Wave‐Related Reynolds Number Parameterizations of CO2 and DMS Transfer Velocities

Predicting future climate hinges on our understanding of and ability to quantify air‐sea gas transfer. The latter relies on parameterizations of the gas transfer velocity k, which represents physical mass transfer mechanisms and is usually parameterized as a nonlinear function of wind forcing. In an attempt to reduce uncertainties in k, this study explores empirical parameterizations that incorporate both wind speed and sea state dependence via wave‐wind and breaking Reynolds numbers, RH and RB. Analysis of concurrent eddy covariance gas transfer and measured wavefield statistics supplemented by wave model hindcasts shows for the first time that wave‐related Reynolds numbers collapse four open ocean data sets that have a wind speed dependence of CO2 transfer velocity ranging from lower than quadratic to cubic. Wave‐related Reynolds number and wind speed show comparable performance for parametrizing dimethyl sulfide (DMS) which, because of its higher solubility, is less affected by bubble‐mediated exchange associated with wave breaking. Key Points The gas transfer velocity of sparingly soluble gases is better parameterized by wave‐related Reynolds numbers than wind speed alone Wave‐related Reynolds numbers provide a unique universal relationship for CO2 gas transfer that transcends the quadratic‐cubic conundrum Wave‐related Reynolds number and wind speed show comparable performance for DMS