It is well known that the sea surface temperature (hereafter, referred to as SST) is a critical component which influences the exchange of energy between the atmosphere and ocean. Since SST influences atmosphere as well as is controlled by atmospheric conditions, accurate SST data from observation or predicted by model plays a crucial role in weather forecast and research. However, the spatial ...

In coastal areas groundwater quality may be degraded by intrusion of salt sea water into freshwater aquifers. The salinity of the groundwater changes its physical properties: an increase in salinity increases both the density and viscosity of the groundwater. These density differences are the primary driving force that allows salt water to move into the coastal aquifer, forming a salt water “we...

In this paper the development of a quasi-three-dimensional numerical model that can be used for quantifying groundwater inputs and associated contaminant discharged from coastal aquifers into the coastal zone at a regional scale is presented. The present model is called MODSharp. In order to handle problems at a regional scale, the sharp interface approach which is used for conceptualising seaw...

A BST R A C T With increased interest in economic development of Arctic resources and waterways, understanding the fate of oil spills in the presence of sea ice becomes crucial for successful spill response and remediation efforts. We performed a series of laboratory experiments to analyze the entrainment and upward migration of oil (Alaska North Slope Crude and synthetic oil) through sea ice a...

Knowledge about the mechanisms of mass transfer across the aqueous boundary layer is still marginal because of the lack of suitable experimental techniques. We present a new technique to measure the air-water gas transfer rate and the spatial structure of the micro turbulence at the ocean surface using passive thermography. We make use of the fact that due to radiative cooling, latent and sensi...

The coupled atmosphere-ocean system defines the environment we live. The research of this complex, nonlinear and multiscale system is not only scientifically challenging but also practically important. We consider a coupled atmosphere-ocean model, which involves hydrodynamics, thermodynamics and nonautonomous interaction at the air-sea interface. First, we show that the coupled atmosphere-ocean...

Bursting of bubbles at an air/liquid interface is a familiar occurrence relevant to foam stability, cell cultures in bioreactors and ocean–atmosphere mass transfer. In the latter case, bubble-bursting leads to the dispersal of sea-water aerosols in the surrounding air. Here we show that bubbles bursting at a compound air/oil/water-with-surfactant interface can disperse submicrometre oil droplet...

Monomolecular surface films (“sea slicks”) are well known to dampen small-scale waves at the water surface, and thereby to influence transport processes at the air-sea interface. Because of their strong wave-damping capabilities they can often be delineated on synthetic aperture radar (SAR) imagery, but also on satellite imagery acquired in the visible and infrared spectral ranges. Since sea sl...

The synthesis of the BONUS+ research is introduced. The HELCOM Baltic Sea Action Plan is examined as a case to illustrate the potentials and challenges in building the science-policy making interface on a macro regional level. The projects address environmental challenges in the Baltic Sea as defined by the Baltic Sea Action Plan, or consider the environmental governance and decision making wit...