We approach the subject from several directions. Because wave breaking is the factor creating most of the variability of the fluxes, we study dynamics and kinematics of wave breaking using optical and acoustical observation techniques. The collected data helps us to model the momentum and energy interchange across the sea surface. Wave breaking creates air bubble clouds which are the source of marine aerosol. In order to develop functions of aerosol production over high sea areas and in the coast zone, we collect data about concentration and size distribution and of marine aerosol in the boundary layer using lidar sensing an particle counters as well as the optical depth of the atmosphere with sun photometers.
Modeling of the influence of bubble clouds on sea surface albedo is done using a fully 3-D Monte Carlo photon tracing technique. The code makes it possible to calculate of the spectral albedo footprint of a bubble cloud in function of the cloud shape and void fraction allowing for estimating the spectral effect of wave breaking on optical remote sensing of sea water components. Modified versions of the same code are used to study the effect of turbulence on the light field, with the aim of remote optical detecting of in-water turbulence using lidar system as well as to study the effect of oil slicks and in-water oil emulsion on the sea surface albedo.
As the area of air-sea interaction phenomena needs multidisciplinary approach, we cooperate with many European and overseas institutions as well as other groups in Institute of Oceanology (physical oceanography marine and atmospheric optics, marine acoustics etc.).
Air-Sea Interaction Laboratory was created in its present form as a unit of Institute of Oceanology PAS in January 2002 by fusion of the original Air-Sea Interaction Laboratory and Lidar Laboratory with Dr. Jacek Piskozub as the leader of the lab. The new laboratory is part of the Physical Oceanography Department.
The original Air-Sea Interaction was set up by Prof. Czesław Garbalewski to study the effect of aerosol in the mass transfer between the sea and atmosphere. In 1991 Dr. Tomasz Petelski took over the responsibility for the lab after Prof. Garbalewski had retired. The main research topic at the time was measuring concentration and the characteristic of sea-salt in the air using six-stage impactors as well as a particle laser counter PMS as well as to study the aerosol source function and fluxes in the wave breaking zone. In 2001, Prof. Stanisław Massel become the lab leader, adding the dynamics of wave breaking as a new research topic.
Lidar Laboratory existed since 1993 but the history of the lidar group in IO PAS is longer. It was created in the early 1980s by Prof. Andrzej Zieliński. In years 1993-2000 Dr. Jacek Piskozub was the leader of the laboratory, followed briefly in 2001 by Assoc. Prof. Tadeusz Król. The lab studied marine aerosol as well as sea water components with remote methods using two lidar systems, both build in Estonia.
Our lab has created in January 2002 from the fusion of the two laboratories with Jacek Piskozub as its head. In September 2003, M. Sc. Violetta Drozdowska - a member of the former Lidar Lab - rejoined our team. In 2005 she made her Ph.D. degree. Also in 2005, Jacek Piskozub, made his habilitation degree. In 2008, Tomasz Petelski and Tymon Zieliński succeeded as well. In January 2010, Tomek Petelski succeeded Jacek as the laboratory head.
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Last updated on September 10, 2010
