Chaoliu Li, Ph.D

I am a research scientist in professor Noah planavsky’s lab. Previously, my research focused on the concentration, sources, and lifetime of carbonaceous particles in the atmosphere of remote regions in the world. Currently, I am also interested in studying the  cycle of carbon and other key elements of enhanced rock weathering.

My selected publications:

1. Li, C*.; Zhang, C.; Kang, S.; Xu, Y.; Yan, F.; Liu, Y.; Rai, M.; Zhang, H.; Chen, P.; Wang, P., Weak transport of atmospheric water-insoluble particulate carbon from South Asia to the inner Tibetan Plateau in the monsoon season. Science of The Total Environment 2024, 171321.
2. Hu, Z., Kang, S., Xu, J., Zhang, C., Li, X., Yan, F., Zhang, Y., Chen, P. and Li, C*., 2023. Significant overestimation of black carbon concentration caused by high organic carbon in aerosols of the Tibetan Plateau. Atmospheric Environment, 294: 119486.
3. Li, C*., Kang, S., Yan, F., Zhang, C., Yang, J. and He, C., 2022. Importance of precipitation and dust storms in regulating black carbon deposition on remote Himalayan glaciers. Environmental Pollution: 120885.
4. Li, C., Bosch, C., Kang, S*., Andersson, A., Chen, P., Zhang, Q., Cong, Z., Tripathee, L., Gustafsson, Ö., 2022. 14C characteristics of organic carbon in the atmosphere and at glacier region of the Tibetan Plateau. Science of The Total Environment 832, 155020.
5. Xu, Y., Li, Q., Xie, S., Zhang, C., Yan, F., Liu, Y., Kang, S., Gao, S., Li, C*., 2022. Composition and sources of heavy metals in aerosol at a remote site of Southeast Tibetan Plateau, China. Science of The Total Environment, 157308.
6. Xu, Y., Li, Q., Xie, S., Zhang, C., Yan, F., Liu, Y., Kang, S., Gao, S., Li, C*., 2022. Overestimation of anthropogenic contribution of heavy metals in precipitation than those of aerosol samples due to different treatment methods. Environmental Pollution 300, 118956.
7. Zhang, C., Gao, S., Yan, F., Kang, S., He, C., Li, C*., 2022. An overestimation of light absorption of brown carbon in ambient particles caused by using filters with large pore size. Science of The Total Environment 833, 155286.
8. Li, C., Yan, F., Zhang, C., Kang, S., Rai, M., Zhang, H., Hu, S. and He, C., 2022. Coupling of decreased snow accumulation and increased light-absorbing particles accelerates glacier retreat in the Tibetan Plateau. Science of The Total Environment: 151095.
9. Li, C*., Yan, F., Kang, S., Yan, C., Hu, Z., Chen, P., Gao, S., Zhang, C., He, C., Kaspari, S., 2021. Carbonaceous matter in the atmosphere and glaciers of the Himalayas and the Tibetan plateau: an investigative review. Environment international 146, 106281.
10. Li, C*., Zhang, C., Kang, S., Gustafsson, Ö., 2021. Quantification and implication of measurement bias of ambient atmospheric BC concentration. Atmospheric Environment 249, 118244.
11. Li C*, Han X, Kang S, Yan F, Chen P, Hu Z, Yang J, Ciren D, Gao S, Sillanpää M. 2019. Heavy near-surface PM2. 5 pollution in Lhasa, China during a relatively static winter period. Chemosphere 214:314-318.
12. Li C*, Kang S, Yan F. 2018. Importance of Local Black Carbon Emissions to the Fate of Glaciers of the Third Pole. Environmental Science & Technology 52:14027−14028.
13. Li, C*., Chen, P., Kang, S*., Yan, F., Tripathee, L., Wu, G., Qu, B., Sillanpää, M., Yang, D., Dittmar, T., Stubbins, A*., Peter, A., 2018. Fossil fuel combustion emission from South Asia influences precipitation dissolved organic carbon reaching the remote Tibetan Plateau: isotopic and Molecular evidence. Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres. 123 (art. D028181):6248-6258.
