Xinping Hu
- Professor
- Marine Science
Contact Information
Biography
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIECE
2024 – present Professor, Department of Marine Science, The University of Texas at Austin
2024 – present Associate Editor, Global Biogeochemical Cycles
2023 – 2024 Professor, Department of Physical & Environmental Sciences, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi
2022 – 2024 Endowed Chair for Ecosystem Science and Modeling, Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi
2021 – present Editor, Ocean Science
2020 – 2022 HRI Chair for Ecosystem Science and Modeling, Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi
2018 – 2023 Associate Professor, Department of Physical & Environmental Sciences, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi
2018 – 2022 Associate Editor, Frontiers in Marine Science
2017 – 2019 Coordinator, Coastal & Marine System Science Program, Department of Physical & Environmental Sciences, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi
2017 Coordinator, Chemistry M.S. Program, Department of Physical & Environmental Sciences, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi
2012 – 2018 Assistant Professor, Department of Physical & Environmental Sciences, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi
2012 – 2012 Assistant Research Scientist, Department of Marine Sciences, University of Georgia
2007 – 2012 Post Doctoral Associate, Department of Marine Sciences, University of Georgia
2000 – 2006 Graduate Research Assistant, Department of Ocean, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Old Dominion University
1997 – 2000 Research Assistant, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences
Research
My research focuses on a wide variety of research topics that are centered on the carbon cycle science in estuarine and coastal environments. In my group, we employ state-of-the-art techniques to quantify carbonate parameters, including total titration alkalinity, total dissolved inorganic carbon (both concentration and stable isotope composition), pH, and partial pressure of carbon dioxide, in water columns as well as in marine sediments.
Given both cyclic and noncyclic climate variability and anthropogenic pressure on estuarine and coastal environments, including carbon dioxide buildup caused climate change, freshwater inflow fluctuations into semi-enclosed estuaries, and eutrophication in both estuaries and coastal ocean, significant changes in both water carbonate chemistry and carbon fluxes across different interfaces will occur. Our research goals incorporate studying the effects of climate change on estuarine biogeochemistry, carbon cycle in the coastal ocean, and ocean acidification.
Research Areas
- Oceans and Freshwater
Fields of Interest
- Marine Chemistry
- Biogeochemistry
Centers and Institutes
- Marine Science Institute
Education
- Ph.D., Oceanography, Old Dominion University (2007)
- B.S., Chemistry, Peking University (1997)
Publications
Underlined denotes mentee author
Yin, H., Jin, L., and Hu, X. 2024. Interpreting biogeochemical processes through the relationship of total alkalinity and dissolved inorganic carbon: theoretical basis and limitations. Limnology and Oceanography: Methods, 22, 311-320. doi:10.1002/lom3.10608
Yin, H., Hu, X., and Dias L.M. 2023. Sulfate enrichment in estuaries of the northwestern Gulf of Mexico: the potential effect of sulfide oxidation on carbonate chemistry under a changing climate. Limnology and Oceanography Letters, 8, 742-750.
Johnston, M.A., Studivan, M.S., Enochs, I.C., Correa, A.M.S., Besemer, N., Eckert, R.J., Edwards, K., Hannum, R., Hu, X., Nuttall, M., O'Connell, K., Palacio-Castro, A.M., Schmahl, G.P., Sturm, A.S., Ushijima, B. and Voss, J.D., 2023. Coral disease outbreak at the remote Flower Garden Banks, Gulf of Mexico. Frontiers in Marine Science, 10, 1111749. doi:10.3389/fmars.2023.1111749.
Dias, L.M., Hu, X., and Yin, H. 2023. A biogeochemical alkalinity sink in a shallow, semiarid estuary of the northwestern Gulf of Mexico. Aquatic Geochemsitry, 29, 49-71.
Hu, X., Yao, H., McCutcheon, M.R., Dias, L., Staryk, C.J., Wetz, M.S., and Montagna, P.A. 2022. Aragonite saturation state in estuaries along a climate gradient in the northwestern Gulf of Mexico. Frontiers in Environmental Science,10, 951256. doi:10.3389/fenvs.2022.951256.
