Estimation of bubble-mediated air–sea gas exchange from concurrent DMS and CO2 transfer velocities at intermediate–high wind speeds
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Published version
Author(s)
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Simultaneous air–sea fluxes and concentration differences of dimethylsulfide (DMS) and carbon dioxide (CO2) were measured during a summertime North Atlantic cruise in 2011. This data set reveals significant differences between the gas transfer velocities of these two gases (Δkw) over a range of wind speeds up to 21ms−1. These differences occur at and above the approximate wind speed threshold when waves begin breaking. Whitecap fraction (a proxy for bubbles) was also measured and has a positive relationship with Δkw, consistent with enhanced bubble-mediated transfer of the less soluble CO2 relative to that of the more soluble DMS. However, the correlation of Δkw with whitecap fraction is no stronger than with wind speed. Models used to estimate bubble-mediated transfer from in situ whitecap fraction underpredict the observations, particularly at intermediate wind speeds. Examining the differences between gas transfer velocities of gases with different solubilities is a useful way to detect the impact of bubble-mediated exchange. More simultaneous gas transfer measurements of different solubility gases across a wide range of oceanic conditions are needed to understand the factors controlling the magnitude and scaling of bubble-mediated gas exchange.
Date Issued
2017-07-27
Date Acceptance
2017-06-28
Citation
Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics, 2017, 17 (14), pp.9019-9033
ISSN
1680-7316
Publisher
Copernicus Publications
Start Page
9019
End Page
9033
Journal / Book Title
Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics
Volume
17
Issue
14
Copyright Statement
© 2017 Author(s). This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/).
the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/).
Sponsor
National Science Foundation
Prof. Eric Shooter via the Royal Society
Grant Number
National Science Foundation
Royal Society Shooter International Fellowship
Subjects
0401 Atmospheric Sciences
0201 Astronomical And Space Sciences
Meteorology & Atmospheric Sciences
Publication Status
Published
Date Publish Online
2017-07-27