Geotraces

GEOTRACES is an international program to study trace elements and isotopes in the global ocean. Many properties that are important either directly to biogeochemical cycling (e.g. Fe, Zn, Cd, Co) or to tracing biogeochemical cycles in past oceans (e.g. Cd, Th-230, Pa-231, Be-10) have very limited global ocean data to decipher the processes that control them. GEOTRACES will enlist the efforts of the major scientific sea-going nations of the world to collect 10-15 sections throughout the world ocean during the next 10-12 years. The first two intercalibration cruises are done (Atlantic, June 2008; Pacific, May 2009). The Boyle group, along with Bill Jenkins (WHOI) and Greg Cutter (ODU) are funded as the lead proposal to undertake the first U.S. GEOTRACES zonal North Atlantic section with a 52-day cruise scheduled for the fall of 2010. Boyle’s lab will measure Pb and Pb isotopes from samples from that cruise, as well as being responsible for shipboard Zn monitoring to establish proper operation of the sampling bottles.