My current research focuses on (1) understanding the deformation mechanism of ice under terrestrial conditions (warm, low stress) and planetary settings (cold, high stress), and (2) understanding high-temperature deformation mechanism of minerals using ice as an analogue. I use high-quality electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) data to quantify the microstructural statistics. I use these microstructural statistics to understand the origin, kinetics and dynamics of deformation mechanisms and/or processes and link them to the large-scale tectonic processes.
Microstructural change and mechanical weakening (enhancement)
Flowing glaciers and ice sheets play key roles in shaping planetary surfaces, and form important feedbacks with climate, both on Earth and elsewhere in the solar system. Ice deformation is a significant component of ice flow. Ice becomes mechanically weaker during the deformation—the rate of ice flow accelerates as the deformation progresses from low to high strain, at a constant temperature. The correlation between ice microstructural change and the mechanical weakening is well known but poorly quantified. This knowledge gap prevents us from better quantifying the acceleration rate of polar ice flow, which contribute directly to the sea level rise, under global warming. I analyse the mechanical and microstructural data collected from ice deformation experiments and natural ice cores, aiming at quantifying the contribution of microstructural changes (e.g., crystallographic axis alignment, grain size reduction) to the weakening of ice. (Fan et al. (2020): Temperature and strain controls on ice deformation mechanisms: insights from the microstructures of samples deformed to progressively higher strains at −10, −20 and −30 °C)
Quantify the progress of dynamic recrystallization
Dynamic recrystallization involves the migration and/or formation of grain boundaries, through which a crystalline aggregate lowers its free energy during plastic deformation and thus lead to weakening. Ice usually deforms at temperatures very close to its melting point under terrestrial settings. Attempts to understand high temperature microstructures and recrystallization are hampered by challenges in identifying newly-formed recrystallized grains. I attempt to use statistics of grain boundary irregularity to reliably identify recrystallized grains in ice and, furthermore, gives insight into the physical processes (e.g., nucleation, grain boundary migration) driving microstructural evolution in ice at high temperatures. (Fan et al. (2021a): Using grain boundary irregularity to quantify dynamic recrystallization in ice)
Use subgrain structure to understand the nature of grain boundary formation
Subgrain rotation is an important process of dynamic recrystallization, and it occurs via the progressive misorientation of low-angle intragranular boundaries, which eventually become high-angle intragranular boundaries. The enclosure of high-angle intragranular boundaries leads to the formation of new recrystallized grains. I am very interested in understanding the origin of subgrain rotation – in other words, does the progressive subgrain rotation involve the change of misorientation axes? I attempt to explore this scientific question using misorientation and geometrically necessary dislocation statistics collected from intragranular boundaries. (Fan et al. (2021b): Kinking facilitates grain nucleation and modifies crystallographic preferred orientations during high-stress ice deformation)
Appointments
2021–2022 Postdoctoral Research Fellow, University of Otago, New Zealand
2019 Visiting Researcher, University of Liverpool, UK
2018–2019 Visiting Researcher, University of Pennsylvania, USA
2018 Visiting Researcher, University of Tübingen, Germany
2018 Visiting Researcher, University of Mainz, Germany
2015-2017 Geological Engineer, China National Offshore Oil Corporation, PRC
2014-2015 Research Assistant, State Key Lab of Petroleum Resources and Prospecting, PRC
2013-2014 Assistant Geological Engineer, China National Petroleum Corporation, PRC
Honours, awards and research funding
New Zealand Antarctic Research Institute (NZARI) Early Career Researcher Seed Grant
Antarctic Science Platform research grant from New Zealand Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (to David Prior and Sheng Fan)
University of Otago Doctoral Scholarship, 2017-2020.
Third prize of “Science and Technology Forum of CNOOC”, 2016.
Second prize of “Science and Technology Forum of CNOOC”, 2015.
Honour of “Outstanding Graduate” (Master's student), 2015.
Third prize of “National Doctoral Forum-Oil & Gas Resources and Exploration”, 2014.
Sino Geophysical Co., Ltd. Enterprise Scholarship, 2013-2014.
Honour of “Merit Student” (outstanding in study, attitude and health), 2013-2014.
China University of Petroleum Master Student Scholarship, 2012-2015.
