10 Peter Stille and Graham Shields
concentration of that element in a medium relative to the fluxes in and out of the
medium. Residence times can be calculated in marine or lake environments, in
groundwater (see Sect. 4.2), in estuaries, in the atmosphere or for elements in the
Earth's crust during tectonic recycling (crustal residence times) but the concept
remains the same. For example, if an elemental residence time in the marine
environment is calculated to be longer than the ocean water mixing time (about
3000 years), this means that the isotopic ratios of that element in seawater react
only sluggishly to changes in the input or output of that element. This leads to
isotopic homogeneity of the whole reservoir. Such a calculation is carried out in
Sect. 5.2.1. for Nd and it is essential to follow this step by step in order to
appreciate what residence time signifies and how it can be helpful.
1.5 References
Arthur MA. Anderson TF (eds)11983) Stable isotopes in sedimentary geology. Soc. econ.
petrog, rain. Short course no. 10
Ctaue[ N, Chaudhuri S (eds)(1992) Isotopic signatures and sedimentary records Lecture
Notes in Earth Sciences, Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York
Clauer N. Chaudhuri S (1995) Clays in crustal environments. Isotope dating and tracing.
Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York
Faure G (1986) Principles of Isotope Geology. John Wiley and Sons, New York.
Chichester, Brisbane. Toronto, Singapore
Ivanovich M, Harmon RS (eds)(1992) Uranium-series Disequilibrium. Oxford Science
Publications, Calendron Press, Oxford
Kyser TK (ed)(1987) Short Course in Stable Isotope Geochemistry oi Low Temperature
fluids. Mineralogical Association of Canada, vol 13, Saskatoon.
concentration of that element in a medium relative to the fluxes in and out of the
medium. Residence times can be calculated in marine or lake environments, in
groundwater (see Sect. 4.2), in estuaries, in the atmosphere or for elements in the
Earth's crust during tectonic recycling (crustal residence times) but the concept
remains the same. For example, if an elemental residence time in the marine
environment is calculated to be longer than the ocean water mixing time (about
3000 years), this means that the isotopic ratios of that element in seawater react
only sluggishly to changes in the input or output of that element. This leads to
isotopic homogeneity of the whole reservoir. Such a calculation is carried out in
Sect. 5.2.1. for Nd and it is essential to follow this step by step in order to
appreciate what residence time signifies and how it can be helpful.
1.5 References
Arthur MA. Anderson TF (eds)11983) Stable isotopes in sedimentary geology. Soc. econ.
petrog, rain. Short course no. 10
Ctaue[ N, Chaudhuri S (eds)(1992) Isotopic signatures and sedimentary records Lecture
Notes in Earth Sciences, Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York
Clauer N. Chaudhuri S (1995) Clays in crustal environments. Isotope dating and tracing.
Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York
Faure G (1986) Principles of Isotope Geology. John Wiley and Sons, New York.
Chichester, Brisbane. Toronto, Singapore
Ivanovich M, Harmon RS (eds)(1992) Uranium-series Disequilibrium. Oxford Science
Publications, Calendron Press, Oxford
Kyser TK (ed)(1987) Short Course in Stable Isotope Geochemistry oi Low Temperature
fluids. Mineralogical Association of Canada, vol 13, Saskatoon.