Sea spray emission from the surface of the open Baltic Sea

Abstract

Vertical aerosol flux values collected in the marine atmospheric boundary layer during Baltic cruises of the R/V Oceania have been analyzed. It has been determined that the aerosol emission from the sea surface in the open Baltic is proportional to the average energy dissipation rate raised to the 2/3 power. A similar relationship has been derived using dimensional analysis and a simple model of aerosol emission. It has been demonstrated that aerosol emission from the open Baltic may be parameterized using significant wave height and wind velocity.