ORCID Profile
0000-0002-4240-595X
Current Organisation
Karlsruhe Institute of Technology
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Publisher: Copernicus GmbH
Date: 23-03-2020
DOI: 10.5194/EGUSPHERE-EGU2020-7938
Abstract: & & This contribution presents new findings on synoptic-scale mechanisms that control the day-to-day variability of fog and low clouds (FLCs) in the Namib region.& br& FLCs are a defining element of the Namib-region climate and a crucial source of water for many species and ecosystems. Still, little is known on the processes driving Namib-region FLCs, in large part due to the very sparse observational records. Specifically, there is an ongoing debate in the scientific literature concerning the relevance of different mechanisms responsible for fog formation in the region. In this contribution, a new long-term satellite-based data set of FLC occurrence is used in conjunction with reanalysis data and backtrajectories to systematically analyze dynamical and thermodynamical differences between days with and without FLCs in the central Namib during two different seasons. The main findings are:& & & ol& & li& Central-Namib FLCs are nearly always associated with the advection of marine-boundary-layer air masses.& /li& & li& The variability of the overall FLC coverage in the central Namib is largely driven by dynamics at the synoptic scale.& /li& & li& Seasonally different synoptic-scale mechanisms determine the probability of the occurrence of FLCs in the central Namib.& /li& & /ol& & & The findings lead to a better understanding of Namib-region FLCs and help broaden the understanding of low clouds along the southwestern African coastline and the southeast Atlantic.& & &
Publisher: Copernicus GmbH
Date: 14-10-2019
DOI: 10.5194/ACP-2019-924
Abstract: Abstract. Fog is a defining characteristic of the climate of the Namib Desert and its water and nutrient input are important for local ecosystems. In part due to sparse observation data, the local mechanisms that lead to fog occurrence in the Namib are not yet fully understood, and to date, potential synoptic-scale controls have not been investigated. In this study, a recently established 14-year data set of satellite observations of fog and low clouds in the central Namib is analyzed in conjunction with reanalysis data to identify typical synoptic-scale conditions associated with fog and low-cloud occurrence in the central Namib during two seasons that characterize seasonal fog variability. It is found that during both seasons, mean sea level pressure and geopotential height at 500 hPa differ significantly between fog/low-cloud and clear days, with patterns indicating seasonally different synoptic-scale disturbances on fog and low-cloud days: cut-off lows during September, October, and November, and breaking Rossby waves during April, May, and June. These regularly occurring disturbances increase the probability of fog and low-cloud occurrence in the central Namib in two main ways: 1) an anomalously dry free troposphere in the coastal region of the Namib leads to stronger longwave cooling, especially over the ocean, facilitating low-cloud formation, and 2) local wind systems are modulated, leading to an onshore anomaly of marine boundary-layer air masses. This is consistent with air mass backtrajectories and a principal component analysis of spatial wind patterns that point to advected marine boundary- layer air masses on fog and low-cloud days, whereas subsiding continental air masses dominate on clear days. Large-scale free-tropospheric moisture transport into southern Africa seems to be a key factor modulating the onshore advection of marine boundary-layer air masses during April, May, and June, as the associated increase in greenhouse gas warming and thus surface heating is observed to contribute to a continental heat low anomaly. A statistical model is trained to discriminate between fog/low-cloud and clear days based on large-scale mean sea level pressure fields. The model accurately predicts fog and low-cloud days, illustrating the importance of large-scale pressure modulation and advective processes. It can be concluded that Namib-region fog is predominantly of advective nature, but also facilitated by increased radiative cooling. Seasonally different manifestations of synoptic-scale disturbances act to modify its day-to-day variability and the balance of mechanisms leading to its formation. The results are the basis for a new conceptual model on the synoptic-scale mechanisms that control fog and low clouds in the Namib Desert, and will guide future studies of coastal fog regimes.
Publisher: Copernicus GmbH
Date: 24-03-2020
Abstract: Abstract. Fog is a defining characteristic of the climate of the Namib Desert, and its water and nutrient input are important for local ecosystems. In part due to sparse observation data, the local mechanisms that lead to fog occurrence in the Namib are not yet fully understood, and to date, potential synoptic-scale controls have not been investigated. In this study, a recently established 14-year data set of satellite observations of fog and low clouds in the central Namib is analyzed in conjunction with reanalysis data in order to identify synoptic-scale patterns associated with fog and low-cloud variability in the central Namib during two seasons with different spatial fog occurrence patterns. It is found that during both seasons, mean sea level pressure and geopotential height at 500 hPa differ markedly between fog/low-cloud and clear days, with patterns indicating the presence of synoptic-scale disturbances on fog and low-cloud days. These regularly occurring disturbances increase the probability of fog and low-cloud occurrence in the central Namib in two main ways: (1) an anomalously dry free troposphere in the coastal region of the Namib leads to stronger longwave cooling of the marine boundary layer, increasing low-cloud cover, especially over the ocean where the anomaly is strongest (2) local wind systems are modulated, leading to an onshore anomaly of marine boundary-layer air masses. This is consistent with air mass back trajectories and a principal component analysis of spatial wind patterns that point to advected marine boundary-layer air masses on fog and low-cloud days, whereas subsiding continental air masses dominate on clear days. Large-scale free-tropospheric moisture transport into southern Africa seems to be a key factor modulating the onshore advection of marine boundary-layer air masses during April, May, and June, as the associated increase in greenhouse gas warming and thus surface heating are observed to contribute to a continental heat low anomaly. A statistical model is trained to discriminate between fog/low-cloud and clear days based on information on large-scale dynamics. The model accurately predicts fog and low-cloud days, illustrating the importance of large-scale pressure modulation and advective processes. It can be concluded that regional fog in the Namib is predominantly of an advective nature and that fog and low-cloud cover is effectively maintained by increased cloud-top radiative cooling. Seasonally different manifestations of synoptic-scale disturbances act to modify its day-to-day variability and the balance of mechanisms leading to its formation and maintenance. The results are the basis for a new conceptual model of the synoptic-scale mechanisms that control fog and low-cloud variability in the Namib Desert and will guide future studies of coastal fog regimes.
Location: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
No related grants have been discovered for Jan Cermak.