Award: OCE-1756807

We worked together with our German colleagues from GEOMAR and the University of Kiel to investigate the rate at which gases move between the atmosphere and the ocean, also known as the gas transfer velocity, in the Baltic Sea. Knowing this rate is crucial because it determines how greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide are exchanged between the air and sea. We believed that the gas transfer velocity in the Baltic Sea was different from that in the open ocean due to the abundance of surfactants and the limited area for unobstructed wind flow (wind fetch). Our findings confirmed our hypothesis, showing that the gas exchange in the Baltic Sea was significantly lower than in other ocean areas and lower than previous studies had found.

This information is useful for scientists studying biogeochemical cycles in the Baltic Sea, as it adds to the growing understanding that gas exchange in coastal areas is different from that in the open ocean. The results may also be important for researchers working on ocean-based carbon dioxide removal (CDR) techniques, as many of these techniques will likely be implemented in coastal waters.

The project involved students from our German partner institutions and graduate students from the University of Hawaii at Manoa. They gained valuable experience in the field and in data analysis, and the results will be used in Ph.D. theses of students from all institutions involved. Additionally, the results will be shared with students in courses taught at all institutions and at the International Surface Ocean Lower Atmosphere Study (SOLAS) Summer School in Cape Verde, which trains the next generation of scientists interested in air-sea gas exchange.

Last Modified: 04/12/2023
Modified by: David T Ho