Journal article
Effects of Wind Speed on Water Uptake, Phase State, and Viscosity of Sea Spray Aerosols
ACS earth and space chemistry, Vol.9(11), pp.2685-2693
11/20/2025
DOI: 10.1021/acsearthspacechem.5c00215
Appears in UI Libraries Support Open Access
Abstract
This study investigates the effects of wind speed on physicochemical properties such as water uptake, phase state, and viscosity at varying relative humidity (RH) of individual nascent sea spray aerosols (SSAs). We examined SSA sized within 0.1−0.6 μm generated from a wind-wave channel at two wind speeds: 10 m/s representing a wind lull scenario over the ocean and 19 m/s corresponding to wind speeds encountered in stormy conditions. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) was utilized to study two predominant SSA morphologies: core−shell and rounded. AFM phase state measurements at 60% RH revealed that shells of core−shells at 19 m/s were largely liquid, while those at 10 m/s were mostly semisolid or liquid with similar proportions, where semisolid shells exhibited higher viscosities at lower wind speed. Rounded SSAs were predominantly liquid or semisolid at 60% RH, with similar semisolid viscosities for both wind speeds. Increased water uptake was observed for core−shells at 19 m/s, while rounded SSA had similar hygroscopicity between the two wind conditions. Collectively, we observed a variation in the physicochemical properties of SSA generated at two wind speeds, which can be attributed to the impact of elevated wind speed on disrupting the sea surface microlayer film structure and composition.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Effects of Wind Speed on Water Uptake, Phase State, and Viscosity of Sea Spray Aerosols
- Creators
- Chamika K. Madawala - University of IowaMengnan Sun - University of IowaCarolina Molina - University of California San DiegoRaymond J. Leibensperger - Scripps Institution of OceanographyChathuri P. Kaluarachchi - University of IowaLincoln Mehndiratta - University of California San DiegoKe’La A. Kimble - University of California San DiegoGreg Sandstrom - Scripps Institution of OceanographyCharbel Harb - RTI InternationalGrant B. Deane - Scripps Institution of OceanographyM. Dale Stokes - Scripps Institution of OceanographyChristopher Lee - Scripps Institution of OceanographyJonathan. H. Slade - University of California San DiegoKimberly A. Prather - Scripps Institution of OceanographyVicki H. Grassian - University of California San DiegoAlexei V. Tivanski - University of Iowa
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- ACS earth and space chemistry, Vol.9(11), pp.2685-2693
- DOI
- 10.1021/acsearthspacechem.5c00215
- ISSN
- 2472-3452
- eISSN
- 2472-3452
- Publisher
- American Chemical Society
- Grant note
- Division of Chemistry: CHE-1801971 National Science Foundation (NSF) through the NSF Center for Aerosol Impacts on Chemistry of the Environment (CAICE)
This work was funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) through the NSF Center for Aerosol Impacts on Chemistry of the Environment (CAICE) under grant no. CHE-1801971. The authors thank Prof. Christopher Cappa for providing the Igor-pro wave metric code to perform the statistical analysis on probability distribution. Additionally, the authors thank Deborah Kim, Dilini Gamage, Jennie Lee, Julie Dinasquet, Francesca Malfatti, and Elizabeth Stone. Thank you to the entire CHAOS team for their hard work, especially Dr. Christopher Lee, Prof. Timothy Bertram, Prof. Christopher Cappa, and Prof. Kimberly A. Prather for designing and overseeing the campaign. Also, the authors would like to thank the entire engineering team for their hard work, especially Joseph Mayer, Robert Kildy, and the team at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography Marine Science Development Center who made this campaign a success. The authors thank everyone who had provided their contribution with filling and cleaning SOARS to make this a success.
- Language
- English
- Electronic publication date
- 10/21/2025
- Date published
- 11/20/2025
- Academic Unit
- Chemistry; Chemical and Biochemical Engineering
- Record Identifier
- 9985019037602771
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