Brief Introduction

Dr. Cong Chen is an associate professor in the School of Earth Sciences and Engineering at Sun Yat-sen University. He received his bachelor and Ph.D. degrees from Sun Yat-sen University in 2012 and 2020, respectively. From 2021 to 2025, he conducted postdoctoral research at Sun Yat-sen University. His research interest focuses on understanding the natural- and anthropogenic-driven changes in vegetation ecosystems and reconstructing past mega-flood records in subtropical and tropical East Asia during the Quaternary period.

Education Background

2013.09-2020.12: School of Earth Sciences and Engineering, Sun Yat-sen University, Ph.D.

2008.09-2012.06: Department of Geosciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Bachelor

Career Experience

2026.01-present: School of Earth Sciences and Engineering, Sun Yat-sen University, Associate Professor

2021.03.06-2025.12: School of Earth Sciences and Engineering, Sun Yat-sen University, Post-Doctoral/Researcher Fellow

Research 

1.Orbital-scale vegetation and climate changes recorded in maar lakes of tropical East Asia

2.Evolution of subtropical broadleaved forests since the Last Glacial Maximum in East Asia

3.Holocene paleoflood events and associated impacts on local civilization in South China

Projects

1. National Nature Science Foundation of China (NSFC): Spatial-temporal patterns and driving mechanisms of post-glacial vegetation changes in the Nanling Mountains, South China,2025.01-2027.12, PI
2. China Postdoctoral Science Foundation: Spatial-temporal patterns and driving factors of C3/C4 vegetation changes since the Last Glacial Maximum in subtropical East Asia, 2021.11-2024.06,PI

Publications 

2025

13. Liping Tian, Cong Chen*, Mengyuan Wang,Chuanxiu Luo, Xiao Zhang, Yanming Ruan, Jiantao Cao, Meiling Man, Zhuo Zheng, Xiaoqiang Yang, Kangyou Huang, Li Li*, Guodong Jia, 2025. Possible influences of tropical vegetation shift on the glacial-interglacial temperature changes. Global and Planetary Change, 254, 105043. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gloplacha.2025.105043

12. Xiao Zhang, Cong Chen*, Kexin Wang, Meihuan Li, Yuanfu Yue, Jun Cheng, Mengna Liao, Kai Li, Lina Liu, Zhanghua Wang, Rachid Cheddadi, Qiuchi Wan, Yongjie Tang, Zhuo Zheng, Kangyou Huang*, 2025. New quantified climate reconstruction in southern China suggests a potential influence of winter cloud cover across East Asia during the Holocene. Science of the Total Environment, 958, 178008. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.178008

2024

11. Qiuchi Wan, Cong Chen*, Kunshan Bao, Xiao Zhang, Yongjie Tang, Xin Zhong, Zhuo Zheng, Kangyou Huang, 2024. Long-term Holocene warming trend in Southern China revealed by corrected pollen data. Quaternary Science Reviews, 344, 109015. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.quascirev.2024.109015

10. Liping Tian, Cong Chen*, Kangyou Huang*, Zhuo Zheng, Xiao Zhang, Guodong Jia, 2024. Synchronous climate and civilization changes spanning the Common Era: High-resolution biomarker record from a mountain peat in East China. Catena, 246, 108395. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.catena.2024.108395

9. Cong Chen, Kangyou Huang*, Dehao Xie, Meiling Man, Yongjie Tang, Yuanfu Yue, Xiao Zhang, Zhuo Zheng, Rachid Cheddadi, 2024. Subalpine peatland development since the Last Glacial Maximum in subtropical China: Predominantly controlled by monsoonal climate and local topography. Catena, 242, 108084. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.catena.2024.108084

8. Liping Tian^#, Mengyuan Wang^#, Cong Chen*, Xiao Zhang, Zhuo Zheng, Meiling Man, Kangyou Huang, Li Li, Guodong Jia*, 2024. A novel method to advance the brGDGTs-based paleoclimate reconstruction applicable to different terrestrial environments. Quaternary Science Reviews, 328, 108540. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.quascirev.2024.108540

2023

7. Cong Chen^#, Yanwei Zheng^#, Zhuo Zheng*, Yongqiang Zong*, Kangyou Huang, Barry V. Rolett, Huanhuan Peng, Xiao Zhang, Yongjie Tang, Qiuchi Wan, Guifang Zhang, Rachid Cheddadi, 2023. Holocene millennial-scale megaflood events point to ENSO-driven extreme climate changes. Science China-Earth Sciences, 66(11), 2530–2545, https://doi.org/10.1007/s11430-023-1196-y

6. Cong Chen^#, Kangyou Huang^#, Zhuo Zheng*, Yongqiang Zong*, Peter Kershaw, Shixiong Yang, Liping Tian, Meiling Man, Sheng-Hua Li, Chris Brodie, Ning Wang, Xiao Zhang, Qiuchi Wan, Yongjie Tang, Xiaoqiang Yang, 2023. Savanna/rainforest dynamics and hydroclimate changes in northern boundary of tropical Asia over the past 150 kyrs. Global and Planetary Change, 228, 104204. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gloplacha.2023.104204

5. Kangyou Huang, Dehao Xie, Cong Chen*, Yongjie Tang, Qiuchi Wan, Xiao Zhang, 2023. An environmental crisis and its cultural impact in eastern China around 6000 years ago. Palaeogeography Palaeoclimatology Palaeoecology, 624, 111652. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.palaeo.2023.111652

4. Zhuo Zheng^#,*, Cong Chen^#, Kangyou Huang*, Xiao Zhang, Peter Kershaw, Jun Cheng, Jie Li, Yuanfu Yue, Qiuchi Wan, Yaze Zhang, Yongjie Tang, Mengyuan Wang, Xiayun Xiao, Rachid Cheddadi, 2023. Holocene warming and evergreen/deciduous forest replacement across eastern China. Quaternary Science Reviews, 307, 108057. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.quascirev.2023.108057

3. Zhen Chen^#, Wen Wang^#, Ping Huang, Yongjie Tang, Jing Wang, Qiang Zeng, Cong Chen*, 2023. Soft-sediment deformation structures of mottled clay in Huizhou Quaternary basin, coastal South China. Frontiers in Earth Science, 11, 1135335. https://doi.org/10.3389/feart.2023.1135335

2. Cong Chen^#, Yongjie Tang^#, Kangyou Huang*, Qiuchi Wan, Xiao Zhang, Dehao Xie, Hongwei Li, Kunchun Shui, Jianhua Wang, 2023. Vegetation and chemical weathering changes since the late MIS 3 in the mid-lower Yangtze River Valley: Evidence from pollen and geochemical records. Palaeogeography Palaeoclimatology Palaeoecology, 610, 111354. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.palaeo.2022.111354

2021

1. Cong Chen, Zhuo Zheng*, Lifeng Zeng, Fan Xiao, Li-Ping Tian, Kang-You Huang, 2021. A combined geophysical and lithological study on eruptive history and Quaternary lacustrine stratigraphy of a maar in Leizhou Peninsula, China. Journal of Palaeogeography, 10 (1), 98–111. https://doi.org/10.1186/s42501-020-00081-x