2021 Volume 30 Issue 5 Pages 199-225
The ocean significantly influences the Earthʼs climate by exchanging heat, gas, and particles with the atmosphere. The radiation budget of the Earthʼs atmosphere is affected by physical, chemical, and biological processes in the atmospheric boundary layer over the ocean via cloud formation and CO2 absorption at the sea surface. This in turn influences the ocean through changes in temperature, precipitation, and solar radiation. The air–sea boundary has a direct interaction with human life through the observation and prediction of extreme occurrences, such as typhoons and rogue surface waves, in addition to climate issues. Herein, this paper focuses on “the air–sea boundary,” not limiting as “the air–sea interface.” The air–sea boundary encompasses a large vertical region, extending from the euphotic layer, where primary production occurs, to the troposphere. This paper also focuses on satellite observations relating to air–sea boundary phenomena. Does the deposition of aerosols containing nitrogen, phosphorus, and iron contribute to primary production in terms of nutrient deposition from the atmosphere? What role does the sea surface microlayer play as an air–sea interface, and what factors influence its physical properties? What information is required to calculate the amount of greenhouse gas and marine biogenic gas exchange? What types of marine aerosols influence cloud formation and the radiation budget? What approaches are required to comprehend the spatiotemporal distributions that affect the amount of matter and energy exchanged during wave processes? To answer these questions and help humans live in harmony with the natural environment, this paper presents a 10-year vision for necessary research and collaboration between the Oceanographic Society of Japan and neighboring societies.
