Air–sea interaction
Air–sea interaction describes the processes that involve the transfer of energy, matter, and momentum between the atmosphere (Earth's atmosphere) and the ocean.
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This is one of the least well understood research topics of physical oceanography, with the theory inadequate and the data sparse. Specific areas with glaring gaps include the interaction of the wind and surface waves, the parameterization of subgrid scale processes in large–scale circulation models, and the transfer of gases across the air–sea interfaces.
Meteorology
A number of key meteorological and solar radiation effects are active at the air-sea interface; some of these key factors are:
- Incident solar radiation affects ocean warming, but sea (or sea ice) albedo affects the atmosphere
- Winds: atmospheric air flow influences the sea surface in terms of energy exchange and ocean currents
- Temperature: atmospheric temperature and ocean temperature are instrumental in heat exchange
- Lapse rate: the thermal gradients of the atmosphere affect the thermal exchange at the air-sea interface
Mass Exchange
There are a number of important matter exchange phenomena which are important for ecological, climate and pollution research. Some of the key aspects of matter exchange are:
- Carbon: particularly related to methane and carbon dioxide exchange
- Sulfur: especially related to the oxides of sulfur, which are common air pollutants and involved in acid rain
- Nitrogen: major fluxes include riverine dicharge to the oceans from nutrient bearing agricultural runoff (Surface runoff)
See Also
Further Reading
- E. L. Deacon and E. K. Webb. Small-scale interactions. In M. N. Hill, editor, The Sea. Vol. I: Physical Oceanography, pages 43–87. Wiley, 1962.
- M. Donelan. Air sea interaction. In B. Le Mehaute and D. M. Haines, editors, The Sea, Vol. 9, Part A: Ocean Engineering Science, pages 239–292. J. Wiley & Sons, 1990.
- G. L. Geernaert. Bulk parameterizations for the wind stress and heat flux. In G. L. Geernaert and W. Plant, editors, Surface Waves and Fluxes, Vol. 1, pages 91–172. Kluwer Academic, 1990.
- Eric B. Kraus and Joost A. Businger. Atmosphere-Ocean Interaction (2nd Ed.). Oxford Univ. Press, 1994.
- David P. Rogers. Air–sea interaction: connecting the ocean and atmosphere. Rev. Geophys., 33 Supp.:?, 1995.
- S. D. Smith, C. W. Fairall, G. L. Geernaert, and L. Hasse. Air–sea fluxes – 25 years of progress. Boundary Layer Meteorol., 78:247–290, 1996.
- G. L. Geernaert. Historical perspective. In G. L. Geernaert, editor, Air–Sea Exchange: Physics, Chemistry and Dynamics, pages 1–24. Kluwer, 1999.
