Dr. Zhang's research interests lie at the intersection of Earth and environmental sciences, focusing on the biogeochemical cycling of global contaminants. He combines mechanistic insight and observational data to develop Earth System Models for different environmental compartments and their interfaces. His studies elucidate key environmental processes, establish comprehensive budgets, assess the impact of human activities on environmental quality, and project the influences of climate change in both historical and future contexts. Current projects target mercury (Hg), (micro)plastics, PFAS, antibiotics, radionuclides, and other legacy and emerging pollutants. For more information visit www.ebmg.online.

Selected Publications

Sun et al. 2024. Calcite carbonate sinks low-density plastic debris in open oceans. Nature Communications 15 (1), 4837.

Yuan et al. 2024. Potential decoupling of CO2 and Hg uptake process by global vegetation in the 21st century. Nature Communications 15 (1), 4490.

Fu et al. 2023. Modeling atmospheric microplastic cycle by GEOS-Chem: An optimized estimation by a global dataset suggests likely 50 times lower ocean emissions. One Earth 6, 705-714.

Wu and Zhang, 2023. Toward a Global Model of Methylmercury Biomagnification in Marine Food Webs: Trophic Dynamics and Implications for Human Exposure. Environmental Science & Technology 57(16) 6563-6572.

Zhang et al. 2023. An updated global mercury budget from a coupled atmosphere-land-ocean model: 40% more re-emissions buffer the effect of primary emission reductions. One Earth 6(3), 316-325.

Zhang et al. 2023. Plastic Waste Discharge to the Global Ocean Constrained by Seawater Observations. Nature Communications 14(1) 1372.

Wang et al. 2023. Climate-Driven Changes of Global Marine Mercury Cycles in 2100. PNAS 120(2) e2202488120.

Song et al. 2022. Modeling Mercury Isotopic Fractionation in the Atmosphere. Environmental Pollution 307,119588.

Peng et al. 2021. Plastic waste release caused by COVID-19 and its fate in the global ocean. PNAS 118(47) e2111530118.

Zhang et al. 2021. Global Health Effects of Future Atmospheric Mercury Emissions. Nature Communications 12, 3035.

Zhang et al. 2020. A global model for methylmercury formation and uptake at the base of marine food webs. Global Biogeochemical Cycles 34(2), e2019GB006348.

Wagner et al. 2019. A Global 3-D Ocean Model for PCBs: Benchmark Compounds for Understanding the Impacts of Global Change on Neutral Persistent Organic Pollutants. Global Biogeochemical Cycles 33(3) 469-481.

Wang et al. 2017. Trade-driven relocation of air pollution and health impacts in China. Nature Communications 8, 738.

Zhang et al. 2017. North Atlantic Deep Water formation inhibits high Arctic contamination by continental perfluorooctane sulfonate discharges. Global Biogeochemical Cycles 31(8) 1332-1343.

Zhang et al. 2016. Observed decrease in atmospheric mercury explained by global decline in anthropogenic emissions. PNAS 113(3) 526-531.

My research interests include coral reefs, anthropogenic climate change, ocean dynamics, coastal biogeochemistry, and ocean acidification.

About Professor Bankston

Victor Bankston is a Professor of Practice at Tulane University, specializing in quantum information and combinatorial designs. With a passion for exploring the intersections of these fields, Victor aims to foster a dynamic and engaging learning environment. His dedication to teaching stems from a desire to study computers as a means to understand the world more broadly, continually striving to enhance both his own knowledge and that of his students.

Research Interests

Quantum computation/information, combinatorial designs, optimization

Office

307A Stanley Thomas Hall

Teaching

Sp24, CMPS 2170/MATH 2170: Introduction to Discrete Math

Publications

Hidden Variables for Pauli Measurements (in review at Quantum Journal)