Restricted Distribution IOC/SC-WESTPAC-XII/8.7 Bangkok, 4 March 2019 English only

INTERGOVERNMENTAL OCEANOGRAPHIC COMMISSION (of UNESCO) Twelfth Intergovernmental Session of the IOC Sub-Commission for the Western Pacific (WESTPAC-XII) Manila, the Philippines, 2-5 April 2019

Item 5.1.5. of the Provisional Agenda

PROGRESS REPORT ON SOUTH CHINA SEA FLUVIAL SEDIMENTS AND ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGES (FLUSED)

(MAY 2017–APRIL 2019)

(Unedited)

In accordance with Terms of Reference of IOC Sub-Commission for the Western Pacific, the report is provided to facilitate the consideration by the Sub-Commission on the progress made on the WESTPAC project – South China Sea Fluvial Sediments and Environmental Changes (FLUSED)

The report presents a summary of the activities and results of FLUSED over the last intersessional period. The Sub-Commission is invited to consider its workplan for the next intersessional period.

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I. Program 1. South China Sea Fluvial Sediments and Environmental Changes (FluSed) II. Program objectives and expected outputs/outcomes

Objectives: To investigate fluvial sediment source-to-sink process in the South China Sea; To reconstruct time series variation of sediment transport and deposition in the past; To evaluate environmental change and human activity influences on fluvial sediments in

the South China Sea.

Expected outcome: Synthesizing physical and chemical weathering of lands surrounding the South China

Sea and its controlling mechanism; Recognizing source-to-sink transport patterns of fluvial sediments from past and current

scenarios in the South China Sea in order to predict future trends; Understanding influences of environmental change and human activity on formation,

transport, and deposition of fluvial sediments; Strengthening collaboration and young talents training on related disciplines of ocean and

Earth sciences among participating western Pacific countries. III. Principal Investigator (Chairperson) and Program Steering Group including their

affiliations and email addresses

Principal Investigator: Dr. Zhifei Liu (Tongji University, China). Program Steering Group (alphabetically by countries): Mr. Soben Kim (kimsoben@gmail.com) Royal University of Agriculture, Cambodia; Dr. Zhifei Liu (lzhifei@tongji.edu.cn) Tongji University, China Dr. Wahyoe S. Hantoro (wshantoro@gmail.com) Indonesian Institute of Sciences Dr. Che Abd. Rahim Mohamed (carmohd@ukm.edu.my) University Kebangsaan Malaysia Dr. Fernando P. Siringan (fpsiringan@msi.upd.edu.ph) University of the Philippines; Dr. Xianfeng Wang (xianfeng.wang@ntu.edu.sg) Nanyang Technological University, Singapore Dr. Penjai Sompongchaiyakul (spenjai@hotmail.com) Chulalongkorn University, Thailand Dr. Hoang Van Long (hoanglonglogist@gmail.com) Geophysical Division of Vietnam

IV. Terms of Reference of the Program Steering Group

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1. The Steering Group shall consist of all member countries of WESTPAC interested to participate.

2. Each participating country, through its IOC National Focal Point, shall designate one member with the related scientific experience in consultation with the Principal Investigator.

3. The Steering Group shall review the regional concerns, identify the project requirements, and promote efficient implementation to achieve the project objectives.

4. The Steering Group members may organize individual national study (data collection, comparison, etc.) and cooperate among participating countries in terms of the program objectives.

5. The Steering Group shall ensure effective interaction and communication with WESTPAC and other intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, and report on the IOC WESTPAC sessions.

V. Activities carried out during the last intersessional period (May 2017 – April 2019) 2. Activities of the WESTPAC-FluSed project during the period of May 2017 to April 2019 include: international workshop organization, fieldwork and research cooperation, bilateral scientific visits, and master and PhD programs.

1. International workshop organization

3. Two international workshops were organized during the intersessional period, including the tenth FluSed international workshop being successfully organized in December 2017 and the eleventh international workshop being held in December 2018.

