Corrosion　behavior　of　zinc　exposed　to　a　tropical　marine　atmosphere　for　4　years　was　investigated.　The　results　showed　an　obvious　decrease　in　the　corrosion　rate,　which　was　attributed　to　the　development　of　the　protective　corrosion　product　layer　with　one　element　of　this　structure　being　simonkolleite　(Zn5Cl2[OH](8)center　dot　H2O).　Corrosion　of　zinc　initiated　from　localized　corrosion,　which　was　characterized　with　some　pits,　grooves,　grain　boundaries,　and　crystallographic　features　during　the　initial　six　exposure　months.　As　the　exposure　time　extended,　uniform　corrosion　occurred　and　the　corrosion　products　presented　a　three-layer　structure　where　Zn5Cl2[OH](8)center　dot　H2O　was　concentrated　close　to　the　bottom,　sodium　zinc　chlorohydroxy-sulfate　(NaZn4Cl[OH](6)SO4　center　dot　6H(2)O)　was　enriched　in　the　middle　layer,　while　zinc　hydroxycarbonates　and　zincite　(ZnO)　covered　the　surface.