Researcher
Name:
Weilin Zhang
Title:
Professor
Tel:
010-84097034
Email:
zhangwl@itpcas.ac.cn
Address:
Building 3, Courtyard 16, Lin Cui Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100101P.R. China
Education and Appointments
Education
Ph.D. in Physical Geography, Lanzhou University, China, 2006  
M. S. in Physical Geography, Lanzhou University, China, 2003
B. S. in Geology, Lanzhou University, China, 2000
Appointments 
2013.05–present Associate Professor, Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research, CAS, China
2009.12–2013.04 Project researcher, Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research, CAS, China
2010.01–2011.02 Postdoctoral Researcher, Department of Geosciences, Tübingen university, Germany
2007.03–2007.07 Visiting scholar, Tübingen university, Germany
2006.07–2009.10 Postdoctoral Researcher, Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research, CAS, China


Research Interest
Selected Publications

Publications in the recent 5 years (2016-2020) (* corresponding author; # joint first authors; Including books and book chapters) 

Part 1: 5 representative publications  

1. Zhang, W.L.*, Fang, X.M., Zhang, T., Song, C.H., Yan, M.D., 2020. Eocene rotation of the northeastern central Tibetan Plateau indicating stepwise compressions and eastward extrusions. Geophysical Research Letters, Letters, 47, e2020GL088989. https://doi.org/ 10.1029/2020GL088989.

2. Zhang, W.L.*, Zhang, D.W., Fang, X.M., Zhang, T., Chen, C.H., Yan, M.D., 2020. New paleomagnetic constraints on rift basin evolution in the northern Himalaya mountains. Gondwana Research, 77, 98-110.

3. Zhang, W.L.*, Appel, E., Fang, X.M., Setzer, F., Song, C.H., Meng, Q.Q., Yan, M.D., 2020. New paleomagnetic constraints on syntectonic growth strata in the western Qaidam Basin, NE Tibetan Plateau. Tectonophysics, 780. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tecto.2020.228401.

4. Zhang, W.L.*, Yan, M.D., Fang, X.M., Zhang, D.W., Zhang, T., Zan, J.B., Song, C.H., 2019a. High-resolution paleomagnetic constraint on the oldest hominoid- fossil bearing sequence in the Xiaolongtan Basin, southeast margin of the Tibetan Plateau and its geologic implications. Global and Planetary Change, 182, 103001. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gloplacha.2019.103001.

5. Zhang, W.L.*, Zhang, T., Song, C.H., Erwin, A., Mao, Z.Q., Fang, Y.H., Meng, Q.Q., Yang, R.S., Zhang, D.W., Li, B.S., Li, J., Lu, Y., 2017. Termination of fluvial-alluvial sedimentation in the Xining Basin, NE Tibetan Plateau, and its subsequent geomorphic evolution. Geomorphology, 297, 86-99.

Part 2: all other publications (exclude part 1) 

1. Zhang, W.L.*, Fang, X.M., Song, C.H., Yan, M.D., Wang, J.Y., Zhang, Z.G., Wu, F.L., Zan, J.B., Zhang, T., Yang, Y.B., Tan, M.Q., 2020. Magnetostratigraphic constraints on the age of the Hipparion fauna in the Linxia Basin of China, and its implications for stepwise aridification. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, 537.  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.palaeo.2019.109413. 

2. Zhang, W.L.*, Appel, E., Wang, J.Y., Fang, X.M., Zan, J.B., Yang, Y.B., Miao, Y.F., Yan, X.L., 2019b. New paleomagnetic constraints for Platybelodon and Hipparion faunas in the Linxia Basin and their ecological environmental implications. Global and Planetary Change, 176, 71-83. 

3. Yang, L.Y., Zhang, W.L.*, Fang, X.M., Cai, M.,T., Lu, Y., 2020. Aridification recorded by lithofacies and grain size in a continuous Pliocene-Quaternary lacustrine sediment record in the western Qaidam Basin, NE Tibetan Plateau. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, 556. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.palaeo.2020.109903. 

4. Tan, M.Q., Zhang, W.L.*, Fang, X.M., Yan, M.D., Zan, J.B., Zhang, T., 2020.Rock magnetic record of core SG-3 since 1 Ma in the western Qaidam Basin and its paleoclimate implications for the NE Tibetan Plateau. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.palaeo.2020.109949. 

5. Zhang, T.*, Han, W.X., Fang, X.M., Song, C.H., Wang, Y.D., Zhang, W.L., Feng, Z.T., Tan, M.Q., 2021. Tectonic forcing of environmental transition in Central Asia at ~11–9 Ma. Gondwana Research, 89, 19-30. 

