Abstract
A model is presented for the size distribution and vertical number profile of bubbles near the ocean surface in the presence of breaking waves. A source of bubbles is postulated at the surface which arises primarily from the shattering of large cavities near an outer scale determined jointly by gravity and surface tension. The fragmentation rate varies as the area of the individual bubbles down to an inner scale where no further shattering is possible. The resulting Weibull distribution of bubble sizes adequately fits the bulk of observed bubble distributions except in the limits of small and large sizes. The vertical profile of bubble density is modelled on the premise of a depth-independent but scale dependent eddy diffusivity. Other aspects of the characteristics of bubble fields as presently understood are adequately reproduced by the model.
This paper represents a general condensation, with an elaboration of key points, of a paper by the author appearing in ‘Atmosphere-Ocean, Vol. 24, 169–188, 1986.
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© 1988 Kluwer Academic Publishers
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Kerman, B.R. (1988). On the Distribution of Bubbles near the Ocean Surface. In: Kerman, B.R. (eds) Sea Surface Sound. NATO ASI Series, vol 238. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-3017-9_14
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-3017-9_14
Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht
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