On the Frequency Response of Some Different Models Describing the Transient Exchange of Matter between the Atmosphere and the Sea

Abstract

A theoretical study is made of the response characteristics of two “box-models” and two continous models of the sea which could describe an air-sea exchange of matter. It is demonstrated quantitatively that the box-model can depict a transient exchange process correctly only when the time of internal mixing of the sea is small compared to a certain “transfer time”. Comparing the two continous models studied, one of which assumes a purely diffusive sea and the other a purely advective sea, one finds some interesting differences in the responce characteristics. DOI: 10.1111/j.2153-3490.1959.tb00040.x