Title: Derivation of a wave-state-dependent sea spray generation function and its application in estimating sea spray heat flux.

Journal: Science China: Earth Sciences, 58(10): 1862–1871.

Authors: LIU B., C. -L. Guan*, L. -A. Xie, and D. -L. Zhao

Abstract: A sea spray generation function (SSGF) for bubble-derived droplets that takes into account the impact of wave state on white-cap coverage was presented in this study. By combining the new SSGF with a previous wave-state-dependent SSGF for spume droplets, an SSGF applicable to both bubble-derived and spume droplets that includes the impacts of wave state was obtained. The produced SSGF varies with surface wind as well as with wave development. As sea surface wind increases, more sea spray droplets are produced, resulting in larger SSGFs and volume fluxes. Meanwhile, under the same wind conditions, the SSGF is mediated by wave state, with larger SSGFs corresponding to older waves and larger windsea Reynolds numbers. The impact of wave state on sea spray heat flux was then estimated by applying this SSGF while considering the thermodynamic feedback process. Under given atmospheric and oceanic conditions, the estimated sea spray heat flux increases with wind speed, wave age, and windsea Reynolds number.