Sea Spray Production and Influence on Air-sea Heat And Moisture Fluxes over the Open Ocean

Abstract

The question as to whether sea spray affects the air—sea fluxes of heat and moisture has been around a long time, but the answer has remained elusive. Over 50 years ago, Montgomery (1940) concluded that humidity profiles he collected over the ocean in winds less than 10 m/s showed evidence of spray effects. Over 40 year ago, to explain the radial increase in air temperature and specific humidity toward the center of tropical storms, Riehl (1954, p. 287) confidently stated that “A source for the heat and moisture increase is obvious. The ocean is greatly agitated, and large amounts of water are thrown into the air in the form of spray.”