Hello, welcome! I am Fang Ziyan and my English name is Fiona. This GitHub blog is a platform which I am using to record my study and life.

A brief self-introduction: I am a student in an ordinary Chinese high school who is teaching herself A-Level courses and current applying for undergraduate geography and earth science major.

In my blog, there are my research essays, speech drafts, interview scripts, as well as my feelings of participating in a variety of activities…

To explore more, please click the “Archive” buttom on the top right corner of the page and find the catalog of my articles. Thank you for visiting my blog!

Original link: https://fiona-f-ang.github.io/index.html

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Currently I watched several short videos about the poor fortune of countries in Africa and Latin America, which aroused my interest in colonialisation history and post-colonialism. Last year I wrote an essay about Africa development, which touched upon this topic to some extent, especially the idea of the economic and political legacies of colonisation. Recent days I have furthered my insights into the topic through more case studies, and this time I also pay special attention to cultural colonisation and postcolonial analysis. My note is attached at the end of the blog.

I find post-colonialism, especial orientalism, particularly interesting as I could apply it in my own life. Prof. Edward Said states in his book Orientalism that ‘the oriental was always like some aspect of the west, and for the rest different aspects, will be understood with a prejudiced colonial ideology.’ The occidental culture is often described as advanced, free, equal; whilst the oriental one is usually summarized by prejudice and backward ways of thinking. Born in China, a ‘far east country’, I also have experiences witnessing the implicit ‘orientalism’ in my daily life, especially in literary works such as movies and novels.

An example I could come up with to apply post-colonial theory and orientalism analysis is the film Mulan. The story of Hua Mulan is a traditional Chinese folktale familiar to every Chinese child. Mulan, a daughter who disguises herself as a male soldier to take her father’s place in the conscription army, has inspired generations of Chinese people for embodying the feminism beyond the times and the oriental values of patriotism: loyalty to the country and filial piety to the family. Last several years, western movie companies such as Disney started to adapt the script and produce films of Mulan. Whilst winning overwhelming praise in the western world, the films are to some extent disappointing to us Chinese citizens. In the cartoon version, the movie meshes Japanese and Chinese culture together, for example by depicting Mulan with white powdered makeup and wearing a Kimono, a style of makeup and clothing not typical in China but instead in Japan. On the other hand, in the live version, several elements of Chinese culture that had never appeared in the same historical period are piled up in a chaotic way, including the Fujian Tulou (a form of building appearing in the Song Dynasty), the Great Wall, the Baxian Table (In Mulan’s time, people sat on the ground to have meals), the typical Tang Dynasty makeup, to name but a few. Another criticism is the film’s distortion of the Oriental sense of honour; Disregarding whether the emperor is wise or not, Mulan just knows to listen to the command and rush forward. The biggest failure of the film is that it deepens the prejudice and fantasy of the Chinese regime in the West – the individual in the East has no right to speak.

I have been fond of the story of Hua Mulan since childhood, regarding Mulan as my idol. Before learning the post-colonialism analysis, when watching these films made by Western companies, I just felt a little uncomfortable, but was not able to tell what is weird or strange point. However, I am glad that, having studied Orientalism, I am now able to figure out the misappropriation and misuse of culture in this type of movies, as well as the stereotypes and unequal power dynamics lying behind.

Original link: https://fiona-f-ang.github.io/index.html

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After the winning medals in IESO (International Earth Science Olympiad), I was interviewed by the Committee of Chinese Earth Science Olympiad, in which I was pleased to share my own experience participating in the Olympiad, as well as my passion for Geography and Earth Science. The following shown is my draft for the interviwew questions.

1. WHAT IT IS LIKE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE IESO?

(Impressive experiences and feelings during the competition)

As Mr. Nir Orion said at the opening ceremony – “Enjoy the Journey” – this experience of participating in the International Earth Science Olympiad is undoubtedly an unforgettable journey.

During this journey, we were fully immersed in the experience brought by the DMT (Data Mining Test). From the biodiversity of the Panarea Islands to the eruption of Mount St. Helens, from the formation of the Himalayas Mountain to the shuttle of the Hack8558 asteroid in the background galaxy, we talk to the mountains, rivers, stars and oceans, exploring the mechanism of the operation of the earth and the universe, paying attention to the future fate of the world’s living beings.

And I will never forget that in the presentation of NTFI (National Team Field Investigation) at three o’clock in the morning in Beijing time, we depicted the billion-year-history of layer formations in the Huyu Scenic Spot, redrew the possible appearance of the paleochannel here, explored the impact of potential geological disasters on human society; gracefully and confidently demonstrated our practical skills and critical thinking to the world, and finally won two gold medals for our country, China.

During this journey, I was also deeply touched by the cooperation between my domestic and international teammates. When preparing for ELSI (Earth Learning Students’ Ideas) and A&S (Art and Science), my national team teammates and I enjoyed the rush of inspiration, presenting science and passion with art and creativity. ESP (Earth System Project), on the other hand, is the resonance of the soul across latitude and longitude. The moment we turned on the camera and smiled at each other, my fear of cultural differences and communication barriers faded — the passion and worship of nature provide us with countless common topics, and it was at that time that I realize: science, should belong to the whole world.
In addition, I was immersed in the tension and excitement of competing in the Olympiad. It was the sodium-rich oblique feldspar that appeared repeatedly in the dream, the sunrise witnessed several times in Nanjing and Beijing, the sense of release and accomplishment when overcoming the difficulties, and the heart that beat wildly at the award ceremony…

The results of two gold, one silver and one bronze are undoubtedly the best gifts that this journey has given me. And I deeply understand that the touching and moving behind these four medals comes from being able to study together with like-minded friends, being able to enjoy the logical thinking and insight of earth scientists, as well as being able to use my own words to interpret the vast land and the starry sky…

2. INTEREST AND LEARNING EXPERIENCES IN EARTH SCIENCES

(When did you start learning earth science? Why did you become interested in it? What efforts have you made in the process of learning earth sciences, and what kind of gains have you got?)