1.1 “Tenth International Workshop on the Fluvial Sediment Supply to the South China

Sea” 4. The workshop was held during 21‒23 December 2017 in the Indonesian Institute of Sciences (Jakarta, hosted by Dr. Wahyoe S. Hantoro) (Figure 1). Dr. Zainal Arifin, Deputy Chairman for Earth Sciences of Indonesian Institute of Sciences, also Vice-Chairman of WESTPAC, opened the workshop. Thirty-two participants from 8 countries joined the workshop, including 2 from Philippines, 3 from Thailand, 2 from Malaysia, 3 from China, 2 from Singapore, 2 from Vietnam, 3 from Cambodia, and 15 from Indonesia. Total 22 oral presentations were given during the two-day scientific program on various topics of fluvial sediments in the South China Sea and surrounding drainage basins. The topics mainly include: fluvial sediment discharge estimation, coastline change and sea-level variation, tectonic evolution, quantitative determination of clay-sized sediments, and late Quaternary paleoenvironmental study in the South China Sea. One-day field excursion was organized in the following day to visit the Bogor Botanical Garden.

1.2 “Eleventh International Workshop on the Fluvial Sediment Supply to the South

China Sea” 5. The workshop was held during 6‒8 December 2018 in the Royal University of Agriculture (Phnom Penh, hosted by Mr. Soben Kim) (Figure 2). Twenty-five participants from 7 countries joined the workshop, including 1 from Philippines, 2 from Thailand, 2 from Malaysia, 5 from China, 1 from Singapore, 1 from Indonesia, and 13 from Cambodia. Total 16 oral presentations were given during the one and half day scientific program on various topics of fluvial sediments in the South China Sea and surrounding drainage basins. The topics mainly include: coastline change and sea-level variation, tectonic evolution, quantitative determination of clay-sized sediments, and late Quaternary paleoenvironmental study in the South China Sea. One and half day field excursion was organized following the scientific program to visit the Tonle Sap Lake, the largest lake in Southeast Asia.

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Figure 1. Group photo of participants of the Tenth WESTPAC-FluSed workshop (21‒23 December 2017, Jakarta, Indonesia)

Figure 2. Group photo of participants of the Eleventh WESTPAC-FluSed workshop (6‒8 December 2018, Phnom Penh, Cambodia)

2. Fieldwork and research cooperation

6. Two fieldworks to collect samples were carried out. Scientific cooperation on ocean drilling proposal on Sunda Shelf was conducted through academic visits. Some cooperated scientific results were published.

2.1 Two sampling fieldworks were carried in Cambodia and Vietnam, respectively.

7. The sampling fieldwork in Cambodia to collect river samples of Mekong and coastal area and basalt in eastern Cambodia during 5-8 August 2017 (Figure 3, upper) in order to understand the chemical weathering process in Cambodia and deep magmatic process in Cambodian session of Indochina Peninsula. The study is a cooperation between Tongji University and Department of

IOC/SC-WESTPAC-XII/8.7 page 4 Marine and Coastal Zone Conservation (DMCC) of Ministry of Environment (MOE), Cambodia. The sampling fieldwork in Vietnam, cooperated between Tongji University and Geophysical Division of Vietnam, was conducted in middle Vietnam during 2-6 December 2017 (Figure 3, down), to collect basaltic rocks to study deep magmatic process in Vietnamese session of Indochina Peninsula.

Figure 3. Sampling fieldworks in Cambodia (5-8 August 2017) and Vietnam (2-6 December 2017),

respectively.

2.2 Scientific cooperation on ocean drilling proposal on Sunda Shelf was conducted through academic visits.

8. In order to develop the ocean drilling proposal on the Sunda Shelf, a LIPI delegation led by Dr. Zainal Arifin, Deputy Chairman for Earth Sciences of Indonesian Institute of Sciences, also Vice-Chairman of WESTPAC, visited Tongji University during 26-29 July 2017 (Figure 4, upper), when a MOU and related two implementation agreements between State Key Laboratory of Marine Geology

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(Tongji University) and Research Center for Geotechnology (Indonesian Institute of Sciences) were signed. During 26-28 July 2018, the delegation of Tongji University led by Prof. Zhimin Jian, the dean of School of Ocean and Earth Science (Tongji University) visited Research Center for Geotechnology (LIPI) and Institution of Marine Geology and Geophysics. They also visited R/V Geomarin III that will be used for the Sunda Shelf seismic survey cruise (Figure 4, down).

Figure 4. Academic visits to develop the ocean drilling proposal on the Sunda Shelf: LIPI delegation visited Tongji University during 26-29 July 2017 (upper) and Tongji University delegation visited Research Center for Geotechnology (LIPI) and Institution of Marine Geology and Geophysics during 26-28 July 2018.

