Numerical modelling of the Marangoni effects induced by plankton-generated surfactants

Using satellite data and a chlorophyll concentration profile reported in the literature we predict a Marangoni stress whose maximum order of magnitude is 10− 6 N m− 2. We also present the results of a numerical test, where we evaluate the Marangoni stress caused by horizontal variations of the plankton distribution due to the converging flows in a thermal bar, obtaining a Marangoni stress of order of magnitude 10− 5 N m− 2 and a corresponding velocity in the bulk that is at most equal to 10− 4 m s− 1, with values of film pressure within the range of the data available in the literature.