Behavior of Sea Spray Particles in Very High Wind Conditions

Sea spray forms when bubbles burst as a result of breaking waves. These spray particles are then ejected into the atmosphere from the ocean surface in the form of aerosols. Understanding how air-sea fluxes behave in high wind conditions is still a relatively new area of research that requires further investigation. Ortiz-Suslow used the Air-Sea Interaction Saltwater Tank (ASIST) at the Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science (RSMAS) to collect data on the influence of large spray droplet production on air-sea fluxes in high wind conditions. Here we extend his work to measure the variability of sea spray concentration and velocity as a function of particle size, height and wave phase (crest to trough to crest). Measurements from both salt and fresh water are reported in a variety of wind speeds up to 25 m/s, both with and without added long waves. The results provide input to LES numerical models for spray above waves.