Dr. He Li is an Assistant Researcher and Associate Researcher at the Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences. He specializes in sediment transport, river dynamics, and the effects of climate change on hydrological systems. With over a decade of experience, Dr. Li has led multiple National Natural Science Foundation projects, focusing on sediment distribution, sediment transport in meandering and braided rivers, and the impact of water-sediment dynamics on riverbed structures. He has a Ph.D. from Tsinghua University, and his international experience includes research at the University of Arizona. Dr. Li has published extensively in top-tier journals, contributed significantly to the field of physical geography, and is a recognized expert in his field. His work is essential for understanding river systems, particularly in the context of climate change and flood risk management.

Profile

Scopus

Education

Dr. He Li earned his Ph.D. in Civil Engineering from Tsinghua University in 2009. During his doctoral studies, he specialized in hydrology, sediment transport, and river dynamics. Prior to this, he received his Bachelor’s degree from Wuhan University in Water Resources and Hydropower Engineering. His international experience includes a year-long academic exchange at The University of Arizona in 2007-2008, where he further honed his expertise in water resource management and sediment transport. This strong educational foundation has shaped Dr. Li’s approach to environmental research and flood risk analysis, combining advanced theoretical knowledge with practical, real-world applications. His education equips him with the necessary skills to address complex issues related to water-sediment dynamics and climate change’s impact on river systems, making him a leading figure in the field of physical geography and hydrology.

Experience

Dr. He Li has accumulated significant research experience over the past decade. He has been with the Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, since 2010, serving as an Assistant Researcher and Associate Researcher. Prior to this, he worked at Tsinghua University, where he completed his doctoral research. Throughout his career, Dr. Li has successfully led numerous research projects, many of which have been funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China. These projects focus on key areas such as sediment transport, riverbed structure, and the impact of climate change on sediment dynamics in rivers. His work, including studies on the Yellow River and the Yangtze River, has garnered significant recognition for its contribution to understanding the long-term evolution of river systems and developing models to manage water resources and flood risk. His practical contributions to environmental management are pivotal in hydrology and physical geography.

Awards and Honors

Dr. He Li has received several prestigious awards and honors in recognition of his impactful contributions to the field of water resources and sediment transport. In 2021, he was awarded the “Mechanisms of Water-Sediment Transport in the Yellow River Basin and Key Technologies for Their Regulation and Control” award, a notable recognition for his innovative work in river management. His contributions to water dispatching models, particularly in the Yellow River, earned him another major honor in 2006. These accolades reflect his leadership in advancing the study of sediment transport and water resources, particularly in regions affected by climate change and human intervention. Dr. Li’s work continues to influence both academic research and practical applications in environmental management. His awards highlight his ongoing commitment to improving flood risk management, sediment transport models, and the sustainable use of river systems, particularly in the face of global environmental challenges.

Research Focus

Dr. He Li’s research focuses on understanding and modeling sediment transport, river dynamics, and the impacts of climate change on water resources. His expertise includes planform evolution of braided rivers, flood risk management under climate change, and sediment transport in meandering and hyper-concentrated flow systems. Dr. Li investigates how riverbed structures respond to variations in discharge and sediment concentration, especially in highly dynamic river environments like the Yellow and Yangtze rivers. He also explores unsaturated sediment transport and lateral sorting of bed particles in meander bends. His work addresses both fundamental scientific questions and practical issues, such as improving flood risk prediction, enhancing sediment management in rivers, and mitigating the effects of climate change on river systems. Dr. Li’s contributions are vital for advancing both the understanding of sediment transport dynamics and the development of sustainable river management strategies in a changing climate.

Publication Top Notes

1. Planform Change and Its Delayed Response to Discharge in an Active Braided River Reach: Majuli Island Reach of the Brahmaputra River 🌍💧 (Remote Sensing, 2025)
2. Reshuffling of the Sediment Suspension Regime in the “Starving” Middle Yangtze River Downstream from Cascade Mega-Reservoirs 🌊 (Journal of Hydrology, 2023)
3. Correlations Between Summer Discharge and South Asian Summer Monsoon Subsystems in Mekong River Basin 🌦️ (Atmosphere, 2023)
4. Experiments on Longitudinal and Transverse Bedload Transport in Sine-Generated Meandering Channels 💡 (Applied Sciences, 2021)
5. Modeling Bedload Transport Trajectories Along a Sine-Generated Channel 🛠️ (Water Resources, 2019)
6. Evaluating Regime Change of Sediment Transport in the Jingjiang River Reach, Yangtze River, China 🌊 (Water, 2018)
7. Distribution of Primary and Secondary Currents in Sine-Generated Bends 🌊 (Water SA, 2018)
8. The Effects of Dominant Driving Forces on Summer Precipitation During Different Periods in Beijing 🌧️ (Atmosphere, 2017)
9. Application of Loosely Coupled Watershed Model and Channel Model in Yellow River, China 💧 (Journal of Environmental Informatics, 2012)
10. Numerical Simulation of Unsteady Hyperconcentrated Sediment-Laden Flow in the Lower Yellow River 🏞️ (Journal of Hydraulic Engineering, 2012)