Gas Transfer at Water Surfaces

Published by the American Geophysical Union as part of the Geophysical Monograph Series, Volume 127.

The transfer of gases across the air-water interface has received much attention over the past two decades, particularly in light of increased societal interest in the exchange of greenhouse gases and pollutants between natural water bodies and the atmosphere. Gas transfer at the interface between liquids and gases holds great fascination for a wide range of researchers, from fluid dynamicists to biogeochemists. However, the phenomena of gas transfer, and the problems we face in understanding them, involve daunting issues, including multi-phase flows over a wide range of spatial and temporal scales. Such complexity is increased by the presence of surface films of both natural and anthropogenic origin, which can modify the physical and chemical nature of the interface. As a result, the challenge of working on gas transfer has stimulated the development of multidisciplinary, collaborative efforts and the development of a variety of innovative experimental and observational techniques.