Looking back, my passion for earth science is cultivated subtly and unconsciously. Every time immersed in the illustrations in the encyclopedia, every time standing in front of the fossil specimens in the museum, every time stopping to admire the changes of clouds outside the window, every time be unwilling to part to farewell the natural scenery I encountered on the journey… As a child living in a big city, I was eager to get close to nature. I am touched by the vast expanse of the wilderness, and look forward to encountering the mountains, rivers, stars and oceans, listening to their stories with respect and awe.

And the Earth Science Olympiad is an excellent platform for me to understand the world with a scientific view through learning and exploration. This year is the first time our school has participated in the Chinese Earth Science Olympiad (CESO), hence there are few mentoring and resources provided. So on the basis of the physical geography of the Chinese College Entrance Examination Curriculum, I studied some university courses on my own according to the exam content and syllabus, organized notes and mindmaps to build knowledge framework, and independently sorted out the typical question collections in the Olympiad to consolidate my understanding. Meanwhile, to study the Earth Science Olympiad is not only to read books and do past paper problems, but also to view, think and experience. I remember going to the museum with my classmates to identify fossils and prehistoric animals, and listening to my friends who studied the Biology Olympiad explain the history of biological evolution; I remember that whenever the temperature suddenly changes, we always argued about the current weather system, identifying and discussing the direction of the wind and types of cloud; I also remember that on many nights preparing for the competition alone, I watched the moon outside the window, and unconsciously start to calculate the azimuth and identify the moon phase… As more knowledge learned, I became more and more attracted to the wonders of earth science, as well as prouder to be able to explain the splendid natural phenomena in my own words.

In the process of studying and preparing for the competition, I gradually gained a multidimensional understanding of science, including its experimental methods and research methods, such as experimental instruments commonly used in planetary science, chaotic systems of meteorology, modeling and inversion of geophysics, and so on. In addition, I also realized that science is not just a theory in black and white in books, but has a dynamic development process. Take the theory of plate tectonics for example, I have taken it as an axiom since childhood, but never thought that it had actually encountered many setbacks when it challenged the Geosyncline theory decades ago; it was constantly repaired and improved by breakthroughs in continental geology, marine geology, geophysics, etc., and is still developing today. At the same time, during the field investigation in the international competition, I also gained a new understanding of the research methodology of earth science scholars, handled the use of geographic information tools to some extent, and also gradually built up my own earth science logic, and learned to understand the dynamic change of and interaction between the earth systems, so as to analyze real-life earth science problems with a more comprehensive view.

Of course, I am also immersed in the pleasure of knowledge learning itself. Among all the disciplines, the ones that struck and moved me the most were planetary science and astronomy. I remember that when I visited the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Researcher Yang Wei once said to us, “The future of earth science is planetary science.” Since their birth, human beings have begun to think and explore the universe. We have lingered long enough on the shores of the cosmic ocean. We are ready at last to set sail for the stars. Whether it is to continue to explore the mechanism of the workings of the universe, or explore possible resources, or find a new home, this is a step that we will definitely take in the near future. And when you understand the thousands of matters in the universe, and then look back at the earth, you will harvest a different kind of touch. In a corner of the Spiral Arm of the Milky Way, cosmic matter evolved into life, and possessed consciousness. They were cast by the stars, and now they look up at the starry sky; Full of enthusiasm and passion of the universe, they began a long way home.

3. EXPECTATIONS AND PLANS FOR MAJOR AND CAREER

(Your plans for the university majors you most want to apply for, the direction you want to learn in depth, future scientific research planning or career planning)

I will apply for geography as my undergraduate major choice and I am looking forward to engaging in geographical scientific research in the future. As a space science, it not only focuses on the operation mechanism of various earth systems and their interrelations, but also seeks to find out the dilemma faced by mankind in this fast-changing world; It not only provides a foothold for the principles of natural science research, but also provides comprehensive and dynamic perspectives and schemes for evaluating and solving social problems. From these all-encompassing contents, find the problem, abstract logic, analysis and provide constructive suggestions – for me, there are both vertical thinking, lateral extension, and field exploration, which let me feel no longer to be a filled and trained professional learner, but a solution provider for real-world problems. In the future, I am eager to continually expand my knowledge of natural and social science, so as to explore the relationship between humans and the environment, and finally commit myself to solving the problems faced by mankind today, such as climate change, energy security, environmental pollution and so on. I am also willing to learn and master geographic information tools, handle and analyze complicated spacial information with big data technologies, as well as visualize and clarify my conclusions.

Actually, I’m not quite sure what specific job I’m going to take in the future: researcher, scientific populizer, writer, decision maker…… the job I preferred most now is scientific researcher, but no matter what the case is, the undeniable thing is that I will always be reverent and curious about nature, and will never forget my responsibility of guarding the earth and mankind. As Mr. Carl Sagan, whom I admire most, said in his book Cosmos, “We are the local embodiment of a Cosmos grown to self-awareness. We have begun to contemplate our origins…… Our loyalties are to the species and the planet. We speak for Earth. Our obligation to survive is owed not just to ourselves but also to that Cosmos, ancient and vast, from which we spring.”

