Education:

2016-2022 — Ph.D. in Marine Science, College of Marine Science, University of South Florida

2012-2016 — B.S. in Marine Science, School of Marine Sciences, Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology

Research Interests:

• (Sub)mesoscale ocean processes
• Ocean eddies
• Ocean fronts
• Physical-biological interactions
• Air-sea interactions
• Ocean and climate changes

Selected Publications:

Zhang, Y., Barnes, B.B., McGillicuddy, D.J., and Hu, C., 2025. Sargassum Enrichment in Mesoscale Eddies of the Great Atlantic Sargassum Belt. Geophysical Research Letters, 52, e2025GL114601. https://doi.org/10.1029/2025GL114601

Zhang, Y., Hu, C., McGillicuddy, D.J., Liu, Y., Barnes, B.B., and Kourafalou, V.H., 2024. Mesoscale Eddies in the Gulf of Mexico: A Three-Dimensional Characterization Based on Global HYCOM. Deep Sea Research Part II: Topical Studies in Oceanography, 215, p.105380. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dsr2.2024.105380

Zhang, Y., Hu, C., McGillicuddy, D.J., Barnes, B.B., Liu, Y., Kourafalou, V.H., Zhang, S., and Hernandez, F.J., 2024. Pelagic Sargassum in the Gulf of Mexico Driven by Ocean Currents and Eddies. Harmful Algae, 132, p.102566. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hal.2023.102566

Zhang, Y., Hu, C., Barnes, B.B., Liu, Y., Kourafalou, V.H., McGillicuddy, D.J., Cannizzaro, J.P., English, D.C., and Lembke, C., 2023. Bio‐Optical, Physical, and Chemical Properties of a Loop Current Eddy in the Gulf of Mexico. Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans, 128, e2022JC018726. https://doi.org/10.1029/2022JC018726

Zhang, Y., Hu, C., Kourafalou, V.H., Liu, Y., McGillicuddy, D.J., Barnes, B.B., and Hummon, J.M., 2022. Physical Characteristics and Evolution of a Long-Lasting Mesoscale Cyclonic Eddy in the Straits of Florida. Frontiers in Marine Science, 9, 779450, https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2022.779450

Zhang, Y., and Hu, C., 2021. Ocean Temperature and Color Frontal Zones in the Gulf of Mexico: Where, When, and Why. Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans, 126, e2021JC017544. https://doi.org/10.1029/2021JC017544

Zhang, Y., Hu, C., Liu, Y., Weisberg, R.H., and Kourafalou, V.H., 2019. Submesoscale and Mesoscale Eddies in the Florida Straits: Observations from Satellite Ocean Color Measurements. Geophysical Research Letters, 46(22), pp.13262-13270. https://doi.org/10.1029/2019GL083999