The GEOTRACES Intermediate Data Products: Rich Resources for Research, Education, and Outreach

Abstract

By mid-2023, the international GEOTRACES program had released three intermediate data products (IDP2014, IDP2017, and IDP2021), and in July 2023, an update of the latest product, IDP2021v2, was issued. All IDPs consist of two parts: (1) a compilation of digital data for large numbers of trace elements and isotopes (TEIs), and (2) the eGEOTRACES Electronic Atlas containing almost 1,500 pre-​created section plots and 269 animated three-dimensional scenes that can be browsed via an interactive web interface. GEOTRACES IDPs are used extensively and have proven to be rich resources for research, education, and outreach. Here, we demonstrate how these resources can be used efficiently and effectively via online services. Data browsing, analysis, and visualization occur in the user’s web browser, with the IDP data remaining on a dedicated server. Users simply visit specific resource URLs to access eGEOTRACES visuals and the GEOTRACES digital data directly. We first demonstrate how to navigate the eGEOTRACES Electronic Atlas to view TEI sections and three-dimensional animations. We then focus on two research use cases and provide detailed hands-on instructions for creating publication-ready figures related to the marine Zn cycle.