GEOTRACES: Intercalibration of Phosphate Oxygen Isotope Analyses and Sample Processing Techniques

溶解磷酸盐的氧同位素组成有助于追踪大陆架和上坡环境中这种营养物质的来源，有助于深入了解开阔海域的再矿化机制，并揭示磷酸盐的生物周转速率。然而，目前只有少数已发表的测量数据可用。将这一参数纳入GEOTRACES计划将大大增强数据集，但需要对其组成部分进行相互校准。出于这个原因，芝加哥大学的一位科学家计划在GEOTRACES到大西洋和太平洋的内部校准巡航期间收集和分析水样，以确定溶解的磷酸盐的氧同位素组成。一旦分析完成，将向海洋科学界提供一套关于获得可靠测量的最佳做法的建议。此外，研究人员建议分发样品和分析溶解磷酸盐氧同位素组成的标准。至于更广泛的影响，这种相互校准的努力可能是为海洋科学界开发新的示踪剂的第一步，旨在加深我们对磷循环的理解。

The oxygen isotope composition of dissolved phosphate has the utility of tracing sources of this nutrient in continental shelf and upper slope environments, yield insights into remineralization mechanisms in the open ocean, and reveal biological turnover rates of phosphate. However, currently only a few published measurements are available. Inclusion of this parameter into the GEOTRACES Program would significantly enhance the data set but requires that his component be intercalibrated. For this reason, a scientist from the University of Chicago plans to collect and analyze water samples for the oxygen isotope composition of dissolved phosphate during the GEOTRACES intercalibration cruises to the Atlantic and Pacific Ocean. Once the analyses are completed, a set of recommendations on the best practices to obtain reliable measurements would be made accessible to the ocean sciences community. In addition, the researcher proposes to distribute samples and standards for the analysis of oxygen isotope composition of dissolved phosphate.As regards broader impacts, this intercalibration effort could represent a first step towards the development of a new tracer for the ocean sciences community aimed at furthering our understanding of the phosphorus cycle.