Non Intrusive Monitoring of Ocean Surfactants with Nonlinear Optics
Abstract
LONG-TERM GOAL. Wind-wave coupling, wave damping, surface turbulence, and air/sea gas exchange along with the reflection, transmission, emission, and absorption of electromagnetic radiation at the air/sea interface are all dictated by the molecular level structure and chemical composition of the top several molecular layers which define this interface. This research effort is directed at obtaining and using knowledge of molecular level structure and composition of the air/sea interface to understand and predict macroscopic interfacial physicochemical properties. SCIENTIFIC OBJECTIVES. Surfactant (both soluble and insoluble) concentration gradients and dynamic perturbations (surface waves and interfacial flows) at the air/water interface lead to large measurable changes in the thermodynamic, electromagnetic, and fluid properties of this interface as well as changes in mass transport across this interface. In addition, the macroscopic perturbations on the interface (such as surface waves or interfacial flow) create and enhance the interfacial chemical and structural gradients. Knowledge of how these interfacial microscopic (molecular level) structural and chemical composition gradients correlate with macroscopic changes provides a first step in understanding and quantifying the relationships between these interfacial phenomena.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 30, 1997
- Accession Number
- ADA634600
Entities
People
- Gerald M. Korenowski
Organizations
- Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute