Sea-Surface Chemistry and Its Impact on the Marine Boundary Layer

The abundance of organic compounds at the surface of oceans provides a link between ocean biogeochemistry and the atmospheric chemistry of the marine boundary layer through physicochemical processes at and near the air−water interface. These processes, in turn, affect the formation and growth of mar...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inEnvironmental science & technology Vol. 46; no. 19; pp. 10385 - 10389
Main Authors Donaldson, D. J, George, Christian
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published United States American Chemical Society 02.10.2012
Subjects
Aerosols
Air
Atmosphere - chemistry
Biogeochemistry
Catalysis
Chemical compounds
Chemical Sciences
Environment and Society
Environmental science
Environmental Sciences
Light
Oceans
Oceans and Seas
Organic Chemicals
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Summary:The abundance of organic compounds at the surface of oceans provides a link between ocean biogeochemistry and the atmospheric chemistry of the marine boundary layer through physicochemical processes at and near the air−water interface. These processes, in turn, affect the formation and growth of marine boundary layer aerosols, being involved in primary and secondary aerosol formation and evolution in the atmosphere. The photochemistry and photosensitizing properties of the kinds of biogenically derived organic coatings present at the ocean surface have until now only been suggested but never fully addressed. We present the current state of understanding, and make some suggestions for where the field may go, for greater understanding of the possible feedbacks of air/sea exchanges on air quality and climate change.
ISSN:0013-936X
1520-5851
DOI:10.1021/es301651m