Modeling Neodymium Isotopes in the Ocean Component of the Community Earth System Model (CESM1)

Abstract

Neodymium (Nd) isotopic composition (εNd) is an important tracer for water mass mixing and the reconstruction of past ocean circulation. To allow for a direct model-data comparison, we have implemented Nd isotopes in the ocean component of the Community Earth System Model (CESM1.3). The model is able to capture the major features of the observed modern distribution of both εNd and Nd concentrations. Our model provides a useful tool for the interpretation of εNd reconstructions. For example, we show that in an idealized North Atlantic freshwater hosing experiment, εNd changes in the Atlantic are documenting primarily the changes in water mass mixing and are hardly affected by the concomitant and large changes in the marine biological productivity and organic matter fluxes. However, the hosing experiment also shows that the end-member changes due to the change of ocean circulation can influence the interpretation of εNd in the Atlantic, depending on the location. The implementation of Nd, together with other existing tracers, such as δ18O, 231Pa/230Th, δ13C, and radiocarbon in the same model, can improve our understanding of past ocean circulation significantly.