6. Fang, X.M.*, G. Dupont-Nivet, Wang, C.S., Song, C.H., Meng, Q.Q., Zhang, W.L., Nie, J.S., Zhang, T., Chen, Y., 2020. Revised chronology of central Tibetan uplift (Lunpola Basin). Science Advance, 6: eaba7298, 1-10.  

7. Lü, S., Ye, C.C., Fang, X.M., Appel, E., Han, F.Q., Yan, M.D., Zhang, W.L., Zhang, T., Yang, Y.B., Han, W.X.*, 2020. Middle to late Eocene chemical weathering history in the southeastern Tibetan Plateau and its response to global cooling. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.palaeo.2020.110136. 

8. Xie, Y.L., Wu, F.L.*, Fang, X.M.*, Zhang, D.W., Zhang, W.L., 2020. Early Eocene southern China dominated by desert: Evidence from a palynological record of the Hengyang Basin, Hunan Province. Global and Planetary Change, 195, 103320. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gloplacha.2020.103320. 

9. Yan, M.D.*, Zhang, D.W., Fang, X.M., Zhang, W.L., Song, C.H., Liu, C.L., Shen, M.M., Zan, J.B., 2020. New insights on the age of the Mengyejing Formation in the Simao Basin, SE Tethyan domain and its geological implications. Science China: Earth Sciences. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11430-020-9689-3 

10. Ye, C.C., Yang, Y.B.*, Fang, X.M.*, Zhang, W.L., Song, C.H., Yang, R.S., 2020. Paleolake salinity evolution in the Qaidam Basin (NE Tibetan Plateau) between ~42 and 29Ma: Links to global cooling and Paratethys Sea incursions. Sedimentary Geology, 409.  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sedgeo.2020.105778. 

11. Shen, M.M., Zan, J.B., Yan, M.D.*, Zhang, W.L., Fang, X.M., Zhang, D.W., & Zhang, T., 2020. Comparative rock magnetic study of Eocene volcanogenic and sedimentary rocks from Yunnan, southeastern Tibetan Plateau, and its geological implications. Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth, 125, e2019JB017946. https://doi.org/10.1029/2019JB017946. 

12. Li, B.S., Yan, M.D.*, Zhang, W.L., Parés, J. M., Fang, X.M., Yang, Y.P., Zhang, D.W., Guan, C., Bao, J., 2020. Magnetic fabric constraints on the Cenozoic compressional strain changes in the northern Qaidam marginal thrust belt and their tectonic implications. Tectonics, 39, e2019TC005989. https://doi.org/10.1029/2019TC005989. 

13. Fang, X.M.*, Zhang, T., Zhang, W.L., Zan, J.B., Song, C.H., Dai, S., 2019. Advances of Cenozoic magnetostratigraphy of the Xining Basin. Chinese Science Bulletin, 64(11): 1103-1105. https://doi.org/doi/10.1360/N972019-00130. 

14. Ruan, X.B., Yang, Y.B.*, Galy, A., Fang, X.M. *, Jin, Z.D., Zhang, F., Yang, R.S., Deng, L., Meng, Q.Q., Ye, C.C., Zhang, W.L., 2019. Evidence for early (≥12.7 Ma) eolian dust impact on river chemistry in the northeastern Tibetan Plateau. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 515, 79-89. 

15. Mao, Z.Q., Meng, Q.Q.*, Fang, X.M., Zhang, T., Wu, F.L., Yang, Y.B., Zhang, W.L., Zan, J., Tan, M., 2019. Recognition of tuffs in the middle-upper Dingqinghu Fm., Lunpola Basin, central Tibetan Plateau: Constraints on stratigraphic age and implications for paleoclimate. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, 525, 44-56. 

16. Fang, X.M.*, Galy, A., Yang, Y.B., Zhang, W.L., Ye, C.C., Song, C.H., 2019. Paleogene global cooling-induced temperature feedback on chemical weathering, as recorded in the northern Tibetan Plateau. Geology, 47(10), 992-996. 

17. Fang, X.M.*, Fang,Y.H., Zan, J.B., Zhang, W.L., Song, C., Appel, E., Meng, Q., Miao,Y.,  Dai, S., Lu,Y., Zhang, T., 2019. Cenozoic magnetostratigraphy of the Xining Basin, NE Tibetan Plateau, and its constraints on paleontological, sedimentological and tectonomorphological evolution. Earth-Science Reviews, 190, 460-485. 

18. Chen, C.H., Bai Y.*, Fang, X.M., Guo, H.C., Meng, Q.Q., Zhang, W.L., Zhou, P., Azamdzhon, M., 2019. A Late Miocene terrestrial temperature history for the northeastern Tibetan Plateau's period of tectonic expansion. Geophysical Research Letters, 46(14): 8375-8386. 