Osborne, E., Hu, X., Hall, E.R., Yates, K., Vreeland-Dawson, J., Shamberger, K., Barbero, L., Hernandez-Ayon, J.M., Gomez1, F.A., Hicks, T., Xu, Y.-Y., McCutcheon, M.R., Acquafredda, M., Chapa-Balcorta, C., Norzagaray, O., Pierrot, D., Munoz-Caravaca, A., Dobson, K.L., Williams, N., Rabalais, N.N., and Dash, P. 2022. Ocean acidification in the Gulf of Mexico: drivers, impacts, and unknowns. Progress in Oceanography, 209, 102882.
Yao, H., Montagna, P.A., Wetz, M.S, Staryk, C.J. and Hu, X., 2022. Subtropical estuarine carbon budget under various hydrologic extremes and implications on the lateral carbon exchange from tidal wetlands. Water Research, 27, 118436. doi:10.1016/j.watres.2022.118436. (NACP June 2022 Science Highlight)
McCutcheon, M.R. and Hu, X., 2022. Long-term trends in estuarine carbonate chemistry in the northwestern Gulf of Mexico. Frontiers in Marine Science, 9, 793065. doi:10.3389/fmars.2022.793065.
Jiang, L.-Q. and 39 coauthors, 2022. Best practice data standards for discrete chemical oceanographic observations. Frontiers in Marine Science, 8, 705638, doi:10.3389/fmars.2021.705638
Huang, I.S., Hu, X., Abdulla, H. and Zimba, P.V., 2021. Effects of climate change on metabolite accumulation in freshwater and marine cyanobacteria. Climate Change Ecology, 2, 100018.
Rosenau, N.A., Galavotti, H., Yates, K.K., Bohlen, C.C., Hunt, C.W., Liebman, M., Brown, C.A., Pacella, S.R., Largier, J.L., Nielsen, K.J., Hu, X., McCutcheon, M.R., Vasslides, J.M., Poach, M., Ford, T., Johnston, K. and Steele, A., 2021. Integrating High-Resolution Coastal Acidification Monitoring Data Across Seven United States Estuaries. Frontiers in Marine Science, 8, 679913, doi:10.3389/fmars.2021.679913.
McCutcheon, M.R., Yao, H., Staryk, C.J. and Hu, X., 2021. Temporal variability and driving factors of the carbonate system in the Aransas Ship Channel, TX: A time-series study. Biogeosciences, 18, 4571-4586.
Huang, W.-J., Cai, W.-J. and Hu, X., 2021. Seasonal Mixing and Biological Controls of the Carbonate System in a River-Dominated Continental Shelf Subject to Eutrophication and Hypoxia in the Northern Gulf of Mexico. Frontiers in Marine Science, 8, 621243, doi:10.3389/fmars.2021.621243.
Hu, X., Yao, H., Staryk, C.J., McCutcheon, M.R., Wetz, M.S. and Walker, L., 2021. Corrigendum: Disparate responses of carbonate system in two adjacent subtropical estuaries to the influence of Hurricane Harvey - A case study. Frontiers in Marine Science, 8, 647961, doi:10.3389/fmars.2021.647961.
Walker, L.M. Montagna, P.A., Hu, X. and Wetz, M.S., 2021.Timescales and Magnitude of Water Quality Change in Three Texas Estuaries Induced by Passage of Hurricane Harvey. Estuaries and Coasts, 44, 960-971.
Hu, X., 2020. Effect of organic alkalinity on seawater buffer capacity - A numerical exploration. Aquatic Geochemistry, 26, 161-178. (OCB August 2020 Science Highlight)
Hu, X., Yao, H., Staryk, C.J., McCutcheon, M.R., Wetz, M.S. and Walker, L. 2020. Disparate responses of carbonate system in two adjacent subtropical estuaries to the influence of Hurricane Harvey - A case study. Frontiers in Marine Science, 7, 26, doi:10.3389/fmars.2020.00026.