4. ADVICE FOR FUTURE IESO CONTESTANTS

(Provide some advice and encouragement for future contestants)

The essence of the competition is to examine the knowledge boundaries of the contestants, so constantly expanding your academic knowledge is the most basic task when preparing for the competition. And as for earth science, the discipline that is not included in our compulsory curriculum (in China there are only 9 courses taught in secondary schools, namely Chinese, Maths, English, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Politics, History, and Geography), it is particularly important to build our own knowledge framework and system. Expanding knowledge boundary is not simply equal to memorizing and recitation, but also requires understanding the relationship between key knowledge points or different sub-subjects, so as to have a systematic understanding of the entire earth science discipline and achieve a comprehensive and thorough learning effect.

What goes hand in hand with building expanding knowledge boundaries is a sufficient and appropriate amount of practice, as the practice is always the best way to consolidate understanding. The domestic and international Olympiad past papers are definitely great sources of questions. You can first go through them and then confirm your answer by looking up the textbook or other learning materials. Meanwhile, if there are students around you who are also preparing for the Earth Science Olympiad, you may as well discuss the problems with them together. Trust me, you will not only learn a lot from each other, but also built up an unforgettable and solid friendship.

Finally, for an Olympiad competitor, even if he has gained enough knowledge, he still needs a strong psychological diathesis to reach eventual success. Therefore, in this challenging journey, whatever difficulties you encounter, please just maintain the sobriety and rationality of earth scientists, bravely face challenges, keep thinking and exploring.

I wish you satisfying Olympiad results; and also wish you to enjoy the tempering and steeling brought by this Olympiad experience, and go further with your passion and faith in earth science in the future!

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Professor Chris King passed away in early 2022, who used to be the chief editor of textbooks of the Geography Olympiad and the Earth Science Olympiad and devoted his life to geographical science popularization. In memory of Mr. King, the committee of 2022 IESO decided to hold the ELSI competition (Earth Learning Students’ Ideas), in which students were expected to produce videos or reels to show geological theories and phenomena. We Team China chose the life of the New Tethys Ocean as our video topic, presenting the Wilson cycle and other related geological concepts in the form of short plays, and gained the only gold medal in the world. (also called “excellent” in this program)

Here is the link of our ELSI project:
https://www.bilibili.com/video/BV1fU4y1B7SS?share_source=copy_web&vd_source=b8454367b4642c5facffcc6bd2bc69a7

And the following article is our script. The script was mostly written by me, whilst other students were responsible for prop-making or action design. I also participated in play acting (I acted as the mantle plume!) and voice acting.

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The life of the New-Tethys Ocean

Team China

Ziyan Fang, Chenghan Li, Jiaqi Li, Congyue Mao,
Jianing Sun, Zitong Wang, Yansen Zeng, Yunhan Zou

Prologue

“The roof of the world”, Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, is the highest plateau on the earth. However, it is reported that decades ago scientists have found marine fossils in the plateau, such as ammonites and ichthyosaurs. And their explanation for this discovery is even more weird – they say that there used to be an ocean covering the area where Qinghai-Tibet Plateau situates nowadays! How unbelievable! Well, today we are so glad to invite the ocean himself, Tethys, for a short interview about his life. Hello Tethys, would you like to introduce us something about your life?

“Hi, I am Tethys.”

*silence for a while//”two hundred years later…”

Well, sorry, I forgot that you could speak little English. Cool, so, you can show us by acting it out.

*Nodding

Action!

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STAGE A: Embryonic Ocean Basin (Stable Craton with a hot spot underneath)

The life of the neo-Tethys Ocean began in the Late Permian. Between the continent of Laua and Gondwana, a mantle plume appeared, which heated up the continents and caused them to swell upwards. A rift valley was created and a small ocean was formed in the middle, and that was our newborn Neo-Tethys Ocean。

STAGE B: Juvenile Ocean Basin (Early Rifting of a Continent)

As the continents continue to drift apart, the edges of both continents cooled down and therefore got heavier and sunk below the newly formed Tethys Ocean.

STAGE C: Mature Ocean Basin (Full ocean basin)

In the early cretaceous (140Ma bp). A mature ocean basin of the Tethys had formed between two continental margins, and it was still spreading.

STAGE D: Declining ocean basin (Subduction Zone)

In the end of Early Cretaceous, the Neo-Tethys Ocean began to shrink as the Indian plate moved northwards. A subduction zone has formed at the edge of continent and the sea began to close up.

STAGE E: Terminal Ocean Basin (Closing Remnant Ocean Basin)

The formation of magma happened deep in the subduction zone and small mountains were built up.

STAGE F: Suturing (Continental Collision)

Eventually, in the Eocene epoch, as the Indian plate was inserted into the Eurasian plate, the great Tethys sea disappeared completely.

“I die!”

Haha yeah, you died.
In the place where he had once lived, the Qinghai-Tibet plateau uplifts, forming ‘the roof of the world’. And that is the brief introduction of the life of Tethys.

Epilogue

Yes, as you can see, the Neo-Tethys Ocean has completely faded away on our earth. His magnificent two-hundred-million-year life was only a short moment in the 4.6-billion-year earth history. However, it is an undeniable fact that he had once created colorful habitats for plenty of species, playing an important role in the evolution of creatures. And for today’s human beings, its precious heritages –the Alps, the Himalaya, etc, also build a platform for us to explore more about our beautiful earth.

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NTFI (National Team Field Investigation) is one of the most important competitions in the International Earth Science Olympiad. Up to 2 teams from each nation can participate in this competition. And pleasantly, my team won a gold medal for China in the final presentation! (international top 5)
In this article I am going to share our speech draft and powerpoint slide. But at first, let’s have a look at the official introduction and requirements of this competition by the Olympiad committee:

An NTFI is a mini-study pertaining to a significant earth system phenomenon at a field site that combines limited and short field and laboratory studies. In an NTFI a focused research question is formulated in terms of time and scope a research question that can be answered in a mini-study of a few hours of field investigations and a few hours of laboratory research. The following criteria may be borne in mind while selecting earth system phenomena:

(a)The phenomenon represents earth system interactions.