Publications
Qi, C., Wang, Q., Fan, S., Richards, D., Prior, D. J., & Worthington, R. (2023). Evolution of crystallographic preferred orientations of ice sheared to high strains by equal-channel angular pressing. Proceedings of the American Geophysical Union (AGU) Fall Meeting: Wide. Open. Science. MR31A-0044. Retrieved from https://www.agu.org
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract
Fan, S., & Prior, D. J. (2023). Cool ice with hot properties. Nature Geoscience, 16(12), 1073. doi: 10.1038/s41561-023-01330-z
Journal - Research Other
German, T., Prior, D., Pooley, B., Fan, S., & Woolley, R. (2023). Understanding ice dynamics through natural ice air bubbles and their deformation. In G. E. Frontin-Rollett & S. D. Nodder (Eds.), Geoscience Society of New Zealand Miscellaneous Publication.164A, (pp. 86). Wellington, New Zealand: Geoscience Society of New Zealand. [Abstract]
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract
Fleming, M., Prior, D., Fan, S., Worthington, R., Pooley, B., & Bowman, H. (2023). Ice deformation mechanisms: Effect of grain size and sample size on ice rheology. Proceedings of the New Zealand-Australia Antarctic Science Conference (NZAASC): Latitudes of Change. (pp. 98-99). Retrieved from https://www.nzaasc.org
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract
MacClure, Z., Prior, D., Purdie, H., Fan, S., Still, H., & Craw, L. (2023). Structural and microstructural responses to shear in the lateral margin of the Haupapa/Tasman Glacier. Proceedings of the New Zealand-Australia Antarctic Science Conference (NZAASC): Latitudes of Change. (pp. 94). Retrieved from https://www.nzaasc.org
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract
Prior, D., Bowman, M. H., Craw, L., Drews, R., Ershadi, R., Fan, S., Forbes, M., German, T., Gyde, J., … Hulbe, C., … Lutz, F., … Still, H., … Worthington, R. (2023). Kinematics and dynamics of the lateral shear margin of the Priestley Glacier: Implications for understanding ice sheets. Proceedings of the New Zealand-Australia Antarctic Science Conference (NZAASC): Latitudes of Change. (pp. 89). Retrieved from https://www.nzaasc.org
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract
Fan, S., Prior, D. J., Pooley, B., Bowman, H., Davidson, L., Wallis, D., … Hager, T. F. (2023). Grain growth of natural and synthetic ice at 0 °c. Cryosphere, 17, 3443-3459. doi: 10.5194/tc-17-3443-2023
Journal - Research Article
Fan, S., Wheeler, J., Prior, D. J., Negrini, M., Cross, A. J., Hager, T. F., … Wallis, D. (2022). Using misorientation and weighted Burgers vector statistics to understand intragranular boundary development and grain boundary formation at high temperatures. Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth, 127, e2022JB024497. doi: 10.1029/2022JB024497
Journal - Research Article
Platt, J. P., Mitchell, T. M., Prior, D. J., Negrini, M., Fan, S., Jefferd, M., & Winnard, B. (2022). Stress sensitivity of high-temperature microstructures in ice, with potential applications to quartz. Journal of Structural Geology, 154, 104487. doi: 10.1016/j.jsg.2021.104487
Journal - Research Article
Prior, D., Fan, S., Thomas, R., & Wang, T. (2021). Ice mechanics: What do we still need to know to model ice sheets? In A. V. Zernack & J. Palmer (Eds.), Geoscience Society of New Zealand Miscellaneous Publication.158, (pp. 220). Wellington, New Zealand: Geoscience Society of New Zealand. [Abstract]
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract
MacClure, Z., Prior, D., Fan, S., Purdie, H., & Craw, L. (2021). Microstructural responses to shear localisation in the lateral margin of the Haupapa/Tasman Glacier. In A. V. Zernack & J. Palmer (Eds.), Geoscience Society of New Zealand Miscellaneous Publication.158, (pp. 165). Wellington, New Zealand: Geoscience Society of New Zealand. [Abstract]
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract
Lutz, F., Prior, D., Thomas, R., & Fan, S. (2021). How well can seismology measure ice anisotropy? A calibration experiment at the Priestley Glacier. In A. V. Zernack & J. Palmer (Eds.), Geoscience Society of New Zealand Miscellaneous Publication.158, (pp. 163). Wellington, New Zealand: Geoscience Society of New Zealand. [Abstract]
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract
Fan, S., Cross, A. J., Prior, D. J., Goldsby, D. L., Hager, T. F., Negrini, M., & Qi, C. (2021). Crystallographic Preferred Orientation (CPO) development governs strain weakening in ice: Insights from high-temperature deformation experiments. Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth, 126(12), e2021JB023173. doi: 10.1029/2021JB023173
