Generation rate of marine aerosols as determined from a boundary layer model

Abstract : The rate of generation of aerosols by bubbles bursting at the sea surface is not well known. Unfortunately, the rate is a very difficult parameter to measure. The rate can be inferred from a boundary layer model that includes determining evolutions of aerosol spectra from parameterizations of generation, transport, and removal processes. Using this technique, data from CEWCOM-78 have been analyzed to produce the aerosol surface flux volume spectrum from 0.8 to 15 micrometer radius at a wind speed of 9 m/sec. Using this flux spectrum and equilibrium aerosol spectra from JASIN, flux spectra are calculated for wind speeds from 6 to 18 m/sec. (Author)