A combined organic-inorganic sea-spray source function

This study presents a novel approach to develop a combined organic-inorganic sub-micron sea-spray source function for inclusion in large-scale models. It requires wind speed and surface ocean chlorophyll-a concentration as input parameters. The combined organic-inorganic source function is implemented in the REMOTE regional climate model and sea-spray fields are predicted with particular focus on the North East Atlantic. The model predictions using the new source functions compare well with observations of total sea-spray mass and organic carbon fraction in sea-spray aerosol. During winter (periods of low oceanic biological activity), sea-salt dominates the sea-spray mass while in summer (when biological activity is high), water soluble organic carbon contributes between 60-90% of the submicron sea-spray mass.