On the Variability of Surface Tension with Mean Wind Speed

Abstract

In situ measurements of surface tension obtained by R.V. Gauss under coastal (North Sea of the Island of Sylt) and by R.V. Meteor under open sea conditions (GATE area) are Compared with time variations of the surface mean wind speed. The results indicate that the surface tension of the sea surface may attain values which are 21 dyn cm⁻¹ below the values obtained from the Fleming-Revelle formula, if the mean wind speed decreases steadily to less than 5 m s⁻¹ and the biological productivity within the upper layers of the water is significant.