19. Zhang, T.*, Han, W.X., Fang, X.M., Miao, Y.F., Zhang, W.L., Song, C.H., Wang, Y.D., Khatri, D.B., Zhang, Z.G., 2018. Tectonic control of a change in sedimentary environment at ~10 Ma in the northeastern Tibetan Plateau. Geophysical Research Letters, 45. https:// doi.org/10.1029/2018GL078460. 

20. Zhang, T.*, Fang, X.M., Wang, Y.D., Song, C.H., Zhang, W.L.,Yan, M.D, Han, W.X., Zhang, D.W., 2018. Late Cenozoic tectonic activity of the Altyn Tagh range: Constraints from sedimentary records from the Western Qaidam Basin, NE Tibetan Plateau. Tectonophysics, 737, 40-56. 

21. Zhang, D.W., Yan, M.D., Fang, X.M.*, Yang, Y.B., Zhang, T., Zan, J.B., Zhang W.L., Liu, C.L., Yang, Q., 2018. Magnetostratigraphic study of the potash-bearing strata from drilling core ZK2893 in the Sakhon Nakhon Basin, eastern Khorat Plateau. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, 489, 40-51. 

22. Zan, J.B.*, Li, X.J., Fang, X.M., Zhang, W.L., Yan, M.D., Mao, Z.Q., 2018. Grain-size analysis of Upper Pliocene red clay deposits from Linxia Basin: Implications for Asian monsoon evolution on the NE margin of the Tibetan Plateau. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, 511, 597-605. 

23. Zan, J.B.*, Kang, J., Yan, M.D., Fang, X.M., Li, X.J., Guan, C., Zhang, W.L., Fang, Y.H., 2018. A pedogenic model for the magnetic enhancement of late Miocene fluvial-lacustrine sediments from the Xining Basin, NE Tibetan Plateau. Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth, 123. https://doi.org/10.1029/2018JB016064. 

24. Zan, J.B.*, Fang, X.M., Zhang, W.L., Yan, M.D., Zhang, D.W., 2018. A new record of late Pliocene-early Pleistocene aeolian loessered clay deposits from the western Chinese Loess Plateau and its palaeoenvironmental implications. Quaternary Science Reviews, 186,17-26. 

25. Zan, J.B.*, Fang, X.M., Li, X.J., Zhang, W.L., Yan, M.D., Shen, M.M., 2018. Late Pliocene monsoonal rainfall gradients in western China recorded by the eolian deposits from the Linxia Basin, NE Tibetan Plateau. Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres, 123, 8047-8061. 

26. Ye, C.C., Yang, Y.B., Fang, X.M.*, Hong, H.L., Wang, C.W., Yang, R.S., Zhang, W.L., 2018. Chlorite chemical composition change in response to the Eocene-Oligocene climate transition on the northeastern Tibetan Plateau. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.palaeo.2018.03.014. 

27. Ye, C.C., Yang, Y.B.*, Fang, X.M.*, Hong, H.L., Zhang, W.L., Yang, R.S., Song, B.W., Zhang, Z.G., 2018. Mineralogical and geochemical discrimination of the occurrence and genesis of palygorskite in Eocene sediments on the northeastern Tibetan Plateau. Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems, 19, 567-581. 

28. Li, B.S., Yan, M.D.*, Zhang, W.L., Fang, X., Yang, Y., Zhang, D., Chen, Y., Guan, C., 2018. Paleomagnetic rotation constraints on the deformation of the northern Qaidam marginal thrust belt and implications for strike-slip faulting along the Altyn Tagh Fault. Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth, 123. https://doi.org/10.1029/2018JB015753.  

29. Yang, Y.B.*, Yang, R.S., Li, X.Y., Han, W.X., Fang, X.M., Appel, E., Galy, A., Wu, F.L., Song Y., Zan, J.B., Zhang, Z.G., Zhang, W.L., Ye, C.C., 2017. Glacial-interglacial climate change on the northeastern Tibetan Plateau over the last 600 kyr. Palaeogeography Palaeoclimatology Palaeoecology, 476, 181-191. 

30. Yang, Y.B.*, Galy, A., Fang, X.M.*, Yang, R.S., Zhang, W.L., Zan, J.B., 2017. Eolian dust forcing of river chemistry on the northeastern Tibetan Plateau since 8Ma. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 464, 200-210. 

31. Yang, R.S., Fang, X.M.*, Meng, Q.Q., Zan, J.B., Zhang, W.L., Deng, T., Yang, Y.B., Ruan, X.B., Yang, L.Y., Li B.S., 2017. Paleomagnetic constrains on the Middle Miocene-Early Pliocene stratigraphy in the Xining Basin, NE Tibetan Plateau, and the geologic implications. Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems. https://doi.org/10.1002/ 2017GC006945. 

