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Physical Processes Affecting Radiation Fog Based on WRF Simulations and Validation

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The goal of this work is to assess the sensitivity of the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model to various microphysical and land surface model parameterizations, as well as their effectiveness in capturing a radiation fog event that occurred on 15–16 February 2000 over Delhi in the Indo-Gangetic Plain (IGP). Fog forecasting using state-of-the-art mesoscale models is challenging due to limitations in understanding of atmosphere-land surface feedbacks and fog microphysics. Fog can have adverse effects because of low visibility on transport and aviation but affects positively agriculture and forestry by absorbing fog water. In India, the IGP is particularly susceptible to fog during the winter months of December, January, and February (DJF). To reach the goal in this work, preliminary investigation is carried out with five model experiments centered at Delhi for testing model sensitivity to nesting and gravitational settling of fog. The non-nested domain fares better at fog forecasting as compared to the nested domain. Accounting for the gravitational settling of fog droplets in the model further enhances model performance. Thereafter, to assess the model sensitivity to parameterization schemes, 40 model suite combinations with five microphysical (MP) schemes, two planetary boundary layer (PBL) schemes, and four land surface model (LSM) schemes are compared. The validations for fog formation, development, and dissipation are performed using observations collected over Safdarjung airport in Delhi. We conclude that the Thompson MP scheme, along with the Mellor-Yamada Nakanishi-Niino (MYNN 2.5) PBL and Rapid Update Cycle (RUC) LSM scheme, is able to capture the radiation fog event better than other schemes, and it is critical for evaluating the life cycle of radiation fog.

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Acknowledgements

The first author acknowledges the University Grants Commission funding for Senior Research Fellowship and Jawaharlal Nehru University for providing the requisite facilities. The authors acknowledge National Center for Atmospheric Research for free access to WRF model. National Centers for Environment Information, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration for providing access to the data set. The authors gratefully acknowledge NCMRWF, Ministry of Earth Sciences, Government of India, for IMDAA reanalysis. IMDAA reanalysis was produced under the collaboration between UK Met Office, NCMRWF, and IMD with financial support from the Ministry of Earth Sciences, under the National Monsoon Mission programme. The authors gratefully acknowledge NCMRWF, Ministry of Earth Sciences, Government of India, for NGFS reanalysis which was produced under the collaboration between NCMRWF, IITM, and IMD.

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  1. School of Environmental Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, 110067, India

    Saumya G. Kutty & A. P. Dimri

  2. Cloud Physics and Severe Weather Research Section, Meteorological Research Division, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Toronto, ON, Canada

    I. Gultepe

  3. Faculty of Engineering and Physical Science, Ontario Tech University, Oshawa, ON, Canada

    I. Gultepe

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Kutty, S.G., Dimri, A.P. & Gultepe, I. Physical Processes Affecting Radiation Fog Based on WRF Simulations and Validation. Pure Appl. Geophys. 178, 4265–4288 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00024-021-02811-1

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