms and seismic or GPS data: application to the Tohoku 2011 tsunami. Pure and Applied Geophysics, 171(12), doi: 10.1007/s00024-014-0777-z, 3281-3305.

Wei, Y., C. Chamberlin, V.V. Titov, L. Tang and E.N. Bernard (2013). Modeling of 2011 Japan tsunami – lessons for near-field forecast. Pure and Applied Geophysics, 170(6-8), 1309-1331, doi: 10.1007/s00024-012-0519-z.

Zhou, H., Y. Wei, V.V. Titov (2012). Dispersive modeling of the 2009 Samoa tsunami. Geophysical Research Letters, L16603, doi: 1029/2012GL053068.

Tang, L., V.V. Titov, E.N. Bernard, Y. Wei, C.D. Chamberlin, M. Eble, C. Moore, B. Uslu, J.C. Newman, C. Pells, M. Spillane, H.O. Mofjeld, and L. Wright (2012). Direct energy estimation of the 2011 Japan tsunami using deep-ocean pressure measurements. J, Geophys. Res., 117, C08008, doi:10.1029/2011JC7635.

Arcas, D. and Y. Wei (2011). Evaluation of velocity-related approximation in the non-linear shallow water equations for the Kuril Islands, 2006 tsunami event at Honolulu, Hawaii.Geophys. Res. Lett., 38, L12608, doi: 10.1029/2011GL047083, 6 pp.

Tang, L., V. Titov, Y. Wei, H.O. Mofjeld, M. Spillane, D. Arcas, E.N. Bernard, C. Chamberlin, E. Gica, and J. Newman (2008). Tsunami forecast analysis for the May 2006 Tonga tsunami. Journal of Geophysical Research – Ocean, 113, C12015, doi:10.1029/2008JC004922.

Wei, Y., E.N. Bernard, L. Tang, R. Weiss, V.V. Titov, C. Moore, M. Spillane, M. Hopkins, and U. Kanaglu (2008). Real-time experimental forecast of the Peruvian tsunami of August 2007 for U.S. coastlines. Geophysical Research Letters, 35, L04609, doi:10.1029/2007GL032250.

Wei, Y., Mao, X.Z., and Cheung, K.F., (2006). Well-balanced finite volume model for long wave runup.  Journal of Waterway, Port, Coastal and Ocean Engineering, 132(2), 114-124.