Effect of the boundary layer low-level jet on fast fog spatial propagation

Abstract

Abstract. The spatiotemporal variation of fog reflects the complex interactions among fog, boundary layer thermodynamics and synoptic systems. Previous studies revealed that fog can present a fast spatial propagation feature and attribute it to the boundary layer low-level jet (BLLJ), but the effect of the BLLJ on fog propagation is not quantitatively understood. Here we analyze a large-scale fog event in Jiangsu, China, from 20 to 21 January 2020. Satellite retrievals show that fog propagates from the southeast coastal area to the northwest inland area with a speed of 9.6 m s−1, which is 3 times larger than the ground wind speeds. The ground meteorologies are insufficient to explain the fast fog propagation, which is further investigated by Weather Research and Forecasting model (WRF) simulations. The fast fog propagation could be attributed to the BLLJ occurring between 50 and 500 m, because the wind speeds (10 m s−1) and directions (southeast) of the BLLJ core are consistent with fog propagation. Through sensitive experiments and process analysis, three possible mechanisms of the BLLJ are revealed: (1) the abundant oceanic moisture is transported inland, increasing the humidity of the boundary layer and promoting condensation; (2) the oceanic warm air is transported inland, enhancing the inversion layer and favoring moisture accumulation; and (3) the moisture advection probably promotes low-stratus formation, and later it subsides to become ground fog by turbulent mixing of fog droplets. The fog propagation speed would decrease notably by 6.4 m s−1 (66 %) in the model if the BLLJ-related moisture and warm advections were turned off.