Aerosols are in constant motion, being under the influence of turbulent flows, humidity, chemical and photochemical transformation processes, destruction and coagulation, emissions, leaching and sedimentation, transportation, etc. In whatever region the atmospheric aerosol is being investigated, in some amount in aerosol material will be present particles of the most diverse genesis and composition, nature, life expectancy and size. Considering that the surface of the oceans is 2/3 of the surface of our planet, this indicates the importance, capacity of the sea source of aerosol generation. The thickness of the sea source in relation to the dust source is 6 times higher, and in relation to submicron soil dust aerosol - 24 times. Genetically, the marine aerosol inherits the surface composition of that water body, the product of which is. The main source of marine aerosol material entering the lower troposphere is the surface microlayer of the sea.
The surface microlayer of the sea distinguishes between the ocean and the atmosphere and reveals properties that are extremely different from the descending volume of water and the atmosphere above it. There is a transfer of matter and energy, a complex and multifactor interaction between the ocean and the atmosphere, which entails a change in the composition and properties of the water masses, and also affects the atmospheric processes.
There are many ways to form a marine aerosol. At wind speeds of ~ 7 to 10 m / s, the amount of aerosol particles in the driving air layer increases sharply. This is due to the occurrence of a direct wind breakdown of water droplets from the crests of sea waves. At a wind speed of 5-10 m / s, a wind breakdown of the particles occurs along the boundaries of the cluster. However, like single storms, it does not make a significant contribution to the formation of marine aerosol.
More significant for the generation of marine aerosols in the global mass of the oceans. Such mechanisms include the process of rupture of air bubbles. It ensures the supply to the drive atmosphere of 109 tons of salt in one year. During the destruction of the bubble, droplets of at least two types are formed - film and reactive. About 20 film droplets are formed from an average film drop with a diameter of 1 μm, which, when dried, give aerosol particles of ~ 0.9 μm in size. They rise to a height of ~ 1 km above the surface of the water and constitute a significant part of the aerosol substance of marine origin. There are also less obvious ways of forming marine aerosols. Among them - the formation of aerosol particles in the rupture of heterogeneous (GG) surfaces. At the approach of the density inhomogeneity to the interface between the water-air phase there is a rupture of the membrane boundary
cluster on the model of a gas bubble burst, and the inner content of GG drops and film drops are ejected into the near-surface atmosphere.
The transfer of a substance from the water surface to the atmosphere promotes the self-purification of the aquatic environment from the increased concentrations of many chemical substances in the surface film of the ocean.