Trace Element Input and Cycling in the Western South Atlantic

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9531848 Landing The western Atlantic is a good location for examining the effects of multiple inputs, biogeochemical processes, and circulation on the concentrations of trace elements. This study will examine the interaction between inputs, cycling, and transport for Al, Be, Fe, As, Se, Sb, and other trace elements in the western Atlantic. The cruise track provides opportunities to collect samples from nearly all of the major intermediate and deep water masses in the Atlantic, as well as a detailed surface transect across the western boundary currents in the south Atlantic, the equatorial Atlantic/ITCZ (which receives large amounts of Saharan dust), and the Amazon plume, (supplying terrestrial organic ligands, suspended sediments, and colloidal matter). This cruise track will also meet the second research objective, to coordinate and execute the third Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission Baseline Expedition for Trace Metals and Organic Contaminants in the western South and equatorial Atlantic. The stated goal of these expeditions, as envisioned by the IOC, is to characterize the major water masses of the world's oceans for as many contaminants as possible so that changes due to anthropogenic activity can be identified.