Understanding the role of monolayers in retarding evaporation from water storage bodies

Highlight
- Monolayers have been less useful in controlling evaporation than hoped.
- We believe this is due to incomplete understanding of their mechanism of action.
- The hydrophobic barrier model is physically implausible as a mechanism.
- Wave-damping properties can account for evaporation reduction in the field.
- Hydrogen-bonding at the water/monolayer interface may also explain observations.