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The sea surface microlayer: biology, chemistry and anthropogenic enrichment

Abstract

Recent studies increasingly point to the interface between the world's atmosphere and hydrosphere (the sea-surface microlayer) as an important biological habitat and a collection point for anthropogenic materials. Newly developed sampling techniques collect different qualitative and quantitative fractions of the upper sea surface from depths of less than one micron to several centimeters. The microlayer provides a habitat for a biota, including the larvae of many commercial fishery species, which are often highly enriched in density compared to subsurface water only a few cm below. Common enrichments for bacterioneuston, phytoneuston, and zooneuston are 10/sup 2/-10/sup 4/, 1-10/sup 2/, and 1-10, respectively. The trophic relationships or intergrated functioning of these neustonic communities have not been examined. Surface tension forces provide a physically stable microlayer, but one which is subjected to greater environmental and climatic variation than the water column. A number of poorly understood physical processes control the movement and flux of materials within and through the microlayer. The microlayer is generally coated with a natural organic film of lipid and fatty acid material overlying a polysaccharide protein complex. The microlayer serves as both a source and a sink for materials in the atmosphere and the water column. Among these materials  More>>
Authors:
Publication Date:
Jan 01, 1982
Product Type:
Journal Article
Reference Number:
EDB-84-031327
Resource Relation:
Journal Name: Prog. Oceanogr.; (United Kingdom); Journal Volume: 11
Subject:
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES; 58 GEOSCIENCES; HYDROSPHERE; BIOGEOCHEMISTRY; BOUNDARY LAYERS; AIR-WATER INTERACTIONS; AQUATIC ORGANISMS; EARTH ATMOSPHERE; FLUID FLOW; HABITAT; HYDROCARBONS; INTERFACES; LARVAE; LIPIDS; METALS; PLASTICS; POLLUTANTS; POLYSACCHARIDES; PROTEINS; SAMPLING; SURFACE TENSION; TOXICITY; WATER POLLUTION; CARBOHYDRATES; CHEMISTRY; ELEMENTS; GEOCHEMISTRY; LAYERS; MATERIALS; ORGANIC COMPOUNDS; PETROCHEMICALS; PETROLEUM PRODUCTS; POLLUTION; SACCHARIDES; SURFACE PROPERTIES; SYNTHETIC MATERIALS; 520200* - Environment, Aquatic- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (-1989); 580500 - Oceanography- (1980-1989)
OSTI ID:
5442972
Research Organizations:
Batelle, Marine Research Lab., Sequim, WA
Country of Origin:
United Kingdom
Language:
English
Contract Number:
AC06-76RL01830
Other Identifying Numbers:
Journal ID: CODEN: POCNA
Submitting Site:
HEDB
Size:
Pages: 307-328
Announcement Date:
Sep 01, 1983

Citation Formats

Hardy, J T. The sea surface microlayer: biology, chemistry and anthropogenic enrichment. United Kingdom: N. p., 1982. Web. doi:10.1016/0079-6611(82)90001-5.
Hardy, J T. The sea surface microlayer: biology, chemistry and anthropogenic enrichment. United Kingdom. https://doi.org/10.1016/0079-6611(82)90001-5
Hardy, J T. 1982. "The sea surface microlayer: biology, chemistry and anthropogenic enrichment." United Kingdom. https://doi.org/10.1016/0079-6611(82)90001-5.
@misc{etde_5442972,
title = {The sea surface microlayer: biology, chemistry and anthropogenic enrichment}
author = {Hardy, J T}
abstractNote = {Recent studies increasingly point to the interface between the world's atmosphere and hydrosphere (the sea-surface microlayer) as an important biological habitat and a collection point for anthropogenic materials. Newly developed sampling techniques collect different qualitative and quantitative fractions of the upper sea surface from depths of less than one micron to several centimeters. The microlayer provides a habitat for a biota, including the larvae of many commercial fishery species, which are often highly enriched in density compared to subsurface water only a few cm below. Common enrichments for bacterioneuston, phytoneuston, and zooneuston are 10/sup 2/-10/sup 4/, 1-10/sup 2/, and 1-10, respectively. The trophic relationships or intergrated functioning of these neustonic communities have not been examined. Surface tension forces provide a physically stable microlayer, but one which is subjected to greater environmental and climatic variation than the water column. A number of poorly understood physical processes control the movement and flux of materials within and through the microlayer. The microlayer is generally coated with a natural organic film of lipid and fatty acid material overlying a polysaccharide protein complex. The microlayer serves as both a source and a sink for materials in the atmosphere and the water column. Among these materials are large quantities of anthropogenic substances which frequently occur at concentrations 10/sup 2/-10/sup 4/ greater than those in the water column. These include plastics, tar lumps, polyaromatic hydrocarbons, chlorinated hydrocarbons, and potentially toxic metals, such as, lead, copper, zinc, and nickel. How the unique processes occurring in the microlayer affect the fate of anthropogenic substances is not yet clear.}
doi = {10.1016/0079-6611(82)90001-5}
journal = []
volume = {11}
journal type = {AC}
place = {United Kingdom}
year = {1982}
month = {Jan}
}