14. Li, C*., Yan, F., Kang, S., Chen, P., Hu, Z., Han, X., Zhang, G., Hong, Y., Zhejing, z., Jiwei, L., Bing, C., Gao, S., Qu, B., Sillanpää, M., 2017. Reevaluating black carbon in the Himalayas and the Tibetan Plateau: concentrations and deposition. Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics, 17, 11899-11912.
15. Li, C*., Yan, F., Kang, S., Chen, P., Hu, Z., Han, X., Zhang, G., Gao, S., Qu, B. and Sillanpää, M. 2017. Deposition and light absorption characteristics of precipitation dissolved organic carbon (DOC) at three remote stations in the Himalayas and Tibetan Plateau, China. Science of The Total Environment 605, 1039-1046.
16. Li, C., Bosch, C., Kang, S*., Andersson, A., Chen, P., Zhang, Q., Cong, Z., Chen, B., Qin, D., Gustafsson, Ö*., 2016. Sources of Black Carbon to the Himalayan-Tibetan Plateau glaciers. Nature Communications, 7, 12574.
17. Li, C*., Chen, P., Kang, S., Yan, F., Hu, Z., Qu, B., Sillanpää, M., 2016. Concentrations and light absorption characteristics of carbonaceous aerosol in PM2.5 and PM10 of Lhasa city, the Tibetan Plateau. Atmospheric Environment 127, 340-346.
18. Li, C*., Yan, F., Kang, S., Chen, P., Qu, B., Hu, Z., Sillanpää, M., 2016. Concentration, sources and flux of dissolved organic carbon of precipitation at Lhasa city, the Tibetan Plateau. Environmental Science and Pollution Research 3, 12915-12921.
19. Li, C*., Chen, P., Kang, S*., Yan, F., Li, X., Qu, B., Sillanpää, M., 2016. Carbonaceous matter deposition in the high glacial regions of the Tibetan Plateau. Atmospheric Environment 141, 203-208.
20. Li, C*., Yan, F., Kang, S., Chen, P., Hu, Z., Gao, S., Qu, B., Sillanpää, M., 2016. Light absorption characteristics of carbonaceous aerosols in two remote stations of the southern fringe of the Tibetan Plateau, China. Atmospheric Environment, 79-85.
21. Li, C., Kang, S*., Chen, P., Zhang, Q., Mi, J., Gao, S., Sillanpää, M., 2014. Geothermal spring causes arsenic contamination in river waters of the southern Tibetan Plateau, China. Environmental Earth Sciences 71, 4143-4148.
22. Li, C., Kang, S*., Chen, P., Zhang, Q., Fang, G.C., 2012. Characterizations of particle-bound trace metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) within Tibetan tents of south Tibetan Plateau, China. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 1-9.
23. Li, C., Kang, S*., Chen, P., Zhang, Q., Guo, J., Mi, J., Basang, P., Luosang, Q., Smith, K.R., 2012. Personal PM 2.5 and indoor CO in nomadic tents using open and chimney biomass stoves on the Tibetan Plateau. Atmospheric Environment 59, 207-213.
24. Li, C., Kang, S*., Zhang, Q., Gao, S., 2012. Geochemical evidence on the source regions of Tibetan Plateau dusts during non-monsoon period in 2008/09. Atmospheric Environment 59, 382-388.
25. Li, C., Kang, S*., Zhang, Q., Sharma, C.M., 2012. Effectiveness of rare earth elements constrain on different materials: a case study in central Asia. Environmental Earth Sciences 67, 1415-1421.
26. Li, C., Kang, S*., Zhang, Q., Gao, S., Sharma, C.M., 2010. Heavy metals in sediments of the Yarlung Tsangbo and its connection with the arsenic problem in the Ganges–Brahmaputra Basin. Environmental Geochemistry and Health 33, 23-32.
