Splashing waves and sea spray in the ocean (Foto: Jeremy Bishop / Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication)
SEAL – SEa Spray AerosoL observations
Field measurements of moist sea spray aerosol
During research voyages, the German Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency (BSH) observed dampening of the light flux from various sources above the sea. A project is investigating the potential influence of aerosol particles directly above the water surface on radiation in the visible and infrared ranges. The findings will hel improve the visibility of light sources on infrastructure or in rescue equipment for people on ships.
In the first phase of the project, an autonomous measuring system will be installed on a beacon in the Baltic Sea off Eckernförde. Over the course of one year, the size distribution of moist sea spray aerosol and meteorological parameters will be recorded. The optical data from the light sources installed on the barge will be measured in parallel by a station on land. The data will be validated in a subsequent second phase on a research vessel in the North Sea and Baltic Sea.