Abstract Marine aerosols (MA) are distributed within the ocean–atmosphere boundary layer and play a critical role in transferring particles from the ocean to terrestrial environments. This review examines current methodologies for estimating emission rates and concentrations, atmospheric transport, and recent research advancements in Latin America related to MA. An overview of the generation mechanisms and factors influencing their production and release into the atmosphere is presented. Subsequently, the parameterizations employed to estimate fluxes, the models used for simulating atmospheric transport, and the contribution of MA to urban aerosol concentrations at the surface and throughout the atmospheric column, with particular emphasis on Latin American studies. Primary MA originate from three primary mechanisms: film, jet, and spume droplet formation. These processes emit sea salt aerosols (primary aerosols) and gases, mainly sulfates and organic compounds, precursors to secondary aerosols. Wind speed is the principal parameter for modulating fluxes and estimating aerosol production; however, salinity, sea surface temperature, and wave state have received increased attention in recent research. Two types of emission flux are commonly used: effective and interfacial, with the latter being more widely adopted due to its higher accuracy in representing aerosol concentration variability. Sodium is considered a reliable tracer for quantifying marine contributions to PM 10 and PM 2.5 . Regarding transport, MA can reach up to 25 km inland, accounting for 20%–27% of PM 10 concentrations, according to European studies. In Latin America, research remains scarce, with a predominant focus on the Caribbean Sea over the Pacific Ocean.
Vergara-Vásquez et al. (2026) studied this question.