2.3 Publications:

IOC/SC-WESTPAC-XII/8.7 page 6 9. Four papers were published in international journals on collaborated topics of FluSed project.

1) Jiwarungrueangkul, T., Liu, Z., Zhao, Y., 2019. Terrigenous sediment input responding

to sea level change and East Asian monsoon evolution since the last deglaciation in the southern South China Sea. Global and Planetary Change, 174: 127-137. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gloplacha.2019.01.011.

2) Sang, P.N., Liu, Z., Zhao, Y., Zhao, X., Pha, P.D., Long, H.V., 2018. Chemical weathering in central Vietnam from clay mineralogy and major-element geochemistry of sedimentary rocks and river sediments. Heliyon, 4, e00710. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2018.e00710.

3) Rahman, M.M., Sathiamurthy, E., Zhong, G., Geng, J., Liu, Z., 2018. Variations of fluvial patterns and infilling history of a paleoincised valley system during Late Pleistocene to Holocene, Offshore Pahang River, Peninsular Malaysia. Interpretation, 6 (1): T39-T50. http://dx.doi.org/10.1190/INT-2016-0055.1.

4) Kissel, C., Liu, Z., Li, J., Wandres, C., 2017. Magnetic signature of river sediments drained into the southern and eastern part of the South China Sea (Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, Borneo, Luzon and Taiwan). Sedimentary Geology, 347: 10-20. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.sedgeo.2016.11.007.

3. Other bilateral scientific visits

10. Five additional bilateral scientific visits were regularly organized to strengthen the collaboration among the participating member countries.

11. Dr. Zhifei Liu and his colleagues (Dr. Yanwei Zhang and Dr. Xun Yu) and student (Mr. Wei Shu) from Tongji University visited Department of Marine and Coastal Zone Conservation (DMCC) of Ministry of Environment (MOE) of Cambodia at Phnom Penh on 4 August 2017 to discuss mutual collaborations. Mr. Thay Chantha, director of the DMCC, and Mr. Meas Rithy, deputy director of the DMCC, jointed the round-table meeting (Figure 5).

Figure 5. Scientific visit of Tongji University delegation led by Dr. Zhifei Liu in Ministry of Environment (MOE) of Cambodia at Phnom Penh on 4 August 2017. 12. Prof. Wahyoe Soepri Hantoro and his two colleagues (Mr. Aan Dianto and Mr. Djupriono) from Research Center for Geotechnology of Indonesian Institute of Sciences visited Tongji University from 16 October to 15 November 2017 (Figure 6). The visit was to exchange their scientific

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knowledge in marine geology and to analysis samples for clay mineralogy. His colleagues were trained to analysis clay minerals using XRD and detailed laboratory procedures (Figure 6).

Figure 6. Mr. Aan Dianto and Mr. Djupriono from Research Center for Geotechnology of Indonesian Institute of Sciences worked in laboratory of Tongji University from 16 October to 15 November 2017. 13. Dr. Allan Gil S. Fernando and his student (Mr. John Warner M. Carag) from University of the Philippines visited Tongji University for marine sediment analysis and collaboration during 25 May to 25 June 2018 (Figure 7). This visit was to process laboratory analysis for master thesis of Mr. John Warner M. Carag.

Figure 7. Dr. Allan Gil S. Fernando and his student (Mr. John Warner M. Carag) from University of the Philippines visited Tongji University during 25 May to 25 June 2018.

IOC/SC-WESTPAC-XII/8.7 page 8 14. Delegation of Department of Marine and Coastal Zone Conservation (DMCC) of Ministry of Environment (MOE) of Cambodia, led by Mr. Thay Chantha, director of the DMCC, visited Tongji University during 19-21 November 2018 (Figure 8). Colleague from Royal University of Agriculture (Cambodia) also jointed the visit. This visit was to exchange study approaches and discuss potential cooperation in the fields of earth and environmental sciences.

Figure 8. Delegation of Cambodia from Department of Marine and Coastal Zone Conservation and Royal University of Agriculture visited Tongji University during 19-21 November 2018. 15. Dr. Zhifei Liu and Dr. Guangfa Zhong from Tongji University visited Department of Geology and Department of Marine Science of Chulalongkorn University during 17-20 February 2019 to discuss collaboration on scientific drilling and paleoenvironment studies on the Gulf of Thailand (Figure 9). They discussed with Prof. Thanawat Jaruponsakul and Dr. Penjai Sompongchaiyakul for various research topics including seismic profiles, surface sediments and sedimentary cores obtained from the Gulf of Thailand and related cooperation plans were scheduled in coming months and years.

