Reconstructed dataset of dissolved trace metal concentrations (Cu, Cd, Zn, Mn, Fe, Pb) in marine environments

This dataset is a reconstructed and standardised compilation of dissolved copper (Cu), cadmium (Cd), zinc (Zn), manganese (Mn), iron (Fe), and lead (Pb) concentrations in global marine environments, including open and coastal oceans and seas, as well as shelf, inshore, and offshore systems. It integrates data extracted from peer-reviewed literature and publicly available marine databases, and has been harmonised to enable cross-study comparison and large-scale biogeochemical analysis. For each record, the marine environment (e.g., ocean, sea, or coastal system) is specified together with detailed geographic location information where available. Dissolved trace metal concentrations (nM) are reported or summarised across standardised depth intervals of 0–100 m, 101–1000 m, and ≥2000 m. These depth bins are used to report either concentration ranges or mean values for Cu, Cd, Zn, Mn, Fe, and Pb across open ocean, coastal, shelf, offshore, and inshore environments. Additional contextual metadata, including sampling period, marine system classification, and study-specific descriptors, are included where provided in the original sources. A README sheet ("README") describes the details on data extraction, processing, quality control, and harmonisation procedures. A data dictionary sheet ("DataDictionary_RefSummary") for the raw data describes all variables in the raw extracted dataset prior to processing, including bibliographic metadata, original units, extraction methods, quality filtering, and processing notes. A data dictionary sheet ("DataDictionary_ReconstructedDat") for the reconstructed dataset defines all variables in the reconstructed dataset, including geographic identifiers, depth categories, trace metal types, concentration metrics, and environmental classifications. The references summary sheet ("References Summary") provides a consolidated list of all literature sources used in the dataset, including bibliographic details, DOIs, and data provenance information for each study. The reconstructed dataset sheet (“Reconstructed Dataset”) contains the final harmonised dataset of dissolved trace metal concentrations used for analysis. A reference sheet (“Original Source References”) lists the original publications and datasets from which the data were derived.