In situ measurements of the air-sea gas transfer rate using heat as a proxy tracer
- Univ. of Heidelberg (Germany). Interdisciplinary Center for Scientific Computing
- Scripps Institution of Oceanography, La Jolla, CA (United States). Physical Oceanography Research Div.
Conventional techniques to measure the transfer velocity k = j/{Delta}c of gases across the ocean interface are based on mass balance of the gas tracer in the water body. In order to determine j the temporal change {dot c}{sub w} of the tracer concentration in a volume of water V{sub w} has to be measured. The corresponding time constant {tau}{sub w} is in the order of days to weeks in the ocean. This long integration time prevents both an empirical parameterization of the gas transfer rate with friction velocity and other parameters such as the wave field and an insight into the mechanisms. Eddy correlation techniques are in principal suitable for flux measurements and parameterization of the gas transfer rate. So far, however, it could not be verified that they yield results that are consistent with geochemical methods and laboratory investigations. Here, an alternative approach is presented. The novel technique controls the tracer flux at the interface and uses heat as a proxy tracer.
- Sponsoring Organization:
- Office of Naval Research, Washington, DC (United States)
- OSTI ID:
- 467696
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-9409461-; TRN: IM9721%%124
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: 2. International conference on air-sea interaction and on meterology and oceanography of the coastal zone, Lisbon (Portugal), 22-27 Sep 1994; Other Information: PBD: [1994]; Related Information: Is Part Of Second international conference on air-sea interaction and on meteorology and oceanography of the coastal zone; PB: 343 p.
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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