Soil sampling in Hainan Island

On Jan 8-13, Buqing, Chuanghe and Gan went to the northern Hainan Island for soil sampling. The region contains a great chronosequence of red soil, with thickness up to tens of metres, developed on basalt rocks, of which the corresponding volcanic eruption time spanning from 4 Ma to 10 Ka before present (BP). We are to evaluate the lifetime of black carbon across the geological times. Two local workers joined us to help with digging and coring.  In total we have collected 40 soil profiles, at 8 sites each with 5 profiles. It was warm, and there were mosquitos and unknow insects in the jungles. However, the tropical scenery is picturesque, and the flavor of local chicken is wonderful. It is a successful sampling trip, and we are waiting for the fruitful scientific outcomes!

~12 Ka BP volcanic basic rocks (basalt). 基性岩(玄武岩)

Digging from ground.

Tuff jobs.

The c.a. 12 Ka soil profile.

A good porter.

Deep in the jungle.

A core section at -80 to -100 cm .

Harvesting.

Packing.

The most robust tools.

Coring relics.

Local boiled chicken.

Tang Jiao publishes in STOTEN

Tang Jiao’s new paper ‘Molecular signatures and formation mechanisms of water-soluble chromophores in particulate matter from Karachi in Pakistan‘ was recently published in STOTEN; and it was of Karachi, Pakistan! Congratulations!

  • EEM-PARAFAC identified two humic-like and one phenolic-like component in Karachi.
  • Humic-like components consist of molecules with higher aromatic and oxidative degrees.
  • Humic-like component with a longer emission maximum largely contributes to WS-BrC.
  • Oxidation processes are important pathways for the formation of humic-like components.

Pilot Study in Futian Mangrove National Nature Reserve

On Jan 8th, a group of us (Shizhen, Jianchu and Weiru) went to Futian mangrove national nature reserve for pilote study. It was the first time that they need to recognize species of trees for sampling. With the help of Dr. Gao from Guangdong Academy Of Forestry, they successfully collected young leaves and old leaves of kandelia candel (秋茄), aegiceras (桐花), bruguiera (木榄) and acanthus ilicifolius (老鼠簕), which are usually found in mangrove forests of coastal areas of Southeast Asia and southern China. Also, they collected one paired of surface water sample and sediment sample as well as two tree ring samples of kandelia cande.

Us in the marsh to collect tree ring samples.

The reason why mangrove is so called “red forest”: Tannins appear red when oxidized.

We were collecting the leaves.

Apparent salt excretion.

We were collecting the water sample and sediment sample.

mudskippers and snake 🙂