Particle distribution in repeated ocean sections and sediment resuspension
This is the first compilation of an expansive data base of transmissometer data on a decadal period of time. More than 7376 stations have been analyzed for “cp” value, a […]
Global Scale
Benthic nepheloid layer global compilation: an invaluable resource for GEOTRACES researchers
Models simulating any oceanic tracer biogeochemistry require a good depiction of the particle distribution, key to incorporating properly scavenging-remineralization processes. However, this kind of description is still rare. Gardner and co-workers […]
Barium isotope measurements help constraining the oceanic barium cycle
Hsieh and Henderson (2017, see reference below) propose a compilation of the oceanic barium (Ba) concentrations together with its isotopic profiles measured so far. Their review covers the main oceanic […]
A new method for simultaneous analysis of nickel, copper and zinc isotopes in seawater
Takano and co-workers (2017, see reference below) have developed a new method to determine nickel (Ni), copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) isotopes in seawater. This method is very simple and […]
GEOTRACES intercalibration of the stable silicon isotope composition of dissolved silicic acid in seawater
Dissolved silicon (Si) is a major oceanic nutrient and variations of its stable isotope values are reflecting the intensity of surface primary production. As for other isotopes, agreement between the […]
Disentangling the paleo signals brought by neodymium isotopic composition
Which paleo information are traced by the imprint neodymium isotopic signatures (εNd) in the different archives: paleo circulation or paleo erosion? The scientific debate on this issue is opened for […]
Contrasting lithogenic inputs from North Atlantic to North Pacific Oceans traced by thorium isotopes
Dissolved thorium (Th) isotopes and iron (Fe) are used to document the transfer of lithogenic material to the ocean. Two contrasting areas are compared: the Atlantic Ocean around Barbados Islands, […]
Changing the paradigm on the oceanic iron cycle
Tagliabue and co-workers (2017, see reference below) discuss an extensive review on the recent findings on iron (Fe) cycle in the ocean. They figure out clearly that: Fe is a […]
Enlighten why macro and micronutrients display different remineralization length scales
Boyd and co-workers (2017, see reference below) explore the abiotic and biotic mechanisms that underpin internal metal cycling. Although they are focusing on iron (Fe) as the best-characterized metal, they […]
Drawing the future of phytoplankton in a changing ocean
Phytoplankton development is strongly linked to the dissolved iron availability in the surface waters. Iron’s behavior is sensitive to warming, stratification, acidification and de-oxygenation. In a changing ocean, these processes […]
The coupled zinc-silicon cycle paradox illuminated
The strong similarities between zinc (Zn) and silicon (Si) vertical profiles have led many studies to suggest the uptake of Zn in diatom frustules, followed by simultaneous remineralisation at depth. […]
Dealing with the chemical speciation of the elements in the different oceanic realms
First paper of the SCOR working group on modelling chemical speciation in seawater (WG145) The form in which a trace element or other component of seawater is present, and its […]
Scandium: a new oceanic tracer with surprising properties
The first modern data set of dissolved scandium (Sc) in the open ocean is presented. Thanks to three GEOTRACES cruises, its distribution is compared between the different oceanic basins. This […]
Onboard analysis of dissolved zinc everywhere in the open ocean with a Lab on Valve (LOV) system of the size of a bottle of wine is becoming possible
Thanks to the work of Maxime Grand and collaborators (2016, see reference below), it is now possible to analyse dissolved zinc (DZn) on board, from any kind of seawater using […]
Are the dissolved iron distributions well represented by the global ocean biogeochemistry models?
Alessandro Tagliabue and co-workers (2016, see reference below) have conducted the first intercomparison of 13 global ocean iron models against the latest datasets emerging from GEOTRACES. A large disparity in […]
Amazingly detailed compilation of the silicon cycle, with an emphasis on the oceanic silicon isotope budget
Although this article is not resulting from GEOTRACES activity, its content is definitely GEOTRACES relevant. The authors constructed an up-to-date compilation of the continental silicon (Si) cycle, including the fate […]
Using chromium isotopes to reconstruct the oxygenation history of the oceans is challenged by modern data
Analyses of seawater chromium (Cr) concentrations and isotopes in diverse marine environments (Arctic, Pacific, and Atlantic Oceans) reveal a strong correlation between Cr isotope composition (δ53Cr) and Cr concentration. High […]
Impressive set of data reveal new features on the modern cadmium–phosphate relationship
Xie and co-authors (2015, see reference below) report vertical profiles of dissolved cadmium (Cd) in the western South Atlantic Ocean (GEOTRACES section GA02), which show nutrient-like distributions similar to those […]
GEOTRACES publishes the motivations and description of its first Intermediate Data Product
GEOTRACES proposes an article that describes its first integrated and quality controlled Intermediate Data Product 2014 (IDP2014): the digital data package and the eGEOTRACES electronic Atlas that provides section plots and […]
Changing the cadmium : phosphorus paradigm?
The well-established strong linear relationship linking dissolved cadmium (Cd) and phosphorus (P) concentrations in seawater is at the origin of the attraction of Cd as a proxy for PO4 in […]
First major ocean sections of silicon isotopes
The GEOTRACES programme is providing the first major ocean sections of silicon isotopes, δ30Si, aiding efforts to use this proxy to reconstruct diatom silica production in both the modern and […]
Two GEOTRACES works question the present ocean chemical elements budgets
New revelations on the land-ocean flux of chemical elements are presented in two different papers highlighting the value of the ocean isotopic data. Both works reveal that the present quantification […]
Thorium and protactinium radionuclides reveal marine particles processes
Thanks to the compilation of thorium-230 (230Th) and protactinium-231 (231Pa) data obtained along north-south and east-west transoceanic sections (in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans), Hayes and co-workers (2015, see reference […]
A new method to measure lead isotopes in the ocean with an outstanding precision
A new method for the determination of seawater lead (Pb) isotope compositions and concentrations was developed, which combines and optimizes previously published protocols for the separation and isotopic analysis of […]
Field data constrain ocean mercury budget
Thanks to recent measurements during several oceanographic expeditions, among them GEOTRACES cruises, estimates of the total amount and spatial distribution of anthropogenic mercury in the global ocean were substantially improved. […]
A new model of the oceanic aluminium distribution
Taking into account most of the parameters that govern any trace element’s oceanic behaviour is a challenge, given their number and complexity. Marco van Hulten and co-workers (2014, see reference […]
The impact of the different sources of iron on the ability of the ocean to absorb atmospheric carbon dioxide: reversing the paradigm?
Using model simulations, Tagliabue and co-authors (2014, see reference below) tested the sensitivity of the ocean to absorb the atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) in response to variable supply of iron. […]
Copper and zinc oceanic mass balance revisited
Little and co-workers (2014; see reference below) propose an update of the oceanic copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) mass balance, with the original approach that takes into account the hitherto […]
Latest discoveries about zinc concentrations and isotopes in the ocean
Zinc (Zn) is an essential micronutrient for phytoplankton and plays a key role in the productivity of the oceans. Despite the importance of this element, the processes which govern its […]
GEOTRACES: Changing the way we explore ocean chemistry
Read about the experiences and lessons learned in the planning and implementation of GEOTRACES international programme in a recent paper published in Oceanography. Anderson and co-authors present an extraordinary synthesis of […]