UNIQUE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE DEPTH PROFILE OF LANTHANIDE TETRAD EFFECT OBSERVED IN THE SOUTHERN-OCEAN

A depth profile of lanthanide tetrad effect is presented for a water c olumn collected in the southeastern Atlantic Ocean. The ABEXEL value t o quantitatively indicate the lanthanide tetrad effect is plotted agai nst the water depth. The features oi the ABEXEL-depth profile provide understanding for the unique marine conditions of the Antarctic Ocean, and are quite different from those observed in the eastern Indian Oce an and the eastern North Pacific Ocean. The water column can be divide d into six layers based on the features of the ABEXEL-depth profile. T he development of a unique structure in the ABEXEL-depth profile and i ts implications are discussed together with the potential use of the l anthanide tetrad effect in elucidation of our understanding of the for mation of deep seawaters within the oceans.