Abstract
Comprehensive fog field observations were conducted during the winters of 2006–2009 at the Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology to study the macro and micro-physical structures and the physical–chemical processes of dense fogs in the area. The observations included features of the fog boundary layer, characteristics of fog water, the particle spectrum, the chemical composition of atmospheric aerosols, radiation and heat components, turbulence, meteorological elements (air temperature, pressure, wind speed, wind direction), and environmental monitoring. The fogs observed were divided into four types: radiation fog, advection–radiation fog, advection fog, and precipitation fog, according to the mechanisms and primary factors of the fog processes. Fog boundary-layer structures of different types and their corresponding characteristics were then studied. Fog boundary-layer features, temperature structures, wind fields, and fog maintenance are discussed. The results show that radiation fog had remarkable diurnal variation and formed mostly at sunset or midnight, and lifted after sunrise or at noon, and that advection–radiation fog and advection fog were of very long duration. Extremely dense fogs occurred only in radiation-related cases. Inversion in radiation fog was short-lived, disappearing 1 or 2 hours after sunrise or at noon, faster than that in advection–radiation fog. When wind direction reversed from easterly to westerly or from southerly to northerly, the fog became an extremely dense fog. Low-level jet at times impeded fog development, whereas at other times it encouraged fog continuance. The deep inversion was merely an essential condition for a thick fog layer; sufficient vapor supply was advantageous to the formation and maintenance of a deep fog layer.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Fitzjarrald, D. R. and Lala, G. G. (1989), Hudson Valley Fog Environments, Journal of Applied Meteorology 28, 1303-1328.
Fuzzi, S., Facchini, M. C., Orsi,G., Lind, J. A., Wobrock, W., Kessel, M., Maser, R., Jaeschke, W., Enderle, K. H., Arends, B. G., Berner, A., Solly, I., Kruisz, C., Reischl, G., Pahl, S., Kaminski, U., Winkler, P., Ogren, J. A., Noone, K. J., Hallberg, A., Fierlingeroberlinninger, H., Puxbaum, H., Marzorati, A., Hansson, H. C., Wiedensohler, A., Svenningsson, I. B., Martinsson, B. G., Schell, D., and Georgii, H. W. (1992), The Po Valley fog experiment 1989, Tellus B 44(5), 448-468.
Fuzzi, S., Laj, P., Ricci, L., Orsi, G., Heintzenberg, J., Wendisch, M., Yuekiewicz, B., Mertes, S., Orsini, D., Schwanz, M., Wiedensohler, A., Stratmann, F., Berg, O.H., Swietlicki, E., Frank, G., Martinsson, B.G., Gunther, A., Dierssen, J.P., Schell, D., Jaeschke, W., Berner, A., Dusek, U., Galambos, Z., Kruisz, C., Mesfin, N.S., Wobrock, W., Arends, B., and Brink, H.T. (1998), Overview of the Po Valley Fog Experiment 1994(CHEMDROP), Contributions to Atmospheric Physics 71: 3-19.
Gultepe, I., Tardif, R., Michaelides, S. C., Cermak, J., Bott, A., Bendix, J., Muller, M. D., Pagowski, M., Hansen, B., Ellrod, G., Jacobs, W., Toth, G., and Cober, S. G. (2007), Fog Research: A Review of Past Achievements and Future Perspectives, Pure & Applied Geophysics 164, 1121-1159.
Gultepe, I., Pearson, G., Milbrandt, J. A., Hansen, B., Platnick, S., Taylor, P., Gordon, M., Oakley, J. P., and Cober, S. (2009), the Fog Remote Sensing and Modeling Field Project, Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society 90, 341-359.
Haeffelin, M., Bergot, T., Elias, T., Tardif, R., Carrer, D., Chazette, P., Colomb, M., Drobinski, P., Dupont, E., Dupont, J. C., Gomes, L., Musson-Genon, L., Pietras, C., Plana-Fattori, A., Protat, A., Rangognio, J., Raut, J. C., Remy, S., Richard, D., Sciare, J., and Zhang, X. (2010), PARISFOG: Shedding New Light on Fog Physical Processes, Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society 91(6), 767–783.