(b)The research question has an environmental component.

(c)Data collection includes the use of up-to-date field instruments and up to date lab equipment.

(d)A long-term data set may be provided to students following one-time measurements at the field site.

(e)The NTFI is not a duplication of in-depth academic studies (Ph.D.and M.Sc.). The evaluation panel will disqualify projects with a scope of more than 1-2 research days of data collection and analysis.

The final evaluation considers: Originality, Scope, Independence, Logical sequence.

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HUYU’S GEOLOGICAL HAZARD ANALYSIS AND PREDICTION

Team China

Ziyan Fang, Congyue Mao, Zitong Wang, Yansen Zeng

Hello everyone, I am Ziyan Fang and it’s my honor to deliver the NTFI presentation representing Team China. My teammates are Zitong Wang, Yansen Zeng, and Congyue Mao, and our research topic is the analysis and prediction of geological hazards in Huyu, Beijing.

Introduction

Geological hazard is the result of the interaction of lithosphere, hydrosphere, and biosphere. It is closely associated with social and economic development and hence largely attracts the attention of every stakeholder. As earth science learners, we wish to give full play to our advantages, using the knowledge we gained to explain the inducing factors and formation mechanism of geological hazards, and eventually contribute to the reduction of their impacts on human society.

The study area we chose for our National Team Field Investigation is Beijing Huyu Natural Scenic Spot. Based on the analysis of the local geological and human environment, we assessed the distribution of potential hazard risk there and put forward suggestions on local development accordingly, including the tourism industry, engineering construction, etc.

Methodology

During the investigation, we were dedicated to collecting and analyzing primary and secondary data, and contributed to putting forward our own thoughts and conclusions as well.

Before the field trip, we used satellite and geological maps to get a preliminary understanding of the local environment, and conducted the background investigation by looking up geological records.

During the field trip, we focused intently on the characteristics of outcrops on both sides of the road, inferred possible geological hazard sites, and recorded a great amount of relevant data. For instance, we used geological compasses to determine the occurrence of rock layers, geological hammers to collect samples, magnifying glasses to observe the structure and texture of rocks, and the Mohs hardness tester to determine rock hardness. Meanwhile, we took plenty of photographs that contain scales for further analysis, such as estimating the height of the strata using the trigonometric method, judging the degree of joint development, and so on.

After the field trip, we conducted rock thin section observations with polarization microscopes in the laboratory and tested the mineral composition of the rocks with chemical reagents, in order to verify and improve our preliminary conclusions. This is our experiment process (shown in the PowerPoint), and this is our observations under the microscope (shown in the PowerPoint). After the experiment, we summarized a table for the features and naming of samples.

In addition, we benefited a lot from literature reviews and the collection of remoting data. To be specific, referring to academic articles, we determined the importance of each inducing factor’s role in different types of geological hazards, and weighted them accordingly. We designed the assignment scheme to assess the risk level of each potential hazard site in Huyu Natural Scenic Spot and used ArcGIS to visualize our conclusion. Apart from that, we discussed other factors that might contribute to the hazards as well, and eventually end our investigation with suggestions to mitigate the hazard (risk).

And that is the introduction of the process and methodology for our research.

Background Investigation

Now, let’s have a look at the content of our research in detail. To begin with, let me introduce you the geological and cultural background of our study area, Huyu, a valley located in the northwest corner of Beijing. The area is famous for its Neopalaeozoic auxiliary profile, and since 1913, universities successively set up geological internship bases here. At present, it is a famous scenic spot as well, attracting numbers of tourists to come around.

The slope here tends to the west, and the elevation varies from 190m to 583m. Meanwhile, dominated by the temperate monsoon climate, it has hot and rainy summer, cold and dry winter, and short spring and autumn, whilst the vegetation is mainly deciduous broad-leaved forest. Most rock layers of outcrops here belong to three formations of the Changcheng system, namely the Tuanshanzi Formation, Chuanlinggou Formation, and Changzhougou Formation from the bottom to the top.

Changzhougou Formation and Chuanlinggou Formation are mainly composed of clastic sedimentary rocks, which gradually changed from coarse-grained quartz sandstone on the bottom to siliceous shale and dolomitic shale on the top, reflecting the sedimentary environment with gradually deepened water. And the Tuanshanzi Formation is a shallow Marine sedimentary mainly composed of dolomite developed after transgression. In the investigation, we found that the rocks in the region intensely develop joints under tectonic activities, and the down-cutting effect of the Huyu River was relatively strong. These features are likely to contribute to the occurrence of geological hazards. In addition, in recent years, with the development of the tourism industry, the roads inside the mountain have been cleared and repaired by human beings, forming a number of artificial steep cliffs and slopes, increasing the risk of geological disasters such as dangerous rocks, rockfalls, and landslides.

To assess the risk in detail, we picked out several factors that are likely to associate with the geological hazards through literature review, including slope, lithology, elevation, biological destruction, etc.

Primary Data Collection and Analysis

Based on the preliminary understanding of the local environment as well as inducing factors of geological hazards, we investigated intently through our study area, Huyu. After observing, sampling and data collecting, we came up with the following 9 potential geological hazard sites.

This is the first site, a human-excavated high dip slope formed by low-strength rocks. Here is a reverse fault, and fault breccia can be seen to develop along the fault plane. Meanwhile, biological destruction can be considered as another characteristic of this site, just like the ant nests as you can see. The sample taken from this point shows clear argillaceous structure when observed under the microscope.

