Low-Level Temperature Structure under Alaskan Ice Fog Conditions *

Abstract

Wiresonde temperature soundings were taken during two winters at Eielson Air Force Base, near Fairbanks, Alaska, as part of an ice fog investigation. Correlations were found between the depths of the visible fog layers and the steep portions of the temperature inversions. The steep portions of the temperature inversions were usually confined to the lowest 100 feet of the atmosphere. The frequency of occurrence of strong surface inversions was less than had previously been expected for an arctic continental area with temperatures in the vicinity of −40C. This is attributed to the modifying effect of the ice fog, which was usually present in the observation area at temperatures below −30C.