Air-Sea Gas Exchange Rates: Introduction and Synthesis

In this chapter we attempt to present a brief introduction to the subject of air-sea gas exchange. First the basic equations governing such exchange are given, then a review of some models proposed to describe the gas transfer process. Following this, experimental approaches through both laboratory (principally using wind/water tunnels) and field measurements are summarised. Finally, we present what seems to us to be the best current synthesis of the wind tunnel and field results for the prediction of gas exchange rates across the sea surface.