27. Li, C., Kang, S*., Zhang, Q., 2009. Elemental composition of Tibetan Plateau top soils and its effect on evaluating atmospheric pollution transport. Environmental Pollution 157, 2261-2265.
28. Li, C., Kang, S*., Zhang, Q., Wang, F., 2009. Rare earth elements in the surface sediments of the Yarlung Tsangbo (Upper Brahmaputra River) sediments, southern Tibetan Plateau. Quaternary International 208, 151-157.
29. Li, C., Kang, S*., Wang, X., Ajmone-Marsan, F., Zhang, Q., 2008. Heavy metals and rare earth elements (REEs) in soil from the Nam Co Basin, Tibetan Plateau. Environmental Geology 53, 1433-1440.
30. Li, C., Kang, S*., Cong, Z., 2007. Elemental composition of aerosols collected in the glacier area on Nyainqentanglha Range, Tibetan Plateau, during summer monsoon season. Chinese Science Bulletin 52, 3436-3442.
31. Li, C., Kang, S*., Zhang, Q., Kaspari, S., 2007. Major ionic composition of precipitation in the Nam Co region, Central Tibetan Plateau. Atmospheric Research 85, 351-360.
32. Li, C., Kang, S., 2006. Review of the studies on climate change since the last inter-glacial period on the Tibetan Plateau. Journal of Geographical Sciences 16, 337-345.
33. Chen, M*., Zeng, C., Zhang, F., Kang, S. and Li, C*., 2020. Characteristics of dissolved organic matter from a trans-boundary Himalayan watershed: relationships with land use, elevation, and hydrology. ACS Earth and Space Chemistry.
34. Gautam, S., Yan, F., Kang, S., Han, X., Neupane, B., Chen, P., Hu, Z., Sillanpää, M. and Li, C*., 2020. Black carbon in surface soil of the Himalayas and Tibetan Plateau and its contribution to total black carbon deposition at glacial region. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 27(3): 2670-2676.
35. Hu, Z., Kang, S*., He, X., Yan, F., Zhang, Y., Chen, P., Li, X., Gao, S. and Li, C*., 2020. Carbonaceous matter in glacier at the headwaters of the Yangtze River: Concentration, sources and fractionation during the melting process. Journal of Environmental Sciences, 87: 389-397.
36. Yan, F., Wang, P., Kang, S., Chen, P., Hu, Z., Han, X., Sillanpää, M. and Li, C*., 2020. High particulate carbon deposition in Lhasa—a typical city in the Himalayan–Tibetan Plateau—due to local contributions. Chemosphere: 125843.
37. Yan, F., He, C., Kang, S., Chen, P., Hu, Z., Han X., Gautam S., Yan, C., Zheng, M., Sillanpää, M., Raymond PA., Li, C*. 2019. Deposition of organic and black carbon: direct measurements at three remote stations in the Himalayas and Tibetan Plateau. Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres.
38. Chen, M*., Li, C*. Zeng, F. Zhang, P. A. Raymond, and J. Hur*, 2019. Immobilization of relic anthropogenic dissolved organic matter from alpine rivers in the Himalayan-Tibetan Plateau in winter, Water Research, 160, 97-106.
39. Yan F, Sillanpää M, Kang S*, Aho KS, Qu B, Wei D, Li X, Li C*, Raymond PA. 2018. Lakes on the Tibetan Plateau as conduits of greenhouse gases to the atmosphere. Journal of Geophysical Research: Biogeosciences.
40. Hu, Z., Kang, S*., Yan, F., Zhang, Y., Li, Y., Chen, P., Qin, X., Wang, K., Gao, S., Li, C*., 2018. Dissolved organic carbon fractionation accelerates glacier-melting: A case study in the northern Tibetan Plateau. Science of The Total Environment 627, 579-585.