32. Wu, F.L., Fang, X.M.*, Meng, Q.Q., Zhao, Y., Tang, F.J., Zhang, T., Zhang, W.L., Zan, J.B, 2017. Magneto- and litho-stratigraphic records of the Oligocene-Early Miocene climatic changes from deep drilling in the Linxia Basin, Northeast Tibetan Plateau. Global and Planetary Change, 158, 36-46. 

33. Li. B.S., Yan M.D.*, Zhang W.L., Fang X.M., Meng Q.Q., Zan J.B., Zhang D.W., Yang Y.P., Guan C., 2017. New paleomagnetic constraints on middle Miocene strike-slip faulting along the middle Altyn Tagh Fault. Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth, 2017, doi/10.1002/2017JB014058. 

34. Li, J., Li, M.H.*, Fang, X.M., Zhang, G.X., Zhang W.L., Liu, X.M., 2017. Isotopic composition of gypsum hydration water in deep Core SG-1, western Qaidam basin (NE Tibetan Plateau), implications for paleoclimatic evolution. Global and Planetary Change, 155, 70-77. 

35. Li, J.*, Li, M.H.*, Fang, X.M., Wang, Z.R., Zhang, W.L., Yang, Y.B., 2017. Variations and mechanisms of gypsum morphology along deep core SG-1, western Qaidam Basin (northeastern Tibetan Plateau). Quaternary International, 430, 71-81. 

36. Khatri, D.*, Zhang, W.L., Fang, X.M. and Paudayal, K.N., 2017. Review of late Cenozoic climatic fingerprints in the Nepal Himalaya. Bulletin of Nepal Geological Society, 34, 87-96. 

37. Fang, X.M.*, Song, C.H., Yan, M.D., Zan, J.B., Liu, C.L., Sha, J.G., Zhang, W.L., Zeng, Y.Y. , Wu, S., Zhang, D.W., 2017. Mesozoic litho- and magneto-stratigraphic evidence from the central Tibetan Plateau for megamonsoon evolution and potential evaporites. Gondwana Research, 37, 110-129. 

38. Chen, Y., Yan, M.D.*, Fang, X.M., Song, C.H., Zhang, W.L., Zan J.B., Zhang Z.G., Li B.S., Yang Y.P., Zhang D.W., 2017. Detrital zircon U–Pb Geochronological and sedimentological study of the Simao Basin: Implications for the Early Cenozoic evolution of the Red River. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.epsl.2017.07.025. 

39. Zhang, T., Han, W.X., Fang, X.M.*, Zhang, W.L., Song, C.H. and Yan, M.D., 2016. Intensified tectonic deformation and uplift of the Altyn Tagh range recorded by rock magnetism and growth strata studies of the western Qaidam Basin, NE Tibetan Plateau. Global and Planetary Change, 137, 54-68. 

40. Zan, J.B., Fang, X.M.*, Zhang, W.L., Yan, M.D., Zhang, T., 2016. Palaeoenvironmental and chronological constraints on the Early Pleistocene mammal fauna from loess deposits in the Linxia Basin, NE Tibetan Plateau. Quaternary Science Reviews,148, 234-242. 

41. Yang, Y.B.*, Fang, X.M., Koutsodendris, A., Ye, C.C., Yang, R.S., Zhang W.L., Liu, X.M., Gao S.P., 2016. Exploring Quaternary paleolake evolution and climate change in the western Qaidam Basin based on the bulk carbonate geochemistry of lake sediments. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, 446, 152-161. 

42. Yang, Y.B.*, Fang, X.M., Galy, A., Jin, Z.D., Wu, F.L., Yang, R.S., Zhang, W.L., Zan, J.B., Liu, X.M., Gao, S.P., 2016. Plateau uplift forcing climate change around 8.6 Ma on the northeastern Tibetan Plateau: Evidence from an integrated sedimentary Sr record. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, 461, 418-431. 

43. Yan, M.D.*, Zhang, D.W., Fang, X.M., Ren, H.D., Zhang, W.L., Zan, J.B., Song, C.H., Zhang, T., 2016. Paleomagnetic data bearing on the Mesozoic deformation of the Qiangtang Block: implications for the evolution of the Paleo- and Meso-Tethys. Gondwana Research, 39, 292-316. 

44. Ye, C.C., Yang, Y.B.*, Fang, X.M., Zhang, W.L., 2016. Late Eocene clay boron-derived paleosalinity in the Qaidam Basin and its implications for regional tectonics and climate. Sedimentary Geology, 346, 49-59. 

45. Fang, X.M.*, Wang, J.Y., Zhang, W.L., Zan, J.B., Song, C.H., Yan, M.D., Appel, E., Zhang, T., Wu, F.L., Yang, Y.B., Lu, Y., 2016. Tectonosedimentary evolution model of an intracontinental flexural (foreland) basin for paleoclimatic research. Global and Planetary Change, 145, 78-97.