sea surface microlayer: biology, chemistry and anthropogenic enrichment

Recent studies increasingly point to the interface between the world's atmosphere and hydropshere (the sea-surface microlayer) as an important biological habitat and a collection point for anthropogenic materials. The microlayer provides a habitat for a biota, including the larvae of many commercial fishery species, which are often highly enriched in density compared to subsurface water only a few cm below. Surface tension forces provide a physically stable microlayer, but one which is subjected to greater environmental and climatic variation than the water column. The microlayer serves as both a source and a sink for materials in the atmosphere and the water column. Among these materials are large quantities of anthropogenic substances which frequently occur at concentrations 10 super(2)-10 super(4) greater than those in the water column.