Journal - Research Article
Fan, S., Wheeler, J., Prior, D. J., Cross, A. J., Hager, T. F., & Goldsby, D. L. (2021). Mixed dislocations control the development of intragranular boundaries during mineral deformation: A case study on the subgrain structure of experimentally deformed ice. Proceedings of the American Geophysical Union (AGU) Fall Meeting. T14B-07. Retrieved from https://www.agu.org/Fall-Meeting
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract
Hager, T. F., Qi, C., Fan, S., Prior, D. J., Thomas, R., Cross, A. J., & Goldsby, D. L. (2021). Grain size sensitive flow of ice in the putative dislocation creep regime. Proceedings of the American Geophysical Union (AGU) Fall Meeting. C25A-06. Retrieved from https://www.agu.org/Fall-Meeting
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract
Fan, S., Prior, D. J., Hager, T. F., Cross, A. J., Goldsby, D. L., & Negrini, M. (2021). Kinking facilitates grain nucleation and modifies crystallographic preferred orientations during high-stress ice deformation. Earth & Planetary Science Letters, 572, 117136. doi: 10.1016/j.epsl.2021.117136
Journal - Research Article
Fan, S., Prior, D. J., Cross, A. J., Goldsby, D. L., Hager, T. F., Negrini, M., & Qi, C. (2021). Using grain boundary irregularity to quantify dynamic recrystallization in ice. Acta Materialia, 209, 116810. doi: 10.1016/j.actamat.2021.116810
Journal - Research Article
Thomas, R., Prior, D., Kerr, G., Goldsby, D., Cross, A., Hager, T., Negrini, M., & Fan, S. (2021). Water chemistry and ice mechanics. Proceedings of the New Zealand Antarctic Science Conference: Connecting through change. (pp. 69-70). Retrieved from https://www.antarcticanz.govt.nz/nzasc21
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract
Fan, S., Prior, D. J., Goldsby, D. L., Hager, T. F., Cross, A. J., & Negrini, M. (2021). The control of crystallographic preferred orientation (CPO) development and grain size reduction on ice mechanical weakening. Proceedings of the New Zealand Antarctic Science Conference: Connecting through change. (pp. 69). Retrieved from https://www.antarcticanz.govt.nz/nzasc21
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract
Prior, D., Bowman, M. H., Craw, L., Ershadi, M. R., Drews, R., Fan, S., … Hulbe, C., … Still, H., Thomas, R., … Wild, C. (2021). The Priestley Glacier deformation experiment. Proceedings of the New Zealand Antarctic Science Conference: Connecting through change. (pp. 67). Retrieved from https://www.antarcticanz.govt.nz/nzasc21
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract
Fan, S. (2021). The evolution of deformation mechanisms during the mechanical weakening of polycrystalline ice: A quantitative microstructural study (PhD). University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/10523/10723
Awarded Doctoral Degree
Monz, M. E., Hudleston, P. J., Prior, D. J., Michels, Z., Fan, S., Negrini, M., Langhorne, P. J., & Qi, C. (2021). Full crystallographic orientation (c and a axes) of warm, coarse-grained ice in a shear-dominated setting: A case study, Storglaciären, Sweden. Cryosphere, 15, 303-324. doi: 10.5194/tc-15-303-2021
Journal - Research Article
Craw, L., Treverrow, A., Fan, S., Peternell, M., Cook, S., McCormack, F., & Roberts, J. (2021). The temperature change shortcut: Effects of mid-experiment temperature changes on the deformation of polycrystalline ice. Cryosphere, 15, 2235-2250. doi: 10.5194/tc-15-2235-2021
Journal - Research Article
King, A., Lepine, P., Gorman, A. R., Prior, D. J., Lukács, A., Bowman, M. H., Fan, S., Robertson, A., Lutz, F., … Schjins, H. (2021). Shallow seismic reflection imaging of the Alpine Fault through late Quaternary sedimentary units at Whataroa, New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Geology & Geophysics, 64(4), 505-517. doi: 10.1080/00288306.2020.1823433
Journal - Research Article
Hager, T. F., Qi, C., Fan, S., Prior, D. J., Thomas, R., Cross, A. J., & Goldsby, D. L. (2020). Grain-size-sensitive creep of ice in the 'dislocation creep' regime. Proceedings of the American Geophysical Union (AGU) Fall Meeting. C015-03. Retrieved from https://www.agu.org
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract
Fan, S., Prior, D. J., Hager, T. F., Cross, A. J., & Goldsby, D. L. (2020). The control of crystallographic preferred orientation (CPO) development and grain size reduction on ice mechanical weakening (enhancement). Proceedings of the American Geophysical Union (AGU) Fall Meeting. C010-0013. Retrieved from https://www.agu.org
