Session aims to delve into the world of fog and dew, exploring the scientific processes governing their formation, interaction, and environmental impact. It will also showcase cutting-edge research across disciplines. The session will cover a wide range of topics, including the following
Fog Types and Processes
Classifications of fog, conditions that lead to fog formation and complex processes that govern fog life cycles, the influence of synoptic systems on fog formation.
Boundary Layer Processes include understanding how factors like temperature inversions, wind, near-surface processes like the Ramdas layer, and stability contribute to fog formation.
Turbulence and Aerosols Role of turbulence in mixing and its impact on fog. Additionally, role of aerosols on fog droplet formation and numerical studies on fog-turbulence and fog-aerosol interactions.
Detection and Forecasting
The advancements in satellite remote sensing techniques to detect and characterise fog.
Importance of observation networks and field experiments for fog study.
Capabilities and limitations of NWP models in forecasting fog. Advancements in high-resolution models and parameterisation schemes; specific studies like DNS or LES will be included.
Challenges and opportunities in incorporating real-time observations through data assimilation and potential of AI and ML techniques to improve fog forecasting.
Fog and Environmental Interactions
Examination of the relationship between fog/dew and air pollution, like fog as a sink for pollutants but aids formation of secondary pollutants through chemical reactions. Mitigation strategies to address the combined impacts of fog/dew and air pollution. Moreover, studies covering fog/dew chemistry will be covered under this topic.
Microphysical and Surface Processes: Fundamental physics governing fog and dew formation, radiative cooling, vapor pressure deficit, and surface properties that influence these processes. The role of land surface characteristics, such as soil moisture, vegetation cover, and heat fluxes in fog formation or dewfall. Moreover recent advancements in surface energy balance models.
Applications Fog and dew harvesting techniques, passive collection methods using specialised meshes. Significance of these techniques in water-scarce regions and discussions on their efficiency.
The session will deepen the understanding of fog and dew, paving the way for future advancements in research, forecasting, and potential applications.