Impact of Atmosphere-Ocean Coupled Model on Sea Fog Formation Mechanism Simulation: A Case Study of Sea Fog in the East/Japan Sea of Korea

Sea fog is a type of fog occurring near marine surfaces, developing within the lower atmospheric boundary layer and influenced by atmospheric and oceanic conditions. The thermodynamic processes driven by the air-sea temperature difference (ASTD) are crucial factors determining sea fog formation mechanisms. Recent studies report a continuous increase in sea surface temperatures in the East/Japan Sea. These changes in the marine environment are likely to affect the frequency, intensity, and duration of sea fog, research on sea fog occurrences in the East Sea remains necessary. This study employs the Coupled Ocean-Atmosphere-Wave-Sediment Transport (COAWST) model to conduct numerical simulations of a sea fog event that occurred over the East Sea of Korea from August 18 to 19, 2020. Standalone atmospheric models cannot simulate the SST and, tend to underestimate the duration of sea fog events. The coupled model incorporates ocean-atmosphere interactions, enabling the Regional Ocean Modeling System (ROMS) to simulate spatiotemporal variations in sea surface temperature (SST). It allows for an analysis of how SST changes influence heat and moisture fluxes within the atmospheric boundary layer and the effects on sea fog formation and persistence. This research emphasizes the importance of ocean-atmosphere interactions and the role of SST modeling in sea fog prediction. The findings are expected to contribute to the improvement of sea fog forecasting systems in the East Sea.