June 2024 | Oceanography
For the past 20 years, the GEOTRACES program has produced trans-
formative insights into the cycling of trace elements and isotopes (TEIs)
in the ocean. Modeled after the 1970s GEOSECS (Geochemical Ocean
Sections Study) program, the goals of this ambitious study were to con-
duct large-scale measurements of TEI concentrations and to deter-
mine the biogeochemical processes that controlled their distributions
throughout the global ocean. Perhaps the biggest hurdle to overcome
was how to accurately measure less than nanomolar concentrations of
TEIs from the deck of a 3,000 gross tonnage steel ship. Contaminants
were literally everywhere, requiring scientists and crew to become inno-
vative in their attempts to maintain clean conditions for sample collec-
tion, storage, and measurement. GEOTRACES encouraged interna-
tional partnerships while instilling a collaborative approach in the next
generation of scientists. The practices GEOTRACES developed led to
consistent high-quality measurements across diverse lab groups and
provided an extensive and open database. GEOTRACES has truly been
a labor of love among all the scientists and crews involved, and the pro-
gram continues as a lofty example of the discoveries possible when con-
ducting such wide-ranging collaborative research.
Claudia Benitez-Nelson
Associate Editor, Oceanography
D https://doi.org/10.5670/oceanog.2024.422
QUARTERDECK
A NEEDLE IN THE HAYSTACK
Physical Oceanography of
Continental Shelves
K.H. Brink
An authoritative graduate textbook and
professional reference on the physical
dynamics of the coastal ocean
“This concise, up-to-date textbook has
virtually everything a student needs for
a course on coastal ocean physics.”
—John Wilkin, Rutgers University
• Covers the physical dynamics and properties
of the coastal ocean, synthesizing theory
and global observations
• Topics include turbulent boundary layers,
wind driving, coastal-trapped waves, the
inner shelf, tides, buoyancy currents,
instabilities, and connections with the
deep open ocean
Oceanography Flipbooks
https://oceanography.publuu.com
Be sure to visit the open access Oceanography flipbook library to
page through the full GEOTRACES special issue. While there, explore
other Oceanography issues back to March 2015.
AUTHORS! Flipbooks are an exciting enhancement to Oceanography.
In these flipbooks, we can embed videos, animations, photo galleries,
and audio files in your article. For details on file sizes and formats, visit
https://tos.org/oceanography/guidelines.