CPAFFC Vice-President Xie Yuan Meets President Lakis of US State Legislative Leaders Foundation

On Jan 12,Vice-President Xie Yuan met with President Stephen Lakis of the State Legislative Leaders Foundation in the United States and warmly commended the important role of the subnational legislative exchange mechanism in China-US sub-national cooperation.As an outcome of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s state visit to the US in September 2015,the First China-US Sub-national Legislatures Cooperation Forum was successfully held in 2016 in

Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectroscopy of the Sohnari Member of Laki Formation from Southern Indus Basin of Pakistan

This study determines the geochemical and depositional environment analysis of the sediments of the Sohnari Member of the Laki Formation, Northern Kirthar Fold Belt of Pakistan. The Energy-Dispersive-X-Ray Spectroscopy (EDS) technique is used for the detection of major elements and the effects of shifting depositional climatic conditions of six representative samples which were acquired from the Sohnari Member of the Laki Formation at Lakhra area, Sindh, Pakistan. The sedimentological studies clarify that the sediments the Sonahri Member are relatively immature and most migrated in clastic mode. The availability of Silica shows that the Member was formed due to biochemical precipitation and detrital mode and was deposited at a fast rate of sediment deposition under the fluvio-deltaic depositional system. This is also deduced that the rapid rate of sediment deposition might be created a reducing atmosphere and allowing for the mineralization of sulphur.

Assessment of Geotechnical Properties of Laki Limestone for Coarse Aggregate, Nooriabad, Jamshoro Sindh, Pakistan

Present study is aimed at assessment of geotechnical properties of Laki limestone as coarse aggregate which is being quarried in Nooriabad area,Sindh,Pakistan.Coarse aggregate samples(n=20)of limestone were collected for the evaluation of physico-mechanical properties of the aggregate.Petrographic analysis revealed that the aggregate comprises of hard,compact,massive,crystalline and fossiliferous limestone.It is devoid of any reactive silica(chert,chalcedony)and other harmful constituents like clays or organic matter.Average values of specific gravity,absorption,bulk density,void content and combined index(EI+FI)of collected samples are 2.5,2.1%,1.54 g/cc,38.55%and 13.04%respectively.The values of specific gravity(2.3-2.9),absorption(0-8%),bulk density(1.28 g/cc-1.92 g/cc)and void content(30%-45%)are varying within the range of normal weight aggregate as per American concrete institute(ACI)specifications.On the other hand,absorption values of aggregate samples are slightly higher(2.1%)than the reference range(2%)but meet other requirements.Mechanical properties including aggregate impact value(8.58%),aggregate crushing value(26.66%),Loss Angeles abrasion value(24.77%),sodium sulfate soundness(4.72%),water soluble sulfate(0.006%)and water soluble chloride(0.005%)are found to be within corresponding guidelines set by ASTM.On the other hand,average carbonate content is found to be 89.64%indicating that Laki limestone is of slightly low purity.Except absorption,all physical and mechanical properties lie within specified ranges.It is concluded that Laki limestone is suitable for use as road aggregate and concrete mix design.

Hydroclimatic anomalies in China during the post-Laki years and the role ofconcurring El Nino

Arctic is warming at an alarming speed causing accelerated melting of Greenland and rising of sea level,and geoengineering by injectingaerosol into stratosphere(SAI)has been proposed as a backup approach to mitigate warming.However,studies suggest that SAI implementationmay have adverse impacts on global especially monsoon precipitation,and Northern Hemisphere high-latitude injections may have dis-proportionally high effects than tropical injections.The 1783e1784 CE Laki eruption in Iceland provides an analogy to study the climatic andthe subsequent socioecological responses to Arctic SAI,and China possesses a rich legacy of documents recording climatic disasters anddescribing their direct impacts on agriculture and society.Using the most recent summer precipitation reconstructions and the documentary data,this study presents a systemic analysis of the hydroclimatic anomalies as well as the societal and ecological consequences in China following the1783e1784 CE Laki eruption.The results from multi-proxies show severe drought conditions in eastern China during the post-Laki years,accompanied by large scale locust breakout,famine and human pestilence.The drought and associated disasters first emerged in the North ChinaPlain in 1784 CE,intensified and expanded to the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River in 1785 CE.The drought and famine stresses inChina are part of the very unsettled climate conditions experienced across the Northern Hemispheric world during the 1780s.By isolating theENSO-induced precipitation from the reconstructed summer precipitation changes,our results indicate that the Laki eruption did cause severedrought in monsoon China during the next three years.The drought responses in the 1783e1784 were largely counter-balanced by the wettinginduced by the concurring strong El Ni~no event.The results help to enhance our understanding of the hydroclimate consequence of NH highlatitude volcanic eruption in China,and the potential role climate internal variation such as ENSO may play in modifying volcanic-induced perturbation.