This is site 2 where we can see a plane layer with a slope angle of 48°, which is basically the same as its strata dip angle. Besides, it can be inferred that the slide deposit on it was cleared artificially, breaking the stabilization of the rock layer, and hence landslide is likely to be triggered.

This is the third site, which is made up of thin mudstone and grey yellow medium–thin dolomite. Here grows the typical rectangular boudinage and the joints are considerably developed. Under the microscope, the cryptopular structure and elongated
pyroxene crystal of the sample taken here can be seen.

Then let’s have a look at site four, which is quite special for its huge rock hanging above. The elevation here is around 8.5 meters high, whilst the underburden is greatly developed with joints, resulting in a possibility for the rock to drop. Interestingly, it seems that the risk has already been noticed by the local authority, as we observed its underburden to be covered by cement. And this is the lithological identification of site 4.

This is site 5, a banded metamorphic quartzite. It’s well beded and develops a group of X-type conjugate shear joints. Also, we can observe plant root splitting in this site. Under the microscope, quartz clumps are observed.
Here we come to site 6 where the sandstone is in contact with the monzonitic porphyry intrusion, and joints are developed.

This is site 7, though not have great elevation, it is still worth attention for its considerable slope, developed X-type conjugate shear joints, and severe weathering degree. There are also some other interesting things to be mentioned, such as the ripple and mud crack structure. Through the rock thin section observation, we identified the rocks here as metamorphic feldspar quartz sandstone.

This is the eighth site, which is considered to be the one with the greatest hazard risk. The huge rock is about 18 meters high, below which develops an inverted trapezoid empty part. Meanwhile, tracing joints are visible here and root splitting effect is apparent on the top of the rock mass.

And this is our last site, a human-excavated 75°slope. Being made up of Quaternary fluvial sediments, its soil structure is quite loose, and there are also even a great amount of ant nests inside. But fortunately, the plants covering it could contribute to its stabilization.

Primary Data Presentation: Hazard Prediction

And this is the description of the characteristics of possible geological hazard points in Huyu. But, how should we convert them into quantitative risk levels? This is what we have done:

First, we graded each hazard point according to their development levels of hazard-inducing factors, such as scope, biological disturbance, etc. After that, we grouped these 9 points into 2 types of hazards, namely rockfall and landslide. And then, calculation models are designed separately based on the features of these 2 hazards, in which factors weigh differently, just as this chart shows. After that, we graded each site in terms of factors, getting sheet 4.3. Notably, there is a special point worth to be explained, that is, it was not easy for us to measure the slope of site 4 and 8, but on account of their obvious unstabilization and risk, we assigned their slope to the highest grades.

After that, we calculated the 50% and the 75% value of the total score for each model, and compare these values to the risk level of each hazard site. Obviously, the score of most sites is higher than half of its total score, which proves the scientific rationality of our selection and judgment. At the same time, we also got three high-risk sites, site 2, 8 and 9, whose scores are higher than 75% of the total score, and their characteristics are clearly shown in the following radar charts.

Apart from the spatial distribution of hazard sites, we also predicted the temporal distribution of hazard risk in this region. We have learned from the literature that water is a key factor in geological hazards, in other words, there is a highly positive correlation between precipitation frequency and hazard frequency. Therefore, we searched for Beijing’s monthly precipitation data, and as you can see, the average precipitation intensity reaches the top in July and August, and falls to the least in December and January. As landslides and rockfalls usually happen during or after heavy rainy days, it would be not hard to conclude that hazards in Huyu are most likely to occur from July to September every year, and are least likely to occur from December to January.

Another thing worth mentioning is that, actually, apart from traditional methods, we also used geographic tools to assist our analysis and visualize data presentation. To be specific, we used ArcGIS to create plane elements and line elements to depict the iconic locations of the scenic area, such as reservoirs and rivers. After that, we created the point elements according to the geographic coordinates of the nine hazard sites, gave them different attributes, showed their grade by the size of points, and indicated different factors by color. Finally, we used the calculation tool to come up with the total risk value, and combined all the factors into a single diagram to show our conclusion clearly.

Discussion: A river in Huyu?

In addition to the common quantitative factors mentioned above, the Huyu Natural Scenic Spot also has another special point worth to be discussed.

During the field investigation, we noticed that there is a small river running through the Huyu Canyon, where there are multilevel terraces developing on its banks, reflecting its strong down-cutting ability under tectonic background.

The characteristics of the Huyu River get us to consider whether it will affect the distribution of geological hazards in the scenic spot. Apparently, the steep cliffs on both of its sides provide the fundamental conditions for the occurrence of geological hazards. Meanwhile, rocks in riparian areas, especially in concave banks, are likely to be loosened under long-term weathering and erosion, which further increases the risk of hazards. Another point to mention is that during the rainy season, discharge of Huyu River increases, leading to the rise of local groundwater level. This improves hydrostatic pressure in the rocks, causing damage to them; what’s more, the water seeping into the rock crevices also acts as lubrication, increasing the possibility for hazards to take place.

However, by observing the characteristics of the river in the field, we found that its current runoff is actually small and the velocity is also not that fast. Therefore, although in theory, the river indeed has the potential to contribute to geological hazards, the magnitude of its actual impact under the context of our study area is not likely to be very large.

Suggestion

And this is the analysis and discussion of potential geological hazard risks in Huyu. To tackle these risks, we came up with some suggestions for local authorities.

