Dr Zhonghou Xu

Coastal Modeller

Qualifications

BEng, MEng, Hohai University; PhD, The University of Auckland

Location
Hamilton

Contact Details

Biography

Dr. Zhonghou Xu is a research scientist in coastal modelling in the Coasts and Estuarine Processes Group, National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA), a crown research institute in New Zealand. He has broad research interests in modelling (coastal and urban flood, storm surges, tsunamis, sediment transport in rivers and estuaries), experiments (wave load, tsunami, hydraulics), coding and data analysis. He is currently working on the following research projects:

  • Integrated catchment to estuary model for management of diffuse-source contaminants
  • Coastal hazards and inundation; Sea level rise effects
  • Modelling of tsunamis due to the eruption of the Hunga-Tonga-Hunga-Hapai volcano
  • Probabilistic tsunami assessment
  • Modelling of storm surges in the Tamaki Strait
  • Modelling flood and bed evolution processes in Waiho River
  • Automating modelling and data processing workflow using Cylc
  • City scale compound flood

Funding

  • 2022-2026. Mitigation potential of coral reefs against high‐energy waves: roughness and structural gap effect. Co-PI. UAED696k.
  • 2022-2023. Scour or deposition? Exploring flash-flood induced fluvial sediment hazards. Co-PI. NZD19.86k.

Completed projects/reports

  • Andrews C., Xu Z., Wadhwa S. 2023. Coastal inundation and sea level rise assessment for the Hutt City District. Prepared for Hutt City Council.
  • Xu Z. 2023. Sumner Sea-Level Station: Biennial Report for 2021-2022. Prepared for Environment Canterbury.
  • Xu Z. 2023. Timaru Sea-Level Station: Biennial Report for 2021-2022. Prepared for Environment Canterbury.
  • Scheele FR, Uma SR, Wang X, Syed Y, Inglis S, William S, Lane, EM, Horspool NH, Burbidge D, Power W, Xu Z, Paulik R, Welsh R, Porter H. 2023. National tsunami exposure assessment for Toka Tu Ake EQC building portfolio. GNS Consultancy Report 2022/124.
  • Ramsay D., Xu Z. 2022. Climate Change and Disaster Risk Vulnerability Assessment: Penrhyn Sea Level Analysis. Report for Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
  • Bosserelle C., Lane E., Xu Z. 2022. Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai Volcanic tsunami. Report for University of Cantabria, Spain.
  • Xu Z., Melville B., Wotherspoon L. 2019. Stability of composite breakwaters under tsunami attack-an experimental case study (Napier Port Breakwater, New Zealand). Report for Napier Port.

Skills

  • Delft3D, Basilisk, BG_Flood, HEC-RAS
  • C/C++, matlab, Python, Julia, Fortran, ArcGIS/QGIS

I am keen to collaborate on the above topics. If interested, please contact via [email protected]

External Profiles