Holets, S. and Swanson R. N. (1981), High-Inversion Fog Episodes in Central California, Journal of applied meteorology 20(8), 890-899.
Huang, J.P., Zhu, S.W., and Zhu, B. (1998), Characteristics of the atmospheric boundary layer during radiation fog, Journal of Nanjing Institute of Meteorology 21, 258-265. (In Chinese)
Huang, Y. S, Xu, W.R., Li, Z.H., Fan, L., and Huang W.J. (1992), an observation and analysis on the radiation fog in Xishuangbanna, Acta Meteorologica Sinica 50, 112-117. (In Chinese)
Li, Z.H., Huang, J.P., Zhou, Y.Q., and Zhu, S.W. (1999), Physical structures of the five-day sustained fog around Nanjing in 1996, Acta Meteorologica Sinica 57, 622-631. (In Chinese)
Li, Z.H. (2001), Study of fog in China over the past 40 years, Acta Meteorologica Sinica 59, 616-624. (In Chinese)
Li, Z.H., Liu, D.Y., and Yang, J. (2011), The microphysical processes and macroscopic conditions of the radiation fog droplet spectrum broadening, Chinese Journal of Atmospheric Sciences (In Chinese) 35(1), in press.
Liu, D.Y, Pu, M.J, Yang, J., Zhang, G.Z., Yan, W.L., and Li, Z.H. (2010), Microphysical Structure and Evolution of a Four-Day Persistent Fog Event in Nanjing in December 2006, Acta Meteorologica Sinica 24, 104-115.
Liu D.Y., Yang, J., Niu, S.J., and Li, Z.H. (2011a), On the Evolution and Structures of a Radiation Fog Event in Nanjing, Adv. Atmos. Sci., 28(1), 1-15, doi:10.1007/s00376-010-0017-0.
Liu,D.Y., Niu, S.J., Pu, M.J., Yang, J., and Li, Z.H. (2011b), On the physical process of advection fog influenced by cold & warm advection, Chinese Journal of Geophysics, in press(In Chinese)
Lu, C.S., Niu, S.J., Yang, J., and Wang, W.W. (2008), An observational study on physical mechanism and boundary layer structure of winter advection fog in Nanjing, Journal of Nanjing Institute of Meteorology 31, 520-529. (In Chinese)
Lu, C.S., Niu, S.J., Yang, J., Liu, X., and Zhao, L.J. (2010a), Jump features and causes of macro and microphysical structures fog a winter fog in Nanjing, Chinese Journal of Atomospheric Sciences 34, 681-690. (In Chinese)
Lu, C.S. Niu,S.J., Tang, L.L., Lv, J.J., Zhao, L.J., and Zhu, B. (2010b). Chemical composition of fog water in Nanjing area of China and its related fog microphysics. Atmospheric Research 97(1-2): 47-69.
Meyer, M. B., Lala G. G., and Jiusto J.E. (1986), Fog-82: A Cooperative Field Study of Radiation Fog, Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society 67(7), 825–832.
Nakanishi, M. (2000), Large-Eddy simulation of radiation fog, Boundary-Layer Meteorology 94,461-493.
Niu, S.J., Lu, C.S., Yu, H.Y., Zhao, L.J., and Zhao, L.J. (2010a), Fog research in China: an overview, Adv. Atmos. Sci., 27(3), 639-662.
Niu, S.J., Lu, C.S., Zhao, L.J., Lu, J.J, and Yang, J. (2010b), Analysis of the microphysical structure of heavy fog using a droplet spectrometer: a case study, Adv. Atmos. Sci., 27(6), 1259-1275,doi:10.1007/s00376-010-8192-6.
Pilie, R.J., Mack, E.J., Rogers, C. W., Katz, U., and Kocmondet, W. C. (1979), The Formation of Marine Fog and the Development of Fog-Stratus Systems along the California Coast, Journal of Applied Meteorology 18(10), 1275–1286.
