The transfer of weakly soluble gases between the atmosphere and seas or lakes is controlled by liquid‐phase molecular and turbulent diffusion mechanisms, which essentially depend on wind velocity and gas Schmidt number. A distinct change in regime is observed around 2–3 m s−1, when capillary waves appear, which present models cannot explain. We suggest relating turbulent diffusivity with (1) possible motions close to a “free” liquid‐gas interface, (2) mean current distribution in that region, and (3) capillary wave spectra. Resulting transfer velocities explain laboratory and field data at low and moderate wind speeds.
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M. Coantic (1986) studied this question.
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