Neodymium isotopic composition of the oceans: A compilation of seawater data

A global compilation of the neodymium isotopic composition of seawater is presented. With 880 data points, it confirms the gradual εNd increase for intermediate/deep water masses from the northwest North Atlantic, via the Austral and Indian oceans, to the Pacific. This confirms the usefulness of this tracer for studying large scale oceanic circulation. The compilation stresses the need for documenting the oceans south of 30°S, from which less than 4% of the data are derived. The associated neodymium concentrations display heterogeneous vertical gradients among major oceanic basins. In addition to particle remineralization along the global thermohaline circulation, the database suggests that basin size differences also contribute to that heterogeneity.

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► For the first time, a global database of seawater neodymium isotopes is presented.
► It confirms the gradual εNd increase along the global thermohaline circulation.
► It stresses the need for documenting the oceans south of 30°S.
► It suggests that basin sizes play a role in neodymium surface concentrations.