Patrick, C.J., Yeager, L., Armitage, A.R., Carvallo, F., Congdon, V.M., Dunton, K.H., Fisher, M., Hardison, A.K., Hogan, J.D., Hosen, J., Hu, X., Kiel Reese, B., Kinard, S., Kominoski, J.S., Lin, X., Liu, Z., Montagna, P.A., Pennings, S.C., Walker, L., Weaver, C.A. and Wetz, M.S., 2020. A system level analysis of coastal ecosystem responses to hurricane impacts. Estuaries and Coasts, 43, 943-959.
Wang, H., Hu, X., Wetz, M.S., Hayes, K.C. and Lu, K., 2020. Photochemical degradation of organic carbon in a eutrophic, semiarid estuary. Limnology and Oceanography Letters, 5 246-253.
Yao, H., McCutcheon, M.R., Staryk, C.J. and Hu, X., 2020. Hydrologic controls on CO2 chemistry and flux in subtropical lagoonal estuaries of the northwestern Gulf of Mexico. Limnology and Oceanography, 65, 1380-1398.
McCutcheon, M.R., Staryk, C.J. and Hu, X., 2019. Characteristics of the carbonate system in a semi-arid estuary that experiences summertime hypoxia. Estuaries and Coasts, 42, 1509-1523.
Fennel, K., Alin, S., Barbero, L., Evans, W., Bourgeois, T., Cooley, S., Dunne, J., Feely, R.A., Hernandez-Ayon, J.M., Hu, X., Lohrenz, S., Muller-Karger, F., Najjar, R., Robbins, L., Shadwick, E., Siedlecki, S., Steiner, N., Sutton, A., Turk, D., Vlahos, P. and Wang, Z.A., 2019. Carbon cycling in the North American coastal ocean: A synthesis. Biogeosciences, 16, 1281-1304.
Turk, D., Wang, H., Hu, X., Gledhill, D.K., Wang, Z.A., Jiang, L. and Cai, W.-J., 2019. Time of emergence of surface ocean carbon dioxide trends in the North American coastal margins in support of ocean acidification observing system design. Frontiers in Marine Science, 6, 91. doi:10.3389/fmars.2019.00091.
Wang, H., Hu, X., Wetz, M.S. and Hayes, K.C., 2018. Oxygen consumption and respired organic matter in two eutrophic subtropical coastal embayments. Environmental Science & Technology, 52, 13004-13014.
Wang, H., Hu, X., Rabalais, N.N. and Brandes, J., 2018. Drivers of oxygen consumption in the northern Gulf of Mexico hypoxic waters - A stable carbon isotope perspective. Geophysical Research Letters, 45, 10528-10538.
Spalt, N., Murgulet, D. and Hu, X., 2018. Relating estuarine geology to groundwater discharge at an oyster reef in Copano Bay, TX. Journal of Hydrology, 564, 785-801.
Hu, X., Nuttall, M.F., Wang, H., Yao, H., Staryk, C.J., McCutcheon, M.R., Eckert, R.J., Embesi, J.A., Johnston, M.A., Hickerson, E.L., Schmahl, G.P., Manzello, D., Enochs, I.C., DiMarco, S. and Barbero, L., 2018. Seasonal variability of carbonate chemistry and decadal changes in waters of a marine sanctuary in the Gulf of Mexico. Marine Chemistry, 205, 16-28.
Scherer, A.E., Bird, C.E., McCutcheon, M.R., Hu, X. and Smee, D.L., 2018. Two-tiered defense strategy may compensate for predator avoidance costs of an ecosystem engineer. Marine Biology, 165, 131.
Montagna, P.A., Hu, X., Palmer, T.A. and Wetz, M.S., 2018. Effect of hydrological variability on the biogeochemistry of estuaries across a regional climatic gradient. Limnology and Oceanography, 63 2465-2478.
