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. Why a GEOTRACES Intermediate Data Product?
 GEOTRACES is an international programme which aims to understand biogeochemical cycles and large-scale distributions of trace elements and their isotopes (TEIs) in all major ocean basins.
To date:
50 cruises completed – 654 stations sampled – 1014 data sets – 800 scientists – 35 nations
After 4 years of work, GEOTRACES demonstrates that high-resolution data on TEIs is opening a fascinating window on marine chemistry research:
The figures above show distribution of two different TEIs, iron (Fe) and aluminium (Al), along a section from the North to South Atlantic Ocean and from surface to bottom. High concentrations of TEIs are indicated in warm colours (red, orange, etc.).
Both tracers are lithogenic. Their contrasted distribution reflects strong differences in their internal cycles and show the importance of high-resolution sampling to distinguish small-scale features.
. What is the GEOTRACES IDP2014?
The GEOTRACES Intermediate Data Product (IDP2014) consists of: (1) publicly accessible digital data available from the GEOTRACES Data Assembly Center (BODC, UK) web site (http://www.bodc.ac.uk/geotraces/data/idp2014/), (2) an on-line eGEOTRACES Electronic Atlas (eGEOTRACES.org) containing series of section plots, such as the two figures above, and 3-dimensional scenes of data, such as the figure below.
This 3D scene shows the distribution of dissolved lead (Pb) in the Atlantic. At a depth of about 500 to 2,000 metres a red band runs across the Atlantic Ocean. It indicates relatively high lead concentrations. The increased concentrations are due to emissions of car exhaust gases in Europe and North America that found their way into the environment prior to the introduction of unleaded petrol. In the image South America is on the left while Africa is on the right.
In addition to the anticipated usage for marine research, eGEOTRACES and the contained visual material can help in teaching and outreach activities and can also facilitate conveying societal-relevant scientific results to interested laymen or decision makers.
. Want to learn more about GEOTRACES IDP2014?
The GEOTRACES IDP will be publicly presented at Goldschmidt 2014:
GEOTRACES Intermediate Data Product 2014
Tuesday 10th June 2014 – 12:30-14:00
Location: Restaurant, Cafeteria 15L (view on map) – Capacity 100 persons.
Included in the Goldschmidt 2014 student events programme.
USB drives containing the eGEOTRACES Electronic Atlas will be offered.
Lunch will be provided for free to the first 50 student participants.
Also, several GEOTRACES Sessions will be held at Goldschmidt 2014.
We will be pleased to welcome you!
 
www.geotraces.org
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