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.