Some factors affecting the size distributions of oceanic bubbles

The effects of water temperature, dissolved gas saturation levels, and particulate concentrations on the size distribution of subsurface bubbles are investigated using numerical models. The input of bubbles, either at a constant rate in a "steady-state" model or in an initial injection where the development of a bubble "plume" is followed, is kept constant. So too are the model representations of Langmuir circulation and turbulence. An increase in temperature results in a reduction of bubble numbers, a halving at 4-m depth for a 10-degrees-C rise in temperature, while an increase in saturation level of 10% increases the bubble concentrations by factors of 3 to 4 at the same depth; the shape of the distribution curves are only slightly modified. The presence of particulates tends to increase the number of small bubbles by inhibiting dissolution.