An analysis of the surface production of sea-salt aerosols

Abstract

The rate of production of sea water droplets by bubble bursting at the ocean surface is very difficult to measure directly. Laboratory simulations are also difficult. However, the surface flux can be inferred from measuremerits of the rate of change of aerosol densities and changes in the height of the marine boundary layer. Data from CEWCOM-78 have been analyzed to produce the aerosol surface flux volume spectrum from 0.8 to 15 μm radius at a wind speed of 9 m s-1. Using this flux spectrum and equilibrium aerosol spectra from JASIN. flux spectra are calculated for wind speeds from 6 to 18 m s-1.