During the investigation, we found that the existence of these unstable slopes is often associated with the great elevation, steep slope, and the accumulation of unstable rock and soil. Therefore, the most economical mitigation measure is to reduce the slope by cutting off part of the unstable rock and soil mass, so as to improve its stability. In addition, through literature review, we also found that when the edge slope body is broken and the joints and fractures are developed, pressure grouting would be an effective way of deep reinforcement. In other cases, driving into the anchor rod is a great shallow reinforcement measure, whilst deep reinforcement can be achieved by prestressing the anchor cable.

For non-vertical and well-bedded slopes, such as site 5, we can set ordinary pre-reinforced piles to avoid the slide of rock mass along the layer, as shown in figure 6.1. And as for the dangerous rock such as site 8, we recommend using spring support or column support to reinforce, so that the risk of collapse would be reduced.

Meanwhile, considering Huyu’s role as a Natural Scenic spot as well as a geological internship base, we believe that an important principle for the mitigation is that the original appearance of the outcrop or section should be preserved to the greatest extent under the premise of ensuring the reinforcement.

Last but not least, in addition to engineering improvements, we also suggest local authorities put up warning signs at potential hazard sites and close scenic spots during extremely bad weather such as heavy rainy days, so that tourists’ safety can be ensured.

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And this is the content of our investigation in Huyu’s geological hazard analysis and prediction.

Admittedly, there are several improvements that could be carried out for our research. For instance, we should have collected more quantitative data during the field trip, including the width of rock joints, the elevation and thickness of rock layers, and the runoff and velocity of the river, so as to reach more accurate conclusions. At the same time, if it is possible for us to carry out on-site rock and soil mechanics experiments, we might be able to provide more reasonable mitigation suggestions for each hazard site.

And that is the end of our NTFI presentation, thank you for listening.

Original link: https://fiona-f-ang.github.io/index.html

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The work is a program in the International Earth Science Olympiad. Participants are required to carry out research in teams, decide their own topic, search for and analyse relevant information, and finally present a 12-minute-long presentation to the Olympiad Jury. After the presentation, I organized our speech draft into this essay.

THE IMPACT OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON TROPICAL CYCLONES

Fang Ziyan

1.Introduction

The tropical cyclone, one of the most devastating hazards, is a rapidly rotating low-pressure storm system. It is able to bring about strong winds, heavy precipitation, as well as secondary hazards such as landslides and mudflow, causing great damage to human society. In recent years, the tropical cyclone has witnessed a change in its global pattern, which researchers believe to be closely associated with climate change. According to the IPCC, anthropogenic climate change includes global warming caused by greenhouse effects and this warming is having an impact on the climate system.

The following essay will analyse the impacts that current climate change might impose on tropical cyclones, and put forward suggestions for responding to the changes and mitigating the risks.

2.Analysis of the Impacts of Climate Change on Tropical Cyclones

2.1 Frequency

The tropical cyclone (TC) frequency is likely to decline under climate change. An approximate 13% decrease in global TC numbers was found over the 1900-2012 period compared to the preindustrial baseline 1850-1900. An even larger drop of about 23 percent is witnessed since around 1950, around the time global temperatures began to noticeably rise. (Chand et al., 2022) Figure 2.1 illustrates the declining trend of global TC numbers.

Figure 2.1 Global annual TC numbers from 1850-2000

(source: nature climate change)

According to Bengtsson et al (1996), one explanation for the reduction of TC frequency is that global warming has weakened tropical circulation, reducing upward mass flux, hence creating a less favourable condition for tropical cyclones to form. On the other hand, Emanuel et al (2008) claimed that the reduction of the TC frequency is closely associated with the increase in mid-troposphere saturation deficit due to global warming. That is to say, with global warming, the maximum humidity of air rises, making it harder to saturate within the specific height needed to form a tropical cyclone.

However, this conclusion of changes in tropical cyclone frequency can be challenged by the lack of long-term data, as the use of satellites to record cyclones started only from the 1970s. Furthermore, there are some researchers who argue that in the long-term, tropical cyclones may become more common as a result of climate change. For instance, a NOAA GFDL study using the high-resolution HiFLOR model predicts a 9% increase in storm frequency globally and a 23% increase in the Atlantic basin by the end of the 21st century.(Kieran Bhatia et al., 2018)

2.2 Intensity

It is widely agreed that the recent climate change would lead to an increase in the intensity of tropical cyclones. Climate projections suggest that with further warming in the coming decades, a greater proportion of Category 4 and 5 tropical cyclones will occur globally with more destructive wind speeds and more extreme precipitation rates (Figure 2.2)(Thomas Knutson et al., 2020).

Figure 2.2 Tropical Cyclone Projects (2°C Global Warming)

In terms of precipitation, a higher temperature would result in more water evaporating and thus greater humidity in the air. Carrying more moisture, the tropical cyclone would be able to strengthen precipitation. There are models demonstrating that under the circumstances of a 2°C global warming scenario, the mean intensities of tropical cyclones are going to increase by 5% and near-storm rainfall rates to increase by 14%.(Potts & Laura, 2021) This might trigger more devastating landslides and flooding, as well as the wider spread of infection and mosquito-borne diseases because of larger areas of standing water.

Meanwhile, strong winds in tropical cyclones can lead to large waves on the sea called storm surges, the height of which is proportional to the wind speed. It is calculated that a global temperature increase of 2°C may result in a 5% increase in maximum wind speed, hence greater storm surges are more likely to be triggered, resulting in higher storm inundation level.5 This would also amplify the impact of its secondary hazards, such as more devastating tornadoes and greater damage to coastal ecology.