Murgulet, D., Trevino, M., Douglas, A., Spalt, N., Hu, X. and Murgulet, V., 2018. Temporal and spatial fluctuations of groundwater-derived alkalinity fluxes to a subtropical coastal embayment. Science of the Total Environment, 630, 1343-1359.
Najjar, R.G., Herrmann, M., Alexander, R., Boyer, E.W., Burdige, D., Butman, D., Cai, W.J., Canuel, E.A., Chen, R.F., Friedrichs, M.A.M., Feagin, R.A., Griffith, P., Hinson, A.L., Holmquist, J.R., Hu, X., Kemp, W.M., Kroeger, K.D., Mannino, A., McCallister, S.L., McGillis, W.R., Mulholland, M.R., Pilskaln, C., Salisbury, J., Signorini, S., St-Laurent, P., Tian, H., Tzortziou, M., Vlahos, P., Wang, Z.A. and Zimmerman, R.C., 2018. Carbon budget of tidal wetlands, estuaries, and shelf waters of Eastern North America. Global Biogeochemical Cycles, 32, 389-416.
Laruelle, G.G., Cai, W.-J., Hu, X., Gruber, N., Mackenzie, F.T. and Regnier, P., 2018. Continental shelves as a variable but increasing global sink for atmospheric carbon dioxide. Nature Communications, 9, 454.
Yao, H. and Hu, X., 2017. Responses of carbonate system and CO2 flux to extended drought and intense flooding in a semiarid subtropical estuary. Limnology and Oceanography 62, S112-S130. (Special Issue on Headwaters to oceans: Ecological and biogeochemical contrasts across the aquatic continuum).
Wang, H., Hu, X., Cai, W.-J. and Sterba-Boatwright, B., 2017. Decadal fCO2 trends in global ocean margins and adjacent boundary current-influenced areas. Geophysical Research Letters, 44, 8962-8970.
Reimer, J.J., Cai, W.-J., Xue, L., Vargas, R., Noakes, S., Hu, X., Signorini, S.R., Mathis, J.T., Feely, R.A., Sutton, A.J., Sabine, C., Musielewicz, S., Chen, B. and Wanninkhof, R., 2017. Time series pCO2 at a coastal mooring: internal consistency, seasonal cycles, and interannual variability. Continental Shelf Research, 145, 95-108.
Hu, X., Li, Q., Huang, W.-J., Chen, B., Cai, W.-J., Rabalais, N.N. and Turner, R.E., 2017. Effects of eutrophication and benthic respiration on water column carbonate chemistry in a traditional hypoxic zone in the Northern Gulf of Mexico. Marine Chemistry, 190, 33-42.
Schoepf, V.*, Hu, X.*, Holcomb, M., Cai, W.-J., Li, Q., Wang, Y., Xu, H., Warner, M.E., Melman, T.F., Hoadley, K.D., Pettay, D.T., Matsui, Y., Baumann, J.H. and Grottoli, A.G., 2017. Coral calcification under environmental change: A direct comparison of the alkalinity anomaly and buoyant weight technique. Coral Reefs, 36, 13-25 (* equal contribution).
Wang, H., Hu, X. and Sterba-Boatwright, B., 2016. A new statistical approach for interpreting oceanic fCO2 data.Marine Chemistry, 183, 41-49.
Hu, X., Cai, W.-J., Rabalais, N.N. and Xue, J., 2016. Coupled oxygen and dissolved inorganic carbon dynamics in coastal ocean and its use as a potential indicator for detecting water column oil degradation. Deep-Sea ResearchPart II, 129, 311-318. (The Gulf of Mexico Ecosystem - before, during and after the Macondo Blowout Special Issue).
Cai, W.-J., Ma, Y., Hopkinson, B.M., Grottoli, A.G., Warner, M.E., Ding, Q., Hu, X., Yuan, X., Schoepf, V., Xu, H., Han, C., Melman, T.F., Hoadley, K.D., Pettay, D.T., Matsui, Y., Baumann, J.H., Levas, S., Ying, Y. and Wang, Y., 2016. Microelectrode characterization of coral daytime interior pH and carbonate chemistry. Nature Communications, 7,11144 doi:10.1038/ncomms11144.
