  Simultaneous measurements of sea spray aerosol (SSA), wind, wave, underwater
acoustic noise, and microwave brightness temperature are obtained in the open
ocean. These data are analyzed to clarify the ocean surface processes important
to SSA production. Parameters are formulated to represent surface processes
with characteristic length scales over a broad range, from tens of meters to a
few centimeters. The result shows that the correlation coefficients between SSA
properties (number, volume and flux) and surface process parameters improve
toward the shortest length scale. This suggests that whereas surface wave
breaking is a necessary initial and boundary condition, the final state of the
atmospheric SSA properties is controlled primarily by turbulent processes
characterized by the ocean surface roughness. The investigation also reveals
distinct differences of the SSA properties in rising winds and falling winds,
with higher efficiency of breaking production in low or falling winds. Previous
studies show that the length scale of breaking waves is shorter in mixed seas
than in wind seas. Combining the observations together, it is suggestive that
larger air cavities are entrained in rising winds (with wind seas more likely).
The larger air cavities escape before they can be fully broken down into small
bubbles for the subsequent SSA production. In contrast, the shorter breakers in
low or falling winds (with mixed seas more likely) trap smaller air cavities
that stay underwater longer for more efficient bubble breakup by turbulence.