4. Master and PhD programs

16. Three PhD students from Thailand (Suratta Bunsomboonsakul and Thanakorn Jiwarungrueangkul) and Vietnam (Sang Pham Nhu) got their thesis defenses in Tongji University during the intersessional period (Figure 10). Their study topics are on the Andaman Sea (off Thailand), the southern South China Sea (off Sunda Shelf), and the western South China Sea (off middle Vietnam), respectively.

17. Two new graduated students, Jirawat Deemuenwai (master student from Thailand) and Adrian Raymund Cruz Fernandez (doctoral student from Philippines) registered in Tongji University in September of 2017 and 2018, respectively.

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Figure 9. Dr. Zhifei Liu and Dr. Guangfa Zhong from Tongji University visited Department of Geology and Department of Marine Science of Chulalongkorn University during 17-20 February 2019.

Figure 10. Thanakorn Jiwarungrueangkul (from Thailand) and Sang Pham Nhu (from Vietnam) got their PhD defenses in Tongji University on 25 July 2018 (defense committee photo). VI. Outputs generated during the intersessional period (May 2017 – April 2019)

18. Many scientific activities of the WESTPAC-FluSed project were well organized during the period of May 2017 to May 2019, and all participating countries joined them, either by attending international workshops, joining river sampling fieldworks, sending young scientist training, or participating in bilateral visits. These activities indicate a very successful project, and partial objectives of the project were obtained as indicated in the project’s publications. VII. Problems encountered and actions to be considered by the 12th Intergovernmental

Session, scheduled for 2-5 April 2019, Manila, the Philippines

IOC/SC-WESTPAC-XII/8.7 page 10 19. However, the funding of the project is still a problem, although the project leader has tried his best to find the national support for the study. If a similar funding source is available from all participating countries, the project will be more productive in the next two years.

20. All the participating countries, via their representatives in the project steering group, agree to renew the project by the next two years, i.e. May 2019 to May 2021, with the continuous objectives and outcomes of the project, to be considered by the 12th Intergovernmental Session.

21. One new working plan on modern fluvial sediment discharge from surrounding estuaries to the deep South China Sea was discussed during the December 2018 workshop in Phnom Penh (Cambodia). The implementation is to deploy mooring systems to observe velocities and to collect suspended sediments on major sediment transport paths from estuary to deep sea (Figure 11). For example, 2 tripod moorings at estuaries and 1 mooring at related deep sea. The objectives are to observe time-series variation of fluvial sediment source-to-sink transport process and to evaluate environmental change and human activity influences on fluvial sediment input. This work plan is better to fit initiatives of climate change and natural disaster mitigation in the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021-2030).

Figure 11. Read-time mooring observation design in the South China Sea and surrounding fluvial estuaries. Only one deep-sea site and two estuary sites will be selected for fluvial sediment observations. In figure, yellow starts are priority sites; pink stars are alternate sites.

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VIII. Workplan and Budget for May 2019 – April 2021

Program

Funding Required

Remark Activities Objectives Expected outputs /outcomes Date and place IOC

Other sources (i.e. from national or

international)

South China Sea Fluvial Sediments (FluSed)

1. Research cruise

Deep-sea sediment transport mooring (sink)

Deploying a deep-sea mooring observation system in the southern South China Sea

May 2019, South China Sea

US$100K (China)

2. 12th FluSed workshop

Exchange of scientific results

Strengthen collaboration: joint writing manuscripts, data comparison, further cooperation discussion.

December 2019, Singapore (tentative)

US$20K US$20K (China)

3. Research cruise

Deep-sea sediment transport mooring (sink)

Recovery and redeploying of the deep-sea mooring observation system in the southern South China Sea

May 2020, South China Sea

US$100K (China)

4. Research cruise

River discharge observation (source)

Deploying a tripod at the Mekong River estuary

July 2020, Vietnam

US$60K (China)

5. Research cruise

River discharge observation (source)

Deploying a tripod at a Sumatra estuary

August 2020, Indonesia

US$60K (China)

6. 13th FluSed workshop

Exchange of scientific results

Strengthen collaboration: joint writing manuscripts, data comparison, further cooperation discussion.

December 2020, Shanghai (tentative)

US$20K US$20K (China)

TOTAL US$40K US$360K