The Characteristics of Marine Fog Occurring off the Coast of Nova Scotia
Abstract
During early August 1975, Calspan Corporation participated in the Naval Research Laboratory-sponsored cruise aboard the USNS HAYES to investigate marine fog occurring off the coast of Nova Scotia. Measurements of visibility, air and sea surface temperatures, dew point, fog microphysics, and CCN concentration were obtained, and hi-vol samples of the ambient aerosols and discrete samples of fog water were collected for later chemical analysis. The data show conclusively that areas of cold water were contributing factors in the development of most fogs and that spatial fluctuations in sea surface temperature were directly responsible for spatial fluctuations in the surface-level features of the fogs. Results of the chemical analyses of the aerosol and fog water samples suggest that sulfate aerosols served as the primary nucleants for the marine fogs observed off the coast of Nova Scotia. (In contrast, sea salt aerosols have been found to serve as theprimary droplet nuclei in fogs occurring off the California coast.) As a result of the major differences in the aerosol populations existent off the two coasts, fog microphysics also differed markedly in fogs formed in those respective areas. Relative to West Coast marine fogs, fogs occurring off the coast of Nova Scotia were characterized by higher concentrations of smaller droplets. With comparable quantities of liquid water, the Nova Scotia fogs tend, as a result of the droplet spectra, to exhibit lower visibilities.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 01, 1976
- Accession Number
- ADA027379
Entities
People
- Eugene J. Mack
- Ulrich Katz
Organizations
- Calspan