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract
Monz, M., Hudleston, P. J., Prior, D. J., Michels, Z. D., Fan, S., Negrini, M., & Qi, C. (2020). Microstructural analysis of intensely sheared, coarse-grained marginal ice on Storglaciären, Sweden, using cryo-electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD). Proceedings of the American Geophysical Union (AGU) Fall Meeting. C010-0007. Retrieved from https://www.agu.org
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract
Prior, D. J., Bons, P. D., Cross, A. J., Durham, W. B., Fan, S., Goldsby, D. L., … Qi, C. (2020). Flow laws for ice sheet modelling: What do experiments tell us? Proceedings of the American Geophysical Union (AGU) Fall Meeting. C010-0003. Retrieved from https://www.agu.org
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract
Thomas, R., Prior, D., Kerr, G., Fan, S., Goldsby, D., Cross, A., … Negrini, M. (2020). Water chemistry and ice mechanics. In K. N. Bassett, A. R. L. Nichols & C. H. Fenton (Eds.), Geoscience Society of New Zealand Miscellaneous Publication.157A, (pp. 288). Wellington, New Zealand: Geoscience Society of New Zealand. [Abstract]
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract
Prior, D., Bowman, M. H., Craw, L., Ershadi, M. R., Drews, R., Fan, S., … Hulbe, C., … Still, H., Thomas, R., … Wild, C. (2020). The Priestley Gacier deformation experiment. In K. N. Bassett, A. R. L. Nichols & C. H. Fenton (Eds.), Geoscience Society of New Zealand Miscellaneous Publication.157A, (pp. 229). Wellington, New Zealand: Geoscience Society of New Zealand. [Abstract]
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract
Fan, S., Hager, T., Prior, D. J., Cross, A. J., Goldsby, D. L., Qi, C., Negrini, M., & Wheeler, J. (2020). Temperature and strain controls on ice deformation mechanisms: Insights from the microstructures of samples deformed to progressively higher strains at -10, -20 and -30°c. In K. N. Bassett, A. R. L. Nichols & C. H. Fenton (Eds.), Geoscience Society of New Zealand Miscellaneous Publication. (pp. 94). Wellington, New Zealand: Geoscience Society of New Zealand. [Abstract]
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract
Fan, S., Hager, T. F., Prior, D. J., Cross, A. J., Goldsby, D. L., Qi, C., Negrini, M., & Wheeler, J. (2020). Temperature and strain controls on ice deformation mechanisms: Insights from the microstructures of samples deformed to progressively higher strains at −10, −20 and −30 ºC. Cryosphere, 14(11), 3875-3905. doi: 10.5194/tc-14-3875-2020
Journal - Research Article
Thomas, R., Prior, D., Kerr, G., Fan, S., Goldsby, D., Cross, A., … Negrini, M. (2020). Water chemistry and ice mechanics. Proceedings of the XXXVI Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR) 9th Open Science Conference: Antarctic Science: Global Connections. 524. Retrieved from https://www.scar2020.org
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract
Prior, D., Bons, P., Cross, A., Durham, W., Fan, S., Goldsby, D., … Qi, C. (2020). Flow laws for ice sheet modelling: What do experiments tell us? Proceedings of the XXXVI Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR) 9th Open Science Conference: Antarctic Science: Global Connections. 1372. Retrieved from https://www.scar2020.org
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract
Prior, D., Bowman, H., Craw, L., Fan, S., Forbes, M., Horgan, H., … Hulbe, C., … Still, H., Thomas, R., … Wild, C. (2020). The priestly glacier deformation experiment. Proceedings of the XXXVI Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR) 9th Open Science Conference: Antarctic Science: Global Connections. 1377. Retrieved from https://www.scar2020.org
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract
Lutz, F., Eccles, J., Prior, D. J., Craw, L., Fan, S., Hulbe, C., Forbes, M., Still, H., … Mandeno, D. (2020). Constraining ice shelf anisotropy using shear wave splitting measurements from active-source borehole seismics. Journal of Geophysical Research: Earth Surface, 125(9), e2020JF005707. doi: 10.1029/2020JF005707
Journal - Research Article
Thomas, R. E., Prior, D. J., Kerr, G., Fan, S., Goldsby, D. L., Cross, A. J., … Negrini, M. (2020). Water chemistry and ice mechanics. Proceedings of the New Zealand Snow & Ice Research Group (SIRG) Annual Meeting. (pp. 27). Retrieved from https://sirg.org.nz
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract
