A Systems Study of Marine Fog Situations.
Abstract
This systems study of marine fog considers the dynamical interaction between the synoptical variations of meteorology and the microphysical phenomena in cloud physics. The resulting numerical program simulates the transport of heat, mass, and momentum in the atmospheric boundary layer where condensation/evaporation, thermal radiation, collision coalescence, and turbulent advection take place. Although this program is fairly complete, experimental data of the moisture supply process affected by turbulent winds at the air-sea interface are needed to establish a realistic model for systems analysis. When available field data are compared to predicted fog situations, it is found that the boundary layer model can qualitatively simulate fog situations over an open ocean, but the accurate prediction of a fog event at a specific time and place requires a working knowledge of the moisture supply process occasioned by air-wave interactions. Fog situations occur on the lee side of some topographical obstructions. The wind patterns associated with this type of fog generally have different directions with respect to the prevailing wind. A hypothesis is being formulated to explain such situations on the basis of recirculating flows. Some strange fog conditions have been logically explained by this hypothesis.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Feb 01, 1977
- Accession Number
- ADA037500
Entities
People
- Shen C. Lee