41. Hu, Z., Kang, S., Li, C*., Yan, F., Chen, P., Gao, S., Wang, Z., Zhang, Y. and Sillanpaa, M. 2017. Light absorption of biomass burning and vehicle emission-sourced carbonaceous aerosols of the Tibetan Plateau. Environmental Science and Pollution Research 24, 15369-15378.
42. Qu, B*., Sillanpää, M., Kang, S., Yan, F., Li, Z., Zhang, H. and Li, C*. 2017. Export of dissolved carbonaceous and nitrogenous substances in rivers of the “Water Tower of Asia”. Journal of Environmental Sciences.
43. Qu, B., Sillanpaa, M., Li, C*., Kang, S., Stubbins, A., Yan, F., Aho, K.S., Zhou, F. and Raymond, P.A. 2017. Aged dissolved organic carbon exported from rivers of the Tibetan Plateau. Plos One 12.
44. Qu B*, Aho KS, Li C*, Kang S, Sillanpää M, Yan F and Raymond, P.A. 2017. Greenhouse gases emissions in rivers of the Tibetan Plateau. Scientific reports. 7(1):16573.
45. Yan, F., Kang, S., Li, C*., Zhang, Y., Qin, X., Li, Y., Zhang, X., Hu, Z., Chen, P., Li, X., Qu, B., Sillanpää, M., 2016. Concentration, sources and light absorption characteristics of dissolved organic carbon on a medium-sized valley glacier, northern Tibetan Plateau. The Cryosphere. 10, 2611-2621.
46. Chen, P., Kang, S., Bai, J., Sillanpää, M., Li, C*., 2015. Yak dung combustion aerosols in the Tibetan Plateau: Chemical characteristics and influence on the local atmospheric environment. Atmospheric Research 156, 58-66.
47. Chen, P., Kang, S., Li, C*., Rupakheti, M., Yan, F., Li, Q., Ji, Z., Zhang, Q., Luo, W., Sillanpää, M., 2015. Characteristics and sources of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in atmospheric aerosols in the Kathmandu Valley, Nepal. Science of the Total Environment 538, 86-92.
48. Li, Y., Yan, F., Kang, S., Zhang, C., Chen, P., Hu, Z., Li, C*., 2021. Sources and light absorption characteristics of water-soluble organic carbon (WSOC) of atmospheric particles at a remote area in inner Himalayas and Tibetan Plateau. Atmospheric Research 253, 105472.
49. Zhang, C., Chen, M., Kang, S., Yan, F., Han, X., Gautam, S., Hu, Z., Zheng, H., Chen, P., Gao, S., Wang, P., Li, C*., 2021. Light absorption and fluorescence characteristics of water-soluble organic compounds in carbonaceous particles at a typical remote site in the southeastern Himalayas and Tibetan Plateau. Environmental Pollution 272, 116000.
50. Gautam, S., Yan, F., Kang, S., Han, X., Neupane, B., Chen, P., Hu, Z., Sillanpää, M., Li, C*., 2020. Black carbon in surface soil of the Himalayas and Tibetan Plateau and its contribution to total black carbon deposition at glacial region. Environmental Science and Pollution Research 27, 2670-2676.
51. Hu, Z., Kang, S*., He, X., Yan, F., Zhang, Y., Chen, P., Li, X., Gao, S., Li, C*., 2020. Carbonaceous matter in glacier at the headwaters of the Yangtze River: Concentration, sources and fractionation during the melting process. Journal of Environmental Sciences 87, 389-397.
52. Yan, F., Kang, S., Sillanpää, M., Hu, Z., Gao, S., Chen, P., Gautam, S., Reinikainen, S.-P., Li, C*., 2020. A new method for extraction of methanol-soluble brown carbon: Implications for investigation of its light absorption ability. Environmental Pollution, 114300.
53. Yan, F., Wang, P., Kang, S., Chen, P., Hu, Z., Han, X., Sillanpää, M., Li, C*., 2020. High particulate carbon deposition in Lhasa—a typical city in the Himalayan–Tibetan Plateau—due to local contributions. Chemosphere, 125843.