FOG

MET 14

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OBJECTIVES

To understand Fog, its

different
formation
processes and Types.

Introduction
Sometimes you see clouds on surface from far
away places, this is basically fog. Fog is also
called cloud on ground.

Definition Of Fog
How can you define fog?
Fog is the extreme case of reduced
visibility, less than 1km (1000 m), and
humidity more than 95%.
It can also be defined as suspension of very
small water droplets in the air, generally
reducing the horizontal visibility at the
earths surface to less than 1.0 km (5/8
miles).

Formation Of Fog
Do you remember cloud formation
process?
Fog is formed when air is saturated with
water vapors.
This saturation occurs due to either by
increasing the water vapors and keeping
the temperature as constant, or by
decreasing the temperature, keeping the
amount of water vapors as constant.

Types Of Fog
(a) Evaporation Fog: Evaporation Fog is

that in which saturation is reached by

evaporation of water vapors in the parcel
of air. It has two types:
(i) Frontal Fog: It is formed in the area
between a cold front and a warm front

(ii) Steam Fog: Steam fog is common

in winter towards lakes and river sides
in the morning.

(b) Cooling Fog: Cooling Fog is that fog in

which saturation is reached by cooling the parcel
of air. It has three types:
(i)
Radiation fog
(ii)
Advection fog
(iii)
Up slope fog

(i)

Radiation fog:The radiation fog is another type of cooling

fog in which the cooling mechanism is
terrestrial radiation.
It is exclusively a land fog because its
development depends on the cooling of the
ground.

The types of radiation fog are:-

(A)

Inversion Fog:

(B)

Conductive Fog: On clear nights

When there is
an inversion layer on the ground, the air in
contact is cooler; molecules of water
remain near the ground forming a dense
layer of fog.
after a rapid terrestrial radiation the cooling
of ground is transferred to deep layer of air
by turbulent winds.

(ii)

Advection fog:-

It is that fog which is formed by the

movement of warm moist air over a colder
surface so that its temperature is reduced
below the dew point.
The only requirement for the formation of
Advection fog is that air should move
towards a colder surface there are two types
of this fog

There are two types of Advection fog:

(A) Sea fog
(B) Coastal area fog

(A) Sea fog:Sea fog usually forms with

light & moderate winds over
cool sea surface, due to
which the air in contact
is also cooler.

(B)

Coastal Area Fog:

With the on shore winds fog may be formed

in land. A sea breeze can bring such a fog
over the coast.

(iii) Up Slope Fog:

It is that fog which is formed along
the slope or foothill of mountains
during the up glide of warm moist
air.

Dispersal Of Fog
(i)

Advancement of drier air mass.

(ii) Strong winds.

(iii) Solar heating.

Diurnal Variation Of Fog

Fogs tend to dissipate through
heating.
Therefore, there is a marked diurnal
variation in the intensity of fogs, with
a maximum about dawn and a
minimum in the afternoon.