Pu, M.J., Li, L.F., Li, Z.H., and Huang, J.P. (2001), Study of physical process of the Xishuagnbanna valley fog in winter, Scientia Meteorologica Sinica 21, 425-432. (In Chinese)
Pu, M.J., Yan, W.L., Shang, Z.T., Yang, J., and Li, Z.H. (2008a), Study on the physical characteristics of burst reinforcement during the winter fog of Nanjing, Plateau Meteorology 27, 1-8. (In Chinese)
Pu, M.J., Zhang, G.Z., Yan, W.L., and Li, Z.H. (2008b), Features of a rare advection-radiation fog event, Science in China Series D: Earth Sciences 51, 1044-1052.
Roach, W.T., Brown, R., Caughey, S. J., Garland, J. A., and Readings, C. J. (1976), The physics of radiation fog: I - a field study, Quarterly Journal of the Royal Meteorological Society 102(432), 313-333.
Rodhe, B. (1962), The effect of turbulence of fog formation, Tellus 14, 49-86.
Taylor, G.I. (1917), The formation of fog and mist, Quart. J. Roy. Meteor. Soc 43, 241–268.
Tardif, R., and Rasmussen, R.M. (2009), Evaporation of non-equilibrium raindrops as a fog formation mechanism, Journal of the Atmospheric Sciences 49, 1247-1267.
Terradellas, E., Ferreres, E., and Soler, M.R. (2008). Analysis of turbulence in fog episodes. Adv. Sci. Res. 2: 31-34.
Tomine, K., Mchimoto, K., Hikiji, I., Abe, S., and Takeuchi, N. (1991), The Vertical Structure of Fog Observed with a Lidar System at Misawa Airbase, Japan, Journal of Applied Meteorology 30(8), 1088–1096.
Tong, Y.Q., Yin, Y., Xu, X.Z., Xu, M.L., and Xiang, Y. (2009), Climatological characteristics of fog in Nanjing, Journal of Nanjing Institute of Meteorology 32, 115-120.
Van Der Velde I.R. and Steeneveld G.J. (2010). Modeling and forecasting the onset and duration of severe radiation fog under frost conditions.Monthly Weather Review.
Yan, W.L., Pu, M.J., Wang, W.W., Yang, J., and Liu, D.Y. (2009), A study on a rare radiation-advection fog (I): the analysis of physical process of genesis and dissipation, Scientia Meteorologica Sinica 29, 9-16. (In Chinese)
Yang, J., Wang, L., Liu, D.Y., and Li, Z.H. (2011), Boundary layer structure and physical mechanisms in the evolution of a very deep dense fog, Acta Meteorologica Sinica, in press. (In Chinese)
Zhang, G.Z, Bian, L.G., Wang, J.Z., Yang, Y.Q., Yao, W.Q., and Xu, X.D. (2005), The boundary layer characteristics in the heavy fog formation process over Beijing and its adjacent areas, Science in China Series D (Earth Sciences) 48, suppl. 2, 88-101.
Zhou B.B., Du J., Ferrier B., Mcqueen J., and Dimego G. (2007). Numerical forecast of fog-central solutions. 18th Conference on Numerical Weather Prediction, AMS, 25-29 June 2007, Park City, UT.
Zhou B.B. and Ferrier B.S. (2008), Asymptotic Analysis of Equilibrium in Radiation Fog, Journal of Applied Meteorology & Climatology, 47(6), 1704-1722
Acknowledgments
Funding for this work was jointly provided by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (grant no. 40775012), the Natural Science Fund for Universities in Jiangsu Province (grant no. 08KJA170002), the Meteorology Fund of the Ministry of Science and Technology (grant nos GYHY (QX) 2007-6-26, GYHY200906012], Jiangsu Province Qinglan Project of “Cloud fog precipitation and Aerosol Research”, and the Graduate Student Innovation Plan in Universities of Jiangsu Province (grant no. CX10B_292Z).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Liu, D.Y., Niu, S.J., Yang, J. et al. Summary of a 4-Year Fog Field Study in Northern Nanjing, Part 1: Fog Boundary Layer. Pure Appl. Geophys. 169, 809–819 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00024-011-0343-x
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00024-011-0343-x