We analyzed concentrations of dissolved rare earth elements (REE) across the land-ocean continuum in the German Bight (southern North Sea) to identify key drivers for REE cycling in dynamic coastal environments. We identified the coastal transition zone as a critical interface for altering predominantly riverine-derived natural and anthropogenic REEs. We combined shale-normalized REE patterns, measured by quadrupole inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (Q-ICP-MS), with biogeochemical bulk parameters and molecular analysis of dissolved organic matter (DOM) determined by ultrahigh-resolution mass spectrometry (FT-ICR-MS). Samples were acquired during RV Heincke cruise HE527. The dataset includes spatially resolved biogeochemical data (concentrations of chlorophyll-a, dissolved nitrogen, dissolved organic carbon, suspended particulate matter, dissolved iron, dissolved manganese and dissolved REE) in surface waters obtained along the major estuarine transects (Ems, Weser, and Elbe), coast-orthogonal transects and an offshore North Sea transect, with additional deep-water samples. Temporally resolved data were collected near the barrier islands Langeoog and Spiekeroog including the Otzumer Balje inlet. The dataset also contains molecular indices based on DOM composition (see Speidel et al., 2024) REE subgroups, ratios and concentrations of anthropogenic Samarium and Gadolinium (for details see Mori et al., 2025).
We analyzed concentrations of dissolved and particulate trace metals, including iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), vanadium (V), molybdenum (Mo), thallium (Tl), and rare earth elements (REE), during a mesocosm-based phytoplankton summer bloom mimicking the intertidal zone of the southern North Sea (Jade Bay). The studies aimed to identify key drivers controlling their biogeochemical cycling in dynamic, high-productivity coastal environments. Our results highlight the tidally influenced coastal zone as a critical interface that alters the behavior of supposedly conservative elements such as Mo and Tl (Mori et al., 2021) as well as natural and anthropogenic REE (incl., lanthanum, samarium, and gadolinium) (Mori et al., under review). Trace metal concentrations and shale-normalized REE patterns, determined by quadrupole inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and inductively coupled plasma–optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES), were combined with biogeochemical bulk parameters and pigment-based assessments of phytoplankton growth and community composition (Mustaffa et al., 2020). Trace metal and REE cycling were evaluated in relation to phytoplankton dynamics, particulate organic matter composition (C, N, P), dissolved organic carbon, total dissolved nitrogen, and macronutrient concentrations (nitrate, ammonium, silicate, and inorganic phosphate). The dataset was obtained during a Planktotron-based mesocosm experiment conducted within the framework of the Coastal Ocean Darkening project (Mustaffa et al., 2020).