PHYSICOCHEMICAL STUDIES OF THE SEA-SURFACE MICROLAYER - I - THICKNESSOF THE SEA-SURFACE MICROLAYER AND ITS EXPERIMENTAL-DETERMINATION

The sea surface microlayer and its thickness are theoretically analyze d. A multiple-layer model of the sea surface microlayer is proposed. T hrough in situ and laboratory imitation experiments using glass plate, rotating drum, screen, and funnel samplers, the relationships between pH, surface tension, the concentrations of dissolved trace metals Cu and Pb, phosphate, and particulate and sampling thicknesses are carefu lly investigated. The apparent sampling thickness of the sea surface m icrolayer is determined to be 50 +/- 10 mu m, which is basically consi stent with the mean thickness of the liquid boundary film in the model s of gas exchange across the sea surface. (C) 1998 Academic Press.