Can The Marine Organic Matter Evidenced In Antarctic Snow Be Responsible Of Biogeochemical Fractionation In Marine Aerosol?

Our previous findings of marine organic surfactant matter in antarctic snow, lead us to consider a biogeochemical fractionation of marine aerosol. We propose here a new simplified model based on the distribution of marine surfactant adsorption layer on the surface of spray drops (SDALM) which are originated luring the breaking wave events. Both field conditions and laboratory experiments seem to explain, according to SDALM, the anomalous enrichment of K and Ca in marine aerosol found in antarctic snow at altitude higher than 700 m above sea level. The application of SDALM could suggest a new general approach to the variations in the composition of the marine aerosol fine fraction.