Dr. Huiming Bao

Huiming Bao (CV)
Ph. D; Princeton University, 1998

Stable isotope geochemistry
bao@lsu.edu
(225) 578-3419 (office), -3413 (lab)

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Research:

A common thread of my research has been the use of multiple stable isotope systems to "read" into the geological records, especially the history of our evolving atmosphere.

The tools that I use include gas-source isotopic ratio mass spectrometry (dual-inlet and conflo), laser-fluorination systems, vacuum lines, GC, IC, ICP-ES, SEM, XRD, and wet- and photo- chemistry lab facilities. My students and I have built up a unique stable isotope laboratory that is specialized in the isotope-ratio measurements of most elements in water-soluble oxy-anions such as sulfate, nitrate, or perchlorate. The Oxy-Anion Stable Isotope Center (OASIC) is capable of chemical preparation and measurement of δ¹⁵N, δ¹⁸O, δ¹⁷O, δ³⁴S, δ³³S, and δ³⁶S values of SO₄^2-, NO₃^-, or ClO₄^-. In recent years, OASIC has adapted to measure the δ¹⁵N, δ¹⁸O, and δ¹⁷O (and therefore the D¹⁷O) for various oxyanions to the best precisions and in the most efficient ways thus far available in the community.

Students in our group are trained to be hands-on and independent researchers who are comfortable with fieldwork, wet chemistry, stable isotope analysis, data synthesis, and all the way to modeling if necessary. Our active fieldwork sites are all over the globe, include Antarctic Dry Valleys, Australia, China, Chile, and USA (Wyoming, Nebraska, and South Dakota).

Active Research Projects

I. Atmosphere-Biosphere condition associated with Neoproterozoic global glaciations

II. Atmospheric deposition and post-depositional migration of ions in hyperarid deserts

III. Sulfur oxidation chemistry associated with large-scale volcanic eruptions in the geological past

IV. Early Earth

V. Mars

Teaching:

I teach Physical Geology (Geol-1001) and Historical Geology (Geol-1003).  My upper-level graduate courses include "Carbonates: Geochemistry, petrology, & sedimentology", "Geol7081-- Stable Isotope Geochemistry", and "Advanced Topics in Stable Isotope Geochemistry".

Selected Publications:

Bao, Huiming, Ian J. Fairchild, Peter M. Wynn, and Christoph Spötl, 2009, Stretching the Envelope of Past Surface Environments: Neoproterozoic Glacial Lakes from Svalbard, Science, 323, 119-122; DOI: 10.1126/science.1165373

Bao, Huiming, Jim Lyons, and Chuanming Zhou, May 2008, Triple oxygen isotope evidence for elevated CO₂ levels after a Neoproterozoic glaciation, Nature, 453 (7194), 504-506; DOI: 10.1038/nature06959.

Bao, Huiming, Sun, T., Kohl, I., and Peng, Y.-P., 2008, Comments on "Early Archaean microorganisms preferred elemental sulfur, not sulfate", Science, v. 319 (5868), p. 1336.

Bao, Huiming and Gu, Baohua, 2004, Natural perchlorate has a unique oxygen isotope signature. Environmental Science and Technology, 38(19): 5073-5077.; 10.1021/es049516z

Bao, Huiming, Thiemens, M.H., Loope, D.B. and Yuan, X.-L., 2003. Sulfate oxygen-17 anomaly in an Oligocene ash bed in mid-North America: Was it the dry fogs? Geophysical Research Letters, 30(16): 1843; 10.1029/2003GL016869.

Bao Huiming, Douglas A. Campbell, James G. Bockheim, Mark H. Thiemens, 2000, Origin of sulfate in Antarctic Dry Valley soils as deduced from anomalous ¹⁷O compositions. Nature 407, 499-502.

Bao, Huiming et al. 2000, Anomalous ¹⁷O compositions in massive sulphate deposits on the Earth. Nature 406, 176-178.

Graduate student opportunities

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Photos of field works from 2001-2009

The Atacama Desert, Northern Chile (2001) (2007-1)
Xinjiang, northwestern China (2001) (2002)
Nebraska, USA (2002-1, -2)
The Antarctic Dry Valleys (2002-1, -2, -3, -4, -5, -6)
Scotts Bluff, Nebraska, USA (2005-1,-2, -3, -4)
Nebraska, Wyoming 2006 (-1)
North China (2006 -1, -2)
South China (2007 -1, -2, -3)

South China (2008 -1, -2)

South China (2009, -1, -2, -3, -4)

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