Xue, L., Cai, W.-J., Hu, X., Sabine, C., Jones, S., Sutton, A.J., Jiang, L.-Q. and Reimer, J.J., 2016. Sea surface carbon dioxide at the Georgia time series site (2006-2007): air-sea flux and controlling processes. Progress in Oceanography, 140, 14-26.
Xue, J., Cai, W.-J., Hu, X., Huang, W.-J., Lohrenz, S.E. and Gundersen, K., 2015. Temporal variation and stoichiometric ratios of organic matter remineralization in bottom waters of the northern Gulf of Mexico during late spring and summer. Journal of Geophysical Research - Oceans, 120, 8304-8326.
Hoadley, K.D., Pettay, D.T., Grottoli, A.G., Cai, W.-J., Melman, T.F., Schoepf, V., Hu, X., Li, Q., Xu, H., Wang, Y., Matsui, Y., Baumann, J.H. and Warner, M.E., 2015. Physiological response to elevated temperature and pCO2 varies across four Pacific coral species: Understanding the unique host+symbiont response. Scientific Reports, 5, 18371.
Huang, W.J., Cai, W.J., Wang, Y., Hu, X., Chen, B., Lohrenz, S.E., Chakraborty, S., He, R., Brandes, J. and Hopkinson, C.S., 2015. The response of inorganic carbon distributions and dynamics to upwelling favorable winds on the northern Gulf of Mexico during summer. Continental Shelf Research, 111, Part B 211-222.
Hu, X., Beseres Pollack, J., McCutcheon, M.R., Montagna, P.A. and Ouyang, Z., 2015. Long-term alkalinity decrease and acidification of estuaries in Northwestern Gulf of Mexico. Environmental Science & Technology, 49, 3401-3409.
Levas, S., Grottoli, A.G., Warner, M.E., Cai, W.J., Bauer, J., Schoepf, V., Baumann, J.H., Matsui, Y., Gearing, C., Melman, T.F., Hoadley, K.D., Pettay, D.T., Hu, X., Li, Q., Xu, H. and Wang, Y., 2015. Organic carbon fluxes mediated by corals at elevated pCO2 and temperature. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 519, 153-164.
Rabalais, N.N., Cai, W.-J., Carstensen, J., Conley, D.J., Fry, B., Hu, X., Quiñones-Rivera, Z., Rosenberg, R., Slomp, C.P., Turner, R.E., Voss, M., Wissel, B. and Zhang., J., 2014. Eutrohpication-driven deoxygenation in the coastal ocean. Oceanography, 27, 172-183.
Hu., X and Cai, W.-J., 2013. Estuarine acidification and minimum buffer zone - a conceptual study. Geophysical Research Letters, 40, 5176-5181.
Schoepf, V., Grottoli, A.G., Warner, M.E., Cai, W.-J., Melman, T.F., Hoadley, K.D., Pettay, D.T., Hu, X., Li, Q., Xu, H., Wang, Y., Matsui, Y. and Baumann, J.H., 2013. Coral energy reserves and calcification in a high-CO2 world at two temperatures. PLoS ONE, 8, e75049. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0075049.
Wang, Z.A., Wanninkhof, R., Cai, W.-J., Byrne, R.H., Hu, X., Peng, T.-H. and Huang, W.-J., 2013. The marine inorganic carbon system along the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic coasts of the United States: Insights from a transregional coastal carbon study. Limnology and Oceanography, 58, 325-342.
Hopkinson, C.S., Cai, W.-J. and Hu, X., 2012. Carbon sequestration in wetland dominated coastal systems — a global sink of rapidly diminishing magnitude. Current Opinion on Environmental Sustainability, 4, 186-194.
