Characterizing the influence of the marine stratocumulus cloud on the land fog at the Atacama Desert.
Saved in:
| Title: | Characterizing the influence of the marine stratocumulus cloud on the land fog at the Atacama Desert. |
|---|---|
| Authors: | Lobos Roco, Felipe1 felipe.lobosroco@wur.nl, Vilà-Guerau de Arellano, Jordi1, Pedruzo-Bagazgoitia, Xabier1 |
| Source: | Atmospheric Research. Dec2018, Vol. 214, p109-120. 12p. |
| Subjects: | Stratocumulus clouds, Meteorological research, Diurnal variations in meteorology, Humidity, Fog |
| Abstract: | Abstract Fog in the Atacama Desert is a virtually untapped source of fresh water in the driest place on Earth. Focusing on understanding the role played by marine stratocumulus (Sc) in the development of land-fog, we analyse surface observations made along a steep transect at different heights. These observations are combined with numerical experiments performed using the Weather Research and Forecasting Model (WRF). We find two main diurnal regimes based on atmospheric thermal stability, both of which determine the formation and dissipation of fog. These are (a) a well-mixed regime characterized by low gradients of potential temperature and specific humidity, low diurnal variability, and presence of Sc cloud-fog. (b) A stratified regime characterized by high gradients of potential temperature and specific humidity, high diurnal variability, but no Sc clouds nor presence of fog. By using the parcel method, initialised with surface observations, we characterize the Sc cloud of nine typical fog events, estimating a mean cloud depth of 566 m between 740 m (±150 m) and 1307 m (±30 m). Fog observations at ground level agree with these cloud-base and cloud-top estimates, showing a liquid water mixing ratio of Sc cloud-fog in the range 0.3–0.7 g kg−1. The study reveals that the advection of marine Sc cloud and the stability of the boundary layer are key processes in the formation and dissipation of fog. Sc cloud advection over land is modulated by upwind and driven by topography and local circulation. We conclude that a realistic characterization of Sc cloud-fog is possible by combining limited surface observations and numerical experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
| Copyright of Atmospheric Research is the property of Elsevier B.V. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) | |
| Database: | Engineering Source |
| FullText | Text: Availability: 0 |
|---|---|
| Header | DbId: egs DbLabel: Engineering Source An: 131663592 AccessLevel: 6 PubType: Academic Journal PubTypeId: academicJournal PreciseRelevancyScore: 0 |
| IllustrationInfo | |
| Items | – Name: Title Label: Title Group: Ti Data: Characterizing the influence of the marine stratocumulus cloud on the land fog at the Atacama Desert. – Name: Author Label: Authors Group: Au Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Lobos+Roco%2C+Felipe%22">Lobos Roco, Felipe</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo><i> felipe.lobosroco@wur.nl</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Vilà-Guerau+de+Arellano%2C+Jordi%22">Vilà-Guerau de Arellano, Jordi</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Pedruzo-Bagazgoitia%2C+Xabier%22">Pedruzo-Bagazgoitia, Xabier</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> – Name: TitleSource Label: Source Group: Src Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Atmospheric+Research%22">Atmospheric Research</searchLink>. Dec2018, Vol. 214, p109-120. 12p. – Name: Subject Label: Subjects Group: Su Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Stratocumulus+clouds%22">Stratocumulus clouds</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Meteorological+research%22">Meteorological research</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Diurnal+variations+in+meteorology%22">Diurnal variations in meteorology</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Humidity%22">Humidity</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Fog%22">Fog</searchLink> – Name: Abstract Label: Abstract Group: Ab Data: Abstract Fog in the Atacama Desert is a virtually untapped source of fresh water in the driest place on Earth. Focusing on understanding the role played by marine stratocumulus (Sc) in the development of land-fog, we analyse surface observations made along a steep transect at different heights. These observations are combined with numerical experiments performed using the Weather Research and Forecasting Model (WRF). We find two main diurnal regimes based on atmospheric thermal stability, both of which determine the formation and dissipation of fog. These are (a) a well-mixed regime characterized by low gradients of potential temperature and specific humidity, low diurnal variability, and presence of Sc cloud-fog. (b) A stratified regime characterized by high gradients of potential temperature and specific humidity, high diurnal variability, but no Sc clouds nor presence of fog. By using the parcel method, initialised with surface observations, we characterize the Sc cloud of nine typical fog events, estimating a mean cloud depth of 566 m between 740 m (±150 m) and 1307 m (±30 m). Fog observations at ground level agree with these cloud-base and cloud-top estimates, showing a liquid water mixing ratio of Sc cloud-fog in the range 0.3–0.7 g kg−1. The study reveals that the advection of marine Sc cloud and the stability of the boundary layer are key processes in the formation and dissipation of fog. Sc cloud advection over land is modulated by upwind and driven by topography and local circulation. We conclude that a realistic characterization of Sc cloud-fog is possible by combining limited surface observations and numerical experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] – Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright Label: Group: Ab Data: <i>Copyright of Atmospheric Research is the property of Elsevier B.V. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) |
| PLink | https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=egs&AN=131663592 |
| RecordInfo | BibRecord: BibEntity: Identifiers: – Type: doi Value: 10.1016/j.atmosres.2018.07.009 Languages: – Code: eng Text: English PhysicalDescription: Pagination: PageCount: 12 StartPage: 109 Subjects: – SubjectFull: Stratocumulus clouds Type: general – SubjectFull: Meteorological research Type: general – SubjectFull: Diurnal variations in meteorology Type: general – SubjectFull: Humidity Type: general – SubjectFull: Fog Type: general Titles: – TitleFull: Characterizing the influence of the marine stratocumulus cloud on the land fog at the Atacama Desert. Type: main BibRelationships: HasContributorRelationships: – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Lobos Roco, Felipe – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Vilà-Guerau de Arellano, Jordi – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Pedruzo-Bagazgoitia, Xabier IsPartOfRelationships: – BibEntity: Dates: – D: 01 M: 12 Text: Dec2018 Type: published Y: 2018 Identifiers: – Type: issn-print Value: 01698095 Numbering: – Type: volume Value: 214 Titles: – TitleFull: Atmospheric Research Type: main |
| ResultId | 1 |
