Dr Christopher Vane

Dr Christopher VaneCoastal Change Team Leader & Senior Organic Geochemist

Location: Keyworth

Tel: 0115 936 3017

E-mail Dr Christopher Vane

Biography

  • 2008–current: Coastal Change Team Leader (BGS)
  • 2002–current: Senior Organic Geochemist (BGS)
  • 2000: Postdoctoral Research, University of Newcastle Upon Tyne
  • 1998: Postdoctoral Research, Pennsylvania State University, USA
  • 1997: PhD University of Newcastle Upon Tyne, Organic Geochemistry
  • 1993: MSc University of Newcastle Upon Tyne, Petroleum Geochemistry

Research interests

Pollution in Coastal Sediments and  Urban Soils

The main thrust of my research is molecular organic geochemistry, particularly applied to estuarine and coastal sediments, as well as urban soils and waters. My current research interests are focused on tracking the source and understanding the post depositional fate of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) such as PAHs, PCBs as well as sewerage at the molecular level in estuaries and coastal zone in the UK (Thames, Clyde, Mersey) and other locations in the world. I use changes in POPs and metals to correlate across coastal sediments and understand the potential risk and impact on humans and the ecology.

Palaeoenvironmental and Palaeoclimate Reconstruction

Natural organic compounds including lipids and macromolecules such as lignin carry a wealth of structural and isotopic information that I utilise to address challenges across a broad range of science areas including palaeoenvironmental and palaeoclimate reconstructions, cycling of organic matter in the coastal zone and sea level rise. All of the above research uses a variety of state-of-the-art analytical techniques including gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS-MS) housed with the organic geochemistry laboratory at BGS.

Current projects and collaboration

  • Impacts of hydrological variability on the material transfers through the River–Estuary transition zone. NERC Std Grant with Universities of Bangor and Aberystwyth (2009–2012).  Identification of terrestrial source contributions to the pool of suspended particulate organic matter (SPOM) in the river–estuary transition zone using lignin marker compounds.
  • Assessment of sedimentary hosted pollution including persistent organic pollutants (POPs) TPH, PAHs and PCBs in estuaries in close proximity to urban–industrial centres including tidal Thames (Gravesend to Kew).  Also includes application of 206/207 Pb isotopes and 137Cs to underpin chronostratigraphy.
  • Application of stable carbon and nitrogen isotopes to asses the flux and transformation of organic matter in estuaries and coasts. Collaboration with NIGL (Prof. M. Leng)
  • Evidence of Sea Level Change, reconstruction of former sea levels using salt marsh (High-mid latitude) and mangroves sediments (Low latitude). Collaboration with sea level research team (Prof. B.P Horton) at University of Pennsylvania, USA via BUFI studentship.
  • Tracking sewage pollution in river and lake sediments using organic biomarkers (sterols and stanols)
  • Laboratory based study of the attenuation of TNT in sea water
  • Effects of Sample Preparation on the Concentrations of PAH in Soils
  • Rapid climate change: Organic geochemistry of sediments across an expanded section of the Palaeocene-Eocene thermal maximum (PETM)

Professional association

  • Fellow of the Geological Society

Published outputs

Key Papers

VANE, C.H., CHENERY, S.R., HARRISON, I., KIM, A.W., MOSS-HAYES, V., JONES, D.G. 2011. Chemical signatures of the Anthropocene in the Clyde Estuary, UK: Sediment hosted Pb, 207/206Pb, Polyaromatic Hydrocarbon (PAH) and Polychlorinated Biphenyl (PCB) Pollution Records.  Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society (A) 369, 1085-1111.

HAWKES, A.D., HORTON, B.P., NELSON, A.R., VANE, C.H., SAWAI, Y. 2011. Coastal subsidence in Oregon, USA, during the giant Cascadia earthquake of AD1700. Quaternary Science Reviews 30, 364-376.

VANE, C.H., KIM, A.W., McGOWAN, S., LENG, M.J., HEATON, T.H.E., KENDRICK, C., COOMBS, P., YANG, H., SWANN, G.E.A. 2010. Sedimentary records of sewage pollution using faecal markers in contrasting peri-urban shallow lakes. Science of the Total Environment 409, 345-356.

VANE, C.H. YUN-JUAN MA, SHE-JUN CHEN and BI-XIAN MAI. 2010. Inventory of Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in sediments of the Clyde Estuary, U.K. Environmental Geochemistry & Health, 32, 13-21.

KEMP, A.C., VANE, C.H., HORTON, B.P. CULVER S.J. 2010. Stable carbon isotopes as sea-level indicators in salt marshes. The Holocene 20(4)623-636.

VANE, C.H. JONES, D.G., and LISTER T.R.2009. Mercury contamination in surface sediments and sediment cores of the Mersey Estuary, UK. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 58, 6, 940-946.

VANE, C.H., HARRISON, I and KIM, A.W. MOSS-Hayes, V., Vickers, B.P., Hong, K. 2009. Organic and Metal Contamination in Surface Mangrove Sediments of South China. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 58, 14-144.

VANE, C.H., HARRISON, I and KIM, A.W. MOSS-HAYES, V., VICKERS, B.P., HORTON., B.P.  2008. Status of Organic Pollutants in Surface Sediments of Barnegat Bay-Little Egg Harbor Estuary, New Jersey, USA. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 56, 10, 1802-1808.

VANE, C.H. KIM, A.W. MILODOWSKI, A.E. SMELLIE, J. TULLBORG, E.L. WEST, J.M. Scientific basis for nuclear waste management  2008. Molecular characterisation of dissolved organic matter (DOM) in ground waters from the Aspo underground research laboratory, Sweden : a novel "finger printing" tool for palaeohydrological assessment: In: Scientific basis for nuclear waste management / edited by Lee W.E., Roberts J.W., Hyatt N.C., Grimes R.W. Warrendale, PA : USA : Materials Research Society 1107, 2008. p. 557-565.

VANE, C.H., HARRISON; I and KIM, A.W. 2007. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in sediments from the Mersey Estuary, U.K. Science of the Total Environment 374, 112-126.

LAMB, A.L., VANE, C.H., REES, J.G., WILSON, G.P. and  MOSS-HAYES, V.L. 2007. Assessing d13C and C/N ratios from stored organic material as Holocene sea-level and palaeoenvironmental indicators in the Humber Estuary, UK. Marine Geology 244, 109-128.

VANE, C.H., DRAGE, T.C., and SNAPE, C.E. 2006. Bark Decay by the white-rot fungus Lentinula edodes:  Polysaccharide loss, lignin resistance and the unmasking of suberin. International Biodeterioration and Biodegradation,  57, 14-23.

VANE, C.H., DRAGE, T.C., SNAPE, C.E. STEPHENSON. M.H. and  FOSTER C.B. 2005. Decay of cultivated apricot wood (Prunus armeniaca) by the ascomycete Hypocrea sulphurea using solid state 13C NMR and Off-line TMAH thermochemolysis with GC-MS.International Biodeterioration and Biodegradation, 55, 175-185.

VANE C.H. and TRICK J.K. 2005. Evidence of adipocere in a burial pit from the foot and mouth epidemic of 1967 using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Forensic Science International, 154,1, 19-23.

VANE, C.H. 2003. Monitoring decay of black gum (Nyssa sylvatica) wood during growth the shiitake mushroom (Lentinula edodes) using DRIFT spectroscopy. Applied Spectroscopy, 57, 5, 514-517.