Craw, L., Treverrow, A., Fan, S., Cook, S., McCormack, F., & Roberts, J. (2020). Twenty sheep and a lasagne: Using temperature changes to shorten ice deformation experiments. Proceedings of the New Zealand Snow & Ice Research Group (SIRG) Annual Meeting. (pp. 10). Retrieved from https://sirg.org.nz
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract
Monz, M. E., Hudleston, P. J., Prior, D. J., Michels, Z., Fan, S., Negrini, M., Langhorne, P. J., & Qi, C. (2020). Electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) based determination of crystallographic preferred orientation (CPO) in warm, coarse-grained ice: A case study, Storglaciären, Sweden. Cryosphere Discussions. doi: 10.5194/tc-2020-135
Journal - Research Other
Monz, M., Hudleston, P. J., Michels, Z. D., Prior, D. J., Fan, S., Negrini, M., Langhorne, P., & Qi, C. (2019). Crystallographic preferred orientation in warm, coarse-grained ice: A cast study, Storglaciären, Sweden. Proceedings of the American Geophysical Union (AGU) Fall Meeting. C41E-1508. Retrieved from https://agu.confex.com/
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract
Platt, J. P., Mitchell, T. M., Prior, D. J., Negrini, M., Fan, S., Jefferd, M., & Winnard, B. R. (2019). Significance of high-temperature deformational microstructures in quartz and ice. Proceedings of the American Geophysical Union (AGU) Fall Meeting. T41A-08. Retrieved from https://agu.confex.com/
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract
Thomas, R. E., Prior, D. J., Kerr, G., Fan, S., Goldsby, D. L., Cross, A. J., … Negrini, M. (2019). Water chemistry and ice mechanics. In P. J. J. Kamp & A. Pittari (Eds.), Geoscience Society of New Zealand Miscellaneous Publication.154A, (pp. 199). Wellington, New Zealand: GSNZ. [Abstract]
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract
Fan, S., Prior, D., Bowman, H., Craw, L., Kim, D., King, A., Forbes, M., … Gorman, A., & Hulbe, C. (2019). Constraining the large-scale crystallographic preferred orientation (CPO) of a fast-shearing Antarctic ice glacier from seismic anisotropy. Proceedings of the New Zealand Antarctic Science Conference: Our future in focus. (pp. 82). New Zealand Antarctic Research Institute. Retrieved from https://www.antarcticanz.govt.nz/science/new-zealand-antarctic-science-conference-2019
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract
Prior, D., Bowman, H., Craw, L., Fan, S., & Kim, D. (2019). Seismology of an active shear margin: Priestley Glacier, Antarctica. Proceedings of the New Zealand Snow and Ice Research Group (SIRG) Workshop. (pp. 16). Retrieved from https://sirg.org.nz
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract
Qi, C., Prior, D. J., Craw, L., Fan, S., Llorens, M.-G., Griera, A., Negrini, M., … Goldsby, D. L. (2019). Crystallographic preferred orientations of ice deformed in direct-shear experiments at low temperatures. Cryosphere, 13(1), 351-371. doi: 10.5194/tc-13-351-2019
Journal - Research Article
Fan, S. (2018, August). The impact of particles on rheological and microstructural evolution of ice. Verbal presentation at the Polar Environment Research Theme (PERT) Workshop, Dunedin, New Zealand.
Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs
Fan, S., & Prior, D. (2018). The influence of micron-scale second phase particles on creep behaviour and microstructural evolution of experimentally deformed ice. Geophysical Research Abstracts, 20, EGU2018-153-2. [Abstract]
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract
Prior, D., Chao, Q., Craw, L., Durham, W., Fan, S., Golding, N., … Seidemann, M., & Vaughan, M. (2018). The control of strain rate, temperature and strain on the symmetry, shape and magnitude of anisotropy developed during ice deformation. Geophysical Research Abstracts, 20, EGU2018-11349. [Abstract]
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract
Fan, S., & Prior, D. J. (2018). The correlation between the mechanical behaviour and microstructural evolution in ice creep development: Insight from experimentally deformed ice with micro-scale particulate second phase. Proceedings of the New Zealand Snow and Ice Research Group (SIRG) Workshop. (pp. 24). Retrieved from https://sirgnz.files.wordpress.com/2018/02/sirg-2018-programme.pdf
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract
Fan, S., & Prior, D. J. (2017). Seismic anisotropic characteristics interpreted from ice CPO modelling. Proceedings of the New Zealand Antarctic Science Conference: Challenging science in a challenging environment. (pp. 40). New Zealand Antarctic Research Institute. Retrieved from https://antarctic2017.org
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract