Through the ocean's 360 million sq km of surface pass 70 per cent of the solar energy that the earth absorbs, most of its supply of freshwater, a large fraction of the annual production of CO2 and O2 a huge tonnage of particulate matter and unmeasured volumes of man-made pollutants. The following topics are discussed: (1) Things that coat the surface, (2) The puzzle of rainwater, (3) The composition of rain, (4) The ubiquity of bubbles, (5) Pollution and sea farming. 2 ways in which increased understanding of micro layer oceanography may be of great practical significance are mentioned. The first relates to the potential control of hurricanes. It is suggested that both water and vapour and salt nuclei from the sea play a crucial role in the spawning and growth of hurricanes. Second, the micro layer may be a rich source of protein. Present efforts at collecting oil spills might be directly applicable to harvesting. |
