The potential role of sea spray droplets in facilitating air-sea gas transfer

7th International Symposium on Gas Transfer at Water Surfaces

Andreas, E.L.^1 ; Vlahos, P.^2 ; Monahan, E.C.^2

North West Research Assoc. Inc., 25 Eagle Ridge, Lebanon

NH

03766, United States^1

Department of Marine Sciences, University of Connecticut, 1080 Shennecossett Road, Groton

CT

06340, United States^2

关键词: Air sea interactions;    Exchange rates;    Gas exchange;    Gas reservoir;    Gas transfer;    Parameterizing;    Rate-limiting steps;    Three time-scales;   

Others  :  https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1755-1315/35/1/012003/pdf
DOI  :  10.1088/1755-1315/35/1/012003

来源: IOP

【 摘 要 】

For over 30 years, air-sea interaction specialists have been evaluating and parameterizing the role of whitecap bubbles in air-sea gas exchange. To our knowledge, no one, however, has studied the mirror image process of whether sea spray droplets can facilitate air-sea gas exchange. We are therefore using theory, data analysis, and numerical modeling to quantify the role of spray on air-sea gas transfer. In this, our first formal work on this subject, we seek the rate-limiting step in spray-mediated gas transfer by evaluating the three time scales that govern the exchange: τair, which quantifies the rate of transfer between the atmospheric gas reservoir and the surface of the droplet; τint, which quantifies the exchange rate across the air-droplet interface; and τaq, which quantifies gas mixing within the aqueous solution droplet.