An Analysis Of Surface Production Of Sea Salt Aerosols

The rate of production of sea water droplets by bubble bursting at the ocean surface is virtually impossible to measure directly. Laboratory simulations are also difficult. However, the surface flux can be inferred from measurements of the rate of change of aerosol densities and changes in the height of the marine boundary mixed layer. Data from CEWCOM-78 has been analyzed to produce the aerosol surface flux volume spectrum from 0.5 to 15 micrometers radius at a wind speed of 8 m/sec. Using this flux spectrum and equilibrium aerosol spectra from JASIN, similar flux spectra are calculated for sind speeds from 5 to 15 m/sec.