Powell, E.N.*, Hu, X.*, Cai, W.-J., Ashton-Alcox, K.A., Parsons-Hubbard, K.M. and Walker, S.E., 2012. Geochemical controls on carbonate shell taphonomy in the northern Gulf of Mexico sediments. Palaios, 27, 571-587 (* equal contribution)
Hu, X., Burdige, D.J. and Zimmerman, R.C., 2012. δ13C of seagrass is a signature of light availability and photosynthesis. Limnology and Oceanography, 57, 441-448.
Hu. X and Cai, W.-J., 2011. The impact of denitrification on the atmospheric CO2 uptake potential of seawater. Marine Chemistry 127, 192-198.
Cai, W.-J., Hu, X., Huang, W.-J., Murrell, M.C., Lehrter, J.C., Lohrenz, S.E., Chou, W.-C., Zhai, W., Hollibaugh, J.T., Wang, Y., Zhao, P., Guo, X., Gundersen, K., Dai, M. and Gong., G.-C., 2011. Acidification of subsurface coastal waters enhanced by eutrophication. Nature Geoscience, 4, 766-770.
Hu, X., Cai, W.-J., Wang, Y., Guo, X. and Luo, S., 2011. Geochemical environments of continental shelf-upper slope sediments in the northern Gulf of Mexico. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, 312 265-277.
Hu. X and Cai, W.-J., 2011. An assessment of ocean margin anaerobic processes on oceanic alkalinity budget. Global Biogeochemical Cycles, GB3003, doi:10.1029/2010GB003859.
Jiang, L.-Q., Cai, W.-J., Feely, R.A., Wang, Y., Guo, X., Gledhill, D.K., Hu, X., Arzayus, F., Chen, F., Hartmann, J. and Zhange, L., 2010. Carbonate mineral saturation states along the U.S. southeastern coast. Limnology and Oceanography, 55 2424-2432.
Burdige, D.J., Hu, X. and Zimmerman, R.C., 2010. The widespread occurrence of carbonate dissolution and reprecipitation in Bahamas Bank sediments. American Journal of Science, 310, 492-521.
Cai, W.-J., Hu, X., Huang, W.-J., Jiang, L.-Q., Wang, Y., Peng, T.-H. and Zhang, X., 2010. Surface ocean alkalinity distribution in the western North Atlantic Ocean margins. Journal Geophysical Research - Oceans, 115, C08014, doi:10.1029/2009JC005482.
Cai, W.-J., Chen, L., Chen, B., Gao, Z., Lee, S.H., Chen, J., Pierrot, D., Sullivan, K., Wang, Y., Hu, X., Huang, W.-J., Zhang, Y., Xu, S., Murata, A., Grebmeier, J.M., Jones, E.P. and Zhang, H., 2010. Decrease in the CO2 uptake capacity in an ice-free Arctic Ocean basin. Science, 329, 556-559.
Hu, X., Cai, W.-J., Wang, Y., Luo, S. and Guo, X., 2010. Pore-water geochemistry of two contrasting brine-charged seep sites in the northern Gulf of Mexico continental slope. Marine Chemistry, 118, 99-107.
Jiang, L.-Q., Cai, W.-J., Wang, Y., Diaz, J., Yager, P. and Hu, X., 2009. Pelagic community respiration on the continental shelf off Georgia, USA. Biogeochemistry, 98, 101-113.
Hu, X. and Burdige, D.J., 2008. Effect of O2 input into sediment on carbonate dissolution – a simulation experiment. Journal of Marine Research, 66, 489-527.
Burdige, D.J., Zimmerman, R.C. and Hu, X., 2008. Rates of carbonate dissolution in permeable sediments estimated from pore water profiles: the role of seagrasses. Limnology and Oceanography, 53, 549-565.
Hu, X. and Burdige, D.J., 2007. Enriched stable carbon isotopes in the pore waters of carbonate sediments dominated by seagrasses: evidence for coupled carbonate dissolution and reprecipitation. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 71, 129-144.
Awards
- Outstanding Doctoral Mentor Award, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi (2018)
- Ruth A. Campbell Endowed Professorship of Coastal and Marine System Science, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi (2018)
- National Science Foundation CAREER Award (2017)