Study of Stratus-Lowering Marine-Fog Events Observed During C-FOG

Abstract

Two stratus-lowering marine fog events observed on 28 September and 4 October 2018 during the Coastal Fog (C-Fog) field campaign that took place offshore of eastern Canada from 1 September to 6 October 2018 are described. In situ, profiling, and remote sensing observations were made at selected land sites in eastern Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, and aboard the research vessel Hugh R. Sharp cruising in adjoining coastal waters. Synoptic-scale analysis shows that both fog episodes result from the interaction between synoptic-scale surface-level low-pressure systems and a contiguous high-pressure system. At the same time, back trajectories reveal that the bulk of the fog layer is formed due to differential advection. The diameter of the fog droplets at the surface gradually decreases from the centre of the fog layer to its leading/trailing edges. The bimodal fog-droplet diameter distribution with peaks at 5–10 µm and 20–25 µm provide clues on droplet collision and coalescence processes. The observed difference between microphysical variables and droplet distribution between the two fog events and within the same fog layer might be governed by the atmospheric-boundary-layer (e.g., humidity conditions and turbulence) that prevailed in the fog layer. Overall, it is concluded that the life cycle of observed stratus-lowering coastal-fog episodes depends on synoptic conditions and atmospheric-boundary-layer characteristics such as stability, cloud-top cooling, and entrainment.