Wind/wave laboratory studies of the impacts of the ocean on atmospheric chemistry, health, and climate

During a period of unparalleled change on Earth, enhancing our comprehension of the ocean/atmosphere system's influence on climate is of paramount importance. Human-induced pollution is detrimentally impacting ecosystems, thereby altering essential environmental cycles. Despite the ocean's expansive coverage of nearly three-quarters of the Earth's surface, current models inadequately address the roles of ocean-derived aerosols and gases. A particularly under-studied issue involves assessing the effects of ocean microbes on the atmosphere, especially their feedback mechanisms affecting cloud formation, health, and climate. Results from field studies of the ocean/atmosphere system are complicated by human pollution being introduced into the ocean. This presentation will elucidate findings from novel ocean/atmosphere laboratory experiments conducted at the NSF Center for Aerosol Impacts on Chemistry of the Environment (CAICE; (https://caice.ucsd.edu)). A significant emphasis will be placed on understanding the factors that govern the composition, cloud formation capabilities, and ice nucleation properties of marine aerosols in coastal environments. This presentation will discuss how a newly developed Scripps Ocean-Atmosphere Research Simulator (SOARS) is being used to study ocean/atmosphere exchange processes using winds and waves under diverse scenarios. Additionally, the presentation will delve into recent field and laboratory investigations exploring the mechanisms governing the ocean-to-atmosphere transfer of bacteria, viruses, and gases. A summary will be presented on the implications of human-induced environmental changes on human health, ecosystems, and climate, as we face an unprecedented rate of warming.