Freezing Fog Microphysics and Visibility Based on CFACT Feb 19 Case

The objective of this study is to analyze microphysical parameters affecting visibility parameterizations of a freezing fog case that occurred on 19 February 2022, during the Cold Fog Amongst Complex Terrain (CFACT) project conducted in a high-elevation alpine valley in Utah, USA. Observations are c...

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Main Authors: Onur Durmus, Ismail Gultepe, Orhan Sen, Zhaoxia Pu, Eric R. Pardyjak, Sebastian W. Hoch, Alexei Perelet, Anna G. Hallar, Gerardo Carrillo-Cardenas, Simla Durmus
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-08-01
Series:Remote Sensing
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/17/15/2728
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author Onur Durmus
Ismail Gultepe
Orhan Sen
Zhaoxia Pu
Eric R. Pardyjak
Sebastian W. Hoch
Alexei Perelet
Anna G. Hallar
Gerardo Carrillo-Cardenas
Simla Durmus
author_facet Onur Durmus
Ismail Gultepe
Orhan Sen
Zhaoxia Pu
Eric R. Pardyjak
Sebastian W. Hoch
Alexei Perelet
Anna G. Hallar
Gerardo Carrillo-Cardenas
Simla Durmus
author_sort Onur Durmus
collection DOAJ
description The objective of this study is to analyze microphysical parameters affecting visibility parameterizations of a freezing fog case that occurred on 19 February 2022, during the Cold Fog Amongst Complex Terrain (CFACT) project conducted in a high-elevation alpine valley in Utah, USA. Observations are collected using visibility, droplet spectra, ice crystal spectra, and aerosol spectral instruments, as well as in-situ meteorological instruments. Particle phase is determined from relative humidity with respect to water (RH<sub>w</sub>) as well as ground cloud imaging probe (GCIP), ceilometer (CL61) depolarization ratio, and icing accumulation on the platforms. Results showed that freezing droplet density can affect visibility (Vis) up to 100 m during Vis less than 1 km. In addition, increasing volume can lead to up to a 2 μm increase in droplet radius due to a change in the chemical composition of aerosols from Sodium Chloride (NaCl) to Ammonium Nitrate (NH<sub>4</sub>NO<sub>3</sub>). Overall, comparisons suggested that Vis parameterizations are highly variable, and freezing fog conditions resulted in lower Vis values compared to warm fog microphysical parameterizations. Furthermore, riming of freezing fog conditions can lead to more than 50% uncertainty in Vis. It is concluded that changing aerosol composition and freezing fog droplet density and riming can play a major role in Vis simulations.
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spelling doaj-art-37d6fabb0c1c49ffbe41ace30a28e8df2025-08-20T03:36:22ZengMDPI AGRemote Sensing2072-42922025-08-011715272810.3390/rs17152728Freezing Fog Microphysics and Visibility Based on CFACT Feb 19 CaseOnur Durmus0Ismail Gultepe1Orhan Sen2Zhaoxia Pu3Eric R. Pardyjak4Sebastian W. Hoch5Alexei Perelet6Anna G. Hallar7Gerardo Carrillo-Cardenas8Simla Durmus9Department of Meteorological Engineering, Istanbul Technical University, Istanbul 34467, TürkiyeFaculty of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Ontario Technical University, Oshawa, ON L1G 0C5, CanadaDepartment of Meteorological Engineering, Istanbul Technical University, Istanbul 34467, TürkiyeDepartment of Atmospheric Sciences, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USADepartment of Mechanical Engineering, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USADepartment of Atmospheric Sciences, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USADepartment of Mechanical Engineering, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USADepartment of Atmospheric Sciences, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USADepartment of Atmospheric Sciences, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USADepartment of Meteorological Engineering, Istanbul Technical University, Istanbul 34467, TürkiyeThe objective of this study is to analyze microphysical parameters affecting visibility parameterizations of a freezing fog case that occurred on 19 February 2022, during the Cold Fog Amongst Complex Terrain (CFACT) project conducted in a high-elevation alpine valley in Utah, USA. Observations are collected using visibility, droplet spectra, ice crystal spectra, and aerosol spectral instruments, as well as in-situ meteorological instruments. Particle phase is determined from relative humidity with respect to water (RH<sub>w</sub>) as well as ground cloud imaging probe (GCIP), ceilometer (CL61) depolarization ratio, and icing accumulation on the platforms. Results showed that freezing droplet density can affect visibility (Vis) up to 100 m during Vis less than 1 km. In addition, increasing volume can lead to up to a 2 μm increase in droplet radius due to a change in the chemical composition of aerosols from Sodium Chloride (NaCl) to Ammonium Nitrate (NH<sub>4</sub>NO<sub>3</sub>). Overall, comparisons suggested that Vis parameterizations are highly variable, and freezing fog conditions resulted in lower Vis values compared to warm fog microphysical parameterizations. Furthermore, riming of freezing fog conditions can lead to more than 50% uncertainty in Vis. It is concluded that changing aerosol composition and freezing fog droplet density and riming can play a major role in Vis simulations.https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/17/15/2728fog microphysicsvisibilityfreezing fogcold fogfog parameterizationforecasting
spellingShingle Onur Durmus
Ismail Gultepe
Orhan Sen
Zhaoxia Pu
Eric R. Pardyjak
Sebastian W. Hoch
Alexei Perelet
Anna G. Hallar
Gerardo Carrillo-Cardenas
Simla Durmus
Freezing Fog Microphysics and Visibility Based on CFACT Feb 19 Case
Remote Sensing
fog microphysics
visibility
freezing fog
cold fog
fog parameterization
forecasting
title Freezing Fog Microphysics and Visibility Based on CFACT Feb 19 Case
title_full Freezing Fog Microphysics and Visibility Based on CFACT Feb 19 Case
title_fullStr Freezing Fog Microphysics and Visibility Based on CFACT Feb 19 Case
title_full_unstemmed Freezing Fog Microphysics and Visibility Based on CFACT Feb 19 Case
title_short Freezing Fog Microphysics and Visibility Based on CFACT Feb 19 Case
title_sort freezing fog microphysics and visibility based on cfact feb 19 case
topic fog microphysics
visibility
freezing fog
cold fog
fog parameterization
forecasting
url https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/17/15/2728
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