Marine biogenic aerosol sources simulated from below the global ocean-atmosphere interface

Abstract:

Full understanding of biogenic aerosol emissions may require modeling of production, interconversion, phase changes and other processes influencing precursor distributions below the ocean surface. We describe a bottom-up, chemical oceanographic approach to the representation of marine sources now under development for Earth System Models in the U.S. Department of Energy. The motivation is to move beyond indirect bulk indicators such as chlorophyll or total dissolved organics. Dynamic mechanistic capabilities are sought for the relevant mixed layer materials and flux fields. The resulting fidelity and predictive capabilities may prove crucial during the era of global change. Reactive transport calculations are outlined for organosulfur, the suite of biomacromolecules, their degradation products plus both interphase or interfacial transitions. Volatile and polymeric substances are controlled on a compound by compound basis, driven by results from a global ecodynamics model of multiple phytotaxa and trophic levels. Surfactant behavior is considered simultaneously at the global bubble and atmospheric interfaces, and such two dimensional chemistry is extended beyond Langmuir monolayers to electrostatically supported films. Colloidal and gel sweeping-impaction by the wind-driven bubble field are considered as alternate means of vertical transport. At the top of the ocean within the microlayer, effects on sea spray number flux are estimated. Moving beyond aerosol emissions, our methods can also provide insight into the uncertainties traditionally inherent to sea-air gas transfer, since they are connected to macromolecular viscoelastics in the laminar barrier layer. We find that resolution of all these subsurface processes is possible at the level of the biogeographic marine province, including specialized treatments for the ice domain, sea ice edge and coastal regime.