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Cabauw dag 18.06.2014, R. Boers 1 Radar Observations of Fog Layers R. Boers contributions from H. Klein Baltink, J. Hemink, F. Bosveld, and M. Moerman 18.06.2014 Slide 2 Cabauw dag 18.06.2014, R. Boers 2 Purpose of the Project To assess the fog detection capabilities of ground based remote sensing instruments [in particular cloud radar, 35GHz]. To interpret the remote sensing data in terms of the physical processes that are responsible for fog formation. To arrive at a visibility product based on remote sensing data. Slide 3 Cabauw dag 18.06.2014, R. Boers 3 Why do we do this project? Fog is a restricting factor in aircraft movements at airports: Which instruments have added value in air traffic control? Fog is a restricting factor in road traffic: What new information can remote sensing instruments bring to contribute to road safety? Slide 4 Cabauw dag 18.06.2014, R. Boers 4 Meteorological definition of fog is based on visibility only, i.e. it is a definition based on diffuse principles Are we dealing with droplets, aerosols, spiders, anything? Fog: visibility less than 1000 m Dense fog: visibility less than 200 m Very dense fog: visibility less than 50 m Mist:visibility more than 1000 m, less than 5000m Haze:restriction of visibility by dry aerosols (RH < 80%) Slide 5 Cabauw dag 18.06.2014, R. Boers 5 In cloud physics there is a strict discrimination between water droplets and wet aerosol. Wet aerosol: Aerosol particles having attracted water vapor RH < 100% Water droplets: Only form when RH > 100% So: for fog mist haze, we need to understand the physics of wet aerosol AND water droplets Slide 6 Cabauw dag 18.06.2014, R. Boers 6 Procedure to acquire a VIS-RAD product Measure radar reflectivity [up to many km away from observer] Measure visibility locally radar .. Establish local link between radar reflectivity and visibility Use local link to convert entire radar signal to visibility Slide 7 Cabauw dag 18.06.2014, R. Boers 7 Cabauw Cabauw Experimental Site for Atmospheric Research [CESAR] Slide 8 Cabauw dag 18.06.2014, R. Boers 8 Fog detection configuration at the Cabauw Experimental Site for Atmospheric Research (CESAR) Radar, lidar, microwave radiometer location View angle adapted for fog configuration Normal cloud radar configuration Visibility sensors Aerosol size spectra Thermodynamics Slide 9 Cabauw dag 18.06.2014, R. Boers 9 Installatie van reflectorplaat op Cabauw Fase 1 [December 2010] Fase 2 [Februari 2011] Slide 10 Cabauw dag 18.06.2014, R. Boers 10 Interpretation of the next pictures radar reflector fog 3.4 degrees Radar signal path Top of fog layer Slide 11 Cabauw dag 18.06.2014, R. Boers 11 Slide 12 Cabauw dag 18.06.2014, R. Boers 12 The puzzling conversion of radar reflectivity to visibility Measure visibility with standard visibility detectors at the same time begin end Slide 13 Cabauw dag 18.06.2014, R. Boers 13 Slide 14 Cabauw dag 18.06.2014, R. Boers 14 The puzzling conversion of radar reflectivity to visibility Measure visibility with standard visibility detectors at the same time begin end Slide 15 Cabauw dag 18.06.2014, R. Boers 15 Can we understand the characteristic signature of the radar visibility link? Modelling the onset of fog Use aerosol data at tower at 60 m, and model the evolution of the particle size spectra. Modelling done during 1 cycle of a fog event cooling - warming Slide 16 Cabauw dag 18.06.2014, R. Boers 16 (Hilding Khler, 1888-1982; Professor for Meteorology, Uppsala, S) What is droplet activation? Khler curves The growth of every dry aerosol particle when it takes up water is prescribed by a K hler curve Small particle Bigger particle Even bigger particle The domain of wet aerosol The domain of fog droplets Slide 17 Cabauw dag 18.06.2014, R. Boers 17 (Hilding Khler, 1888-1982; Professor for Meteorology, Uppsala, S) A movie of droplet activation Ambient relative humidity (RH) Equilibrium saturation relative humidity at the surface of individual particle (Es) Droplet growth is proportional to the difference between RH and Es Slide 18 Cabauw dag 18.06.2014, R. Boers 18 Fog droplet growth Slide 19 Cabauw dag 18.06.2014, R. Boers 19 Condensation and evaporation of fog are distinctly different The onset and disappearance of fogs is very sudden Clouds and fogs have distinct edges Slide 20 Cabauw dag 18.06.2014, R. Boers 20 Modelled droplet activation (12000 dry particles to start with) Slide 21 Cabauw dag 18.06.2014, R. Boers 21 Very few aerosol particles are activated to become cloud droplets! [About 1% of total] Why? Because fog is equivalent of a cloudy air parcel moving upward at very low speed (< 4 cm/s!) So, only very few droplets can be activated [And some will evaporate again before reaching maturity] Slide 22 Cabauw dag 18.06.2014, R. Boers 22 The link between radar reflectivity and visibility Model condensation evaporation Slide 23 Cabauw dag 18.06.2014, R. Boers 23 Conclusions 1) Most visibility reduction down to 1 km is attributable to swelling / wetting of aerosol but only water droplet activation is responsible for dense fog. 2) The process of condensation is not symmetric to evaporation 3) For dense fog [Vis < 700m] a radar visibility product can be made 4) For less dense fogs [700m < Vis < 1500m] a lidar visibility product should be contemplated 5) Fogs have less water droplets than clouds Slide 24 Cabauw dag 18.06.2014, R. Boers 24 Slide 25 Cabauw dag 18.06.2014, R. Boers 25 Thank you!