Profiles of particle size distributions near the air-sea interface were measured over the North Sea as part of the Humidity Exchange Over the Sea pilot experiment in 1984. Minima and maxima in the concentration profiles were observed, in agreement with results obtained previously in the North Atlantic. Differences are ascribed to the improved vertical resolution in the present measurements, while the shorter wave period in the North Sea has an influence, too. The results are qualitatively explained in terms of a wave-rotor model. ¿ American Geophysical Union 1987