Physicochemical Studies of the Sea-Surface Microlayer

Abstract

In physicochemical studies on the sea-surface microlayer (SML) in seawater, the main researches conducted were as follows: (1) It was found that there is an objective layer of sudden change in physical and chemical properties between the SML and the subsurface layer in seawater. (2) The SML thickness was determined and should be about 50?10 ?m. (3) The Gibbs model of the SML was extended, and the multilayer model of the SML was advanced. (4) The original-location method, which corresponds with the traditional removal-location method, was founded and used to determine the SML thickness. The results obtained from the two methods were almost identical. (5) An abnormal phenomenon was found when the Gibbs solution adsorption was applied to the seawater system, the reason for which was discussed preliminarily.

Keywords

sea-surface microlayer (SML), layer of sudden change in physical and chemical properties, SML thickness, sampling method, removal-location method,original-location method, multilayer model of the SML, abnormality of the Gibbs adsorption