In short, with climate change, the intensity of tropical cyclones is likely to be strengthened, resulting in more serious primary and secondary hazards. Notably, human factors are also needed to be taken into account when evaluating the actual impact of tropical cyclones. In terms of exposure, the higher the population and asset density, the greater risk will be undertaken by the region. Meanwhile, the vulnerability of different areas will also impact their risk level. For instance, tropical cyclones are likely to impose more devastating impacts on those areas with poor design and construction of buildings, limited official recognition of risks and preparedness measures, and disregard for environmental management (UN-ISDR, 2009).

2.3 Location

It is observed that the latitude at which tropical cyclones attain their maximum intensity has been moving poleward. A reasonable explanation is that under global warming, the temperature required to form tropical cyclones moves closer to the poles. As it is shown in Figure 2.3, between 1982 and 2009, the average location of Northern hemisphere tropical storms moved north by 53km, whilst Southern hemisphere ones moved south by 62km, (Kossin et al., 2014) raising the potential that those storms could begin to bring greater damage to locations that may be less well-equipped to respond, especially those with great exposure and vulnerability.

Notably, the impacts of this change are not all negative. For instance, some locations may benefit from the much-needed precipitation brought by the cyclones, whilst others might enjoy the bumper harvest in fishing as tropical cyclones can stir up the waters of coastal estuaries and hence nutriment can be brought up to the shallow water from deeper areas.

Figure 2.3 Poleward Migration of the latitude of LMI

3.What can we humans do?

Undoubtedly, the change in TC pattern under climate change is going to impose significant impacts on human societies. Ranson et al (2014) assessed research findings of future tropical cyclone damages under climate change, taking into account both monetary damages and unmonetized “loss potential” damages but excluding fatality. Their conclusion suggested that a 2.5 °C rise in the global surface air temperature would result in a 28% increase in TC damages in the WNP.

To face these threats and reduce possible losses, adaptation and mitigation methods are needed to be carried out against both tropical cyclones and climate change.

3.1 Response to the change in patterns of tropical cyclones

To prepare for higher-intensity cyclones, coastal countries should strengthen and improve their disaster management systems, especially those countries that have not experienced tropical cyclones but are at risk of being affected by them under climate change.

Governments concerned could carry out land use planning based on the changes of tropical cyclones. For instance, they can enforce building codes by stipulating maximum building height and density of buildings. Another option is to place less critical activities to these vulnerable areas, through programs including constructing parks, sports facilities, parks, and open grazing land.

Several mitigation methods could also be implemented to response to the intensified tropical cyclone, such as constructing hazard-resistant buildings and infrastructure to reduce the vulnerability and risks. Meanwhile, vegetation cover improvements, including planting trees in rows and coastal shelterbelt plantations, are also effective ways to break the wind force and reduce surface runoff discharge (increase the water infiltration capacity), hence mitigating the severe losses.

When attacked by tropical cyclones, some specific preparation methods are helpful to reduce the losses. The monitoring and prediction of tropical cyclones should be improved, and timely weather forecasts and warnings should be provided to the public. When cyclones arrive, residents should be evacuated into shelters nearby. After the cyclone, local authorities should implement immediate rescuing, and at the same time ensure water, food and healthcare provisions so as to prevent the spread of diseases.

For those areas that have not experienced tropical cyclones but are at risk of being affected by them under current climate change, public awareness programs must be implemented to familiarize the public with the causes and impacts of the hazard, and the ways in which the local population is vulnerable. Meanwhile, the explanation of warning systems and evacuation plans should also be publicized.

3.2 Measures to mitigate climate change

The influence of climate change on tropical cyclones has been notoriously difficult to separate from natural variability. However, an increasingly consistent picture is emerging that indicates human activities are probably influencing some aspects of these extreme weather events.5 Therefore, in order to reduce the risk level from the root, human beings should adopt several schemes to mitigate global warming.

There are methods on different scales to combat climate change. For instance, local authorities could lay down road or transport policies to reduce the use of fossil fuels. They can also encourage reuse and recycling so as to reduce possible rubbish burning. National efforts might also be helpful, such as investing in the research and development of renewable energy, or carrying out carbon capture storage projects. International efforts may have a larger impact on global emissions, including holding international environmental protection meetings just like the Kyoto Protocol(1997) and Paris Agreement(2015). Carbon permits can be handed out to countries, reducing emissions by providing economic incentives.

However, in reality, it might be hard for all stakeholders to reach a consensus on carrying out these climate change mitigations, as they may harm the interest of some groups and organizations. For example, some oil-exporting countries may be reluctant to stop trading in fossil fuels, and some high-latitude countries may be benefited from the melting of the Arctic Ocean as they can create new transport routes.

4.Conclusion

Tropical cyclones are a natural hazard with the ability to cause widespread damage. The growing phenomenon of climate change amplifies these devastating effects by increasing their intensity, but not their frequency. This will also trigger other serious disasters, such as storm surges, heavy precipitation, landslides and secondary succession, threatening human society and the surrounding ecological environment. Several measurements recommended on mitigating both tropical cyclones and climate change might be helpful to reduce the risk, the implementation of which would vary from region to region according to their specific characteristics.

Bibliography

Bengtsson, L., Botzet M., and Esch, M. “Will Greenhouse Gas-Induced Warming over the next 50 Years Lead to Higher Frequency and Greater Intensity of Hurricanes?” Tellus A: Dynamic Meteorology and Oceanography 48, no. 1 (1996): 57–73. https://doi.org/10.3402/tellusa.v48i1.11632

Chand Savin, Walsh Kevin, Camargo Suzana. et al. “Declining tropical cyclone frequency under global warming.” Natural Climate Change 12 (2022): 655–661. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41558-022-01388-4

Kieran Bhatia, Gabriel Vecchi, Hiroyuki Murakami, et al. “Projected Response of Tropical Cyclone Intensity and Intensification in a Global Climate Model.” Journal of Climate 31, no. 20 (2018): 8281–9303. https://doi.org/10.1175/JCLI-D-17-0898.1.

Korty Robert, Emanuel Kerry, and Scott Jeffery. “Tropical Cyclone–Induced Upper-Ocean Mixing and Climate: Application to Equable Climates.” Journal of Climate 21, no. 4 (2008): 638–654. https://doi.org/10.1175/2007JCLI1659.1

Kossin J., Emanuel K., and Vecchi G. “The poleward migration of the location of tropical cyclone maximum intensity.” Nature 509 (2014): 349–352. https://doi.org/10.1038/nature13278

Potts, Laura. 2021. “Intensity of tropical cyclones is probably increasing due to climate change.” High Meadows Environmental Institute, March 25, 2021. https://environment.princeton.edu/news/intensity-of-tropical-cyclones-is-probably-increasing-due-to-climate-change/.

Ranson Matthew, Kousky Carolyn, Ruth Matthias. et al. “Tropical and extratropical cyclone damages under climate change.” Climatic Change 127 (2014): 227–241. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10584-014-1255-4

Thomas Knutson, Suzana J. Camargo, Johnny C. L. Chan, et al. “Tropical Cyclones and Climate Change Assessment: Part II: Projected Response to Anthropogenic Warming.” Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society 101, no. 2 (2020): E303–E322. /https://doi.org/10.1175/BAMS-D-18-0194.1.

UNISDR. Making Disaster Risk Reduction Gender Sensitive: Policy and Practical Guidelines. United Nations, 2009. http://repo.floodalliance.net/jspui/44111/1124.

Original link: https://fiona-f-ang.github.io/index.html

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ESP (Earth System Project) is one of the most important competitions in the International Earth Science Olympiad. Participants are required to carry out research in international teams. They needed to decide their own topic and search for and analyse relevant information within one day and a half, and finally present a 12-minute-long presentation to the Olympiad Jury. I with my teammates from Japan, South Korea, Australia, Bangalesh, and Indonesia focused on the impact of climate change on tropical cyclones, and were glad to eventually win a bronze award (world top 10) together. The following is part of our powerpoint slide.

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The “Earth System Pledge” is one of the projects held during the International Earth Science Olympiad, which requests students to write a short production explaining how they would like to use their knowledge and skills in the future. The article posted below is my pledge. There is a limit for words to be written, hence I choose to express and describe my interest in a specific subject, Climatology.

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I’ve always been fascinated by the complexity and sophistication of our climate system. It has constantly undergone changes during the geological history – there were ice ages, high temperatures, and millions of years of heavy rain. This leads some to conclude that, today’s “slight” temperature rise is not likely to impose considerable influences on humans. However, global warming is more than just a simple increase in temperature. Its effects are felt across all Earth systems: rising sea levels flood coastal areas; Disrupted weather systems bring more frequent extreme days; Species are forced to adapt to changing living conditions, and some are even threatened with extinction……

Under the background of climate change, can we, fragile human beings, successfully adapt to the great change in the ecological system we live by? That’s the question I pledge to answer in the future. To this end, I will learn to reconstruct the historical climate change model using evidence such as ice cores and foraminifer; I will use computer tools to analyze its potential impacts and future trends; I will assess and practice existing mitigation strategies including carbon neutrality and pollution reduction, while also dedicate in designing other mitigation measures; Last but not least, I will focus on the social context behind climate change, striving to ensure the interests of more stakeholders.

With the allegiance to this planet, I pledge to work with thousands of earth scientists together, to study its history, focus on its present, and eventually, create its future.

Ziyan Fang, China

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The 15th IESO (International Earth Science Olympiad) was hosted by Aosta, Italy, from August 25 to 31. More than 200 contestants from 41 countries and regions took part in it, enjoying the seven events held during the olympiad. After national open round, final round and training camp selection, I was honored to become a national team member and participate in the national competition representing China with other 7 teammates. In the 4 competitions which there are gold, silver, and bronze medals to be awarded, I was glad to win gold medal in NTFI (National Team Field Investigation) , gold medal in ELSI (Earth Learning Students’ Ideas)(also called “excellent” in this program), silver medal in DMT (Data Mining Test) and bronze medal in ESP (Earth System Project) . My total medal count ranks first in Team China. The following is my award certificates, whilst the detailed introduction of and my production for each event will be presented in the following articles.

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This summer holiday I participated in the summer school “Explore Planet Earth, Its Hazards, Resources and Environmental Change” in Hong Kong University. During the summer school, I learnt about “Earth Materials”– minerals and rocks, appreciating their uses on our daily life; I also studied about other fascinating topics including plate tectonics, climate change, natural hazards and natural resources. We also investigated the natural resources and landslide in Hong Kong through virtual field trip. A virtual museum visit to the Jockey Club Museum of Climate Change, CUHK deepended our insights into the climate change. Meanwhile, we also had the chance to learn about the current research carrying out by fellows and phd students in the Earth Science Department in Hong Kong University. One phd students, Howard, shared us about his work reconstructing past sea level, which I was greatly interested in. After the lecture, I discussed with him about their choices of sites to take the sediment core samples through email, such as what factors they may consider when choosing the site of drilling cores. I was so pleased to further my insights into the methodologies used in the practical research.

Finally, at the end of the summer school, all of the participants are required to deliver a presentation from a specific topic related to earth science. I decided to investigate the topic of volcanic eruption which I found really interesting. It’s my honor that my presentation was highly appreciated by the tutors.

In this blog I would like to post my certificate as well as my powerpoint slide for the volcano presentation.

Original link: https://fiona-f-ang.github.io/index.html

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