Abstract. This study evaluates the representation of fog microphysics in high-resolution simulations from the Meso-NH model using the two-moment LIMA microphysical scheme, based on data from the SOFOG3D field campaign. This campaign combines remote sensing and vertical microphysical observations from a tethered balloon. Two fog events were simulated in order to assess the model's ability to reproduce their life cycle and identify any missing physical processes. The analysis focuses on the vertical microphysical structure, observed consistently by the various instruments, and on the simulated processes during the different phases of fog development (i.e. before, during, and after the transition from thin to thick fog). The model realistically reproduces the thermodynamic and dynamic evolution of fog, resulting in a satisfactory simulation of its development stages. A comprehensive analysis of microphysical processes is conducted throughout the entire height of the fog, based on a comparison with observations and a budget of modelled processes. While microphysics is generally well represented, certain systematic errors emerge: excessive liquid water content values vertically during the thin-to-thick transition and adiabatic phases, due to excessive condensation; an inaccurate representation of the droplet side distribution, with the absence of the largest droplets; and an inability to capture the droplet concentration vertical gradient, with values that are too high near the ground. While some of these shortcomings can be explained by dynamic biases, and more cases are needed to confirm our results, various recommendations are proposed. These include assessing the impact of drizzle and representations that could benefit all warm clouds.

The western coast of southern Africa is a region of particular climate interest and crossroads for aerosols of different origins as well as fog occurrences. In this study, we present a comparison between the concentration of dissolved trace metals in pairs of total suspended particulate (TSP) and fog water samples collected in Henties Bay, Namibia, during the AErosols, Radiation and CLOuds in southern Africa (AEROCLO-sA) field campaign in September 2017. From inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry measurements, we found that the concentration of dissolved Al, Fe, Ni, Cu, and Cr is enhanced in fog samples compared to the TSP samples. We found that thermodynamic modelling predicts the formation of soluble complexes with inorganic and organic ligands in fog for Cu, Cr, and Ni, but it would predict Al and Fe to precipitate as hydroxides given the neutral pH of fog. In contrast, X-ray absorption near edge structure measurements showed the presence of oxalate of Fe complexes that could explain its enhanced dissolved concentration in fog samples, despite a neutral pH. In addition, transmission electron microscopy and dynamic light scattering measurements revealed the presence of nano-sized colloidal particles containing Fe and Al in filtered fog samples that may appear soluble in inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (ICP-MS) measurements. We hypothesise that these complexes are formed in the early stages of particle activation into droplets when water content and, therefore, pH are expected to be lower and then remain in fog in a kinetically stable form or lead to the formation of colloidal nanoparticles.

Observations made using infra-red cameras as part of the South-west FOGs 3D experiment (SOFOG3D) have been used to analyse the dynamics and evolution of radiation fog in the presence of turbulent-mixing at fog top. The imagery revealed that mixing between the fog and the air above was common, appearing in over 80% of the radiation-fog cases analysed. The mixing often took the form of sections of fog breaking-off and dissipating in the air above; occasionally, these break-away sections did not dissipate but instead became very low cloud elevated above the fog layer. We have found that the mixing between the fog and air above can lead to an increase in relative humidity (RH) and enhanced cooling above the fog layer. Once the RH above the fog reaches within a few percentage points from saturation, it appears that the air mixed up from the fog below can remain saturated, and the fog may then rapidly grow vertically. Therefore, the turbulent-mixing observed can influence cloud coverage via both the vertical development of existing fog and the ‘spawning’ of very-low-stratus cloud.

A better understanding of the fog life cycle is required to improve forecasts by numerical weather prediction models and to reduce impacts of fog on human activities. However there are still many unknowns about the physical mechanisms driving fog variability. In particular, a main issue is that the transition from optically thin to thick fog is too sudden in numerical simulations. The liquid water content (LWC) profile is a key parameter, but observations in fog are sorely lacking. Here, we investigate observations from the SOuth west FOGs 3D experiment for processes study (SOFOG3D). In situ measurements collected under a tethered balloon provide 140 vertical profiles, which allow an exhaustive analysis of 8 thin fogs (thickness <50 m) and 4 developed layers. We estimate the thin-to-thick transition period using thresholds for longwave radiation flux, turbulent kinetic energy, vertical temperature gradient, fog top height and liquid water path. In situ data are used to compute the equivalent fog adiabaticity from closure, which is compared with the value derived using a one-column conceptual model of adiabatic fog, assuming that LWC linearly increases with height. We found that the reverse trend of the LWC profile (LWC maximal at the ground and decreasing with height) is ubiquitous in optically thin fogs under stable temperature conditions, while quasi-adiabatic features with increasing LWC values with height are mainly observed in well-mixed optically thick fogs under slightly unstable conditions. This study provides new insights into the evolution of LWC profile during the fog life cycle, to constrain numerical simulations.

Located at 21°07'S, 55°32'E, Reunion Island, a mountainous island in the Indian Ocean, is an extraordinary site for studying the formation and life cycle of slope clouds. The island is influenced by southeast trade winds, reaching peak intensity in winter (June-August) and moderating during summer (December to February). These winds create pronounced conditions along the southwest and northeast edges, accompanied by a leeward circulation in the northwest, notably in the Maïdo area. Sea and valley breezes converge on the slopes of Maïdo, facilitating the advection of oceanic air masses and initiating convection on the mountainous terrain. Duflot et al. (2019) have substantiated that this convective process leads to the daily formation of clouds, typically exhibiting shallow vertical development and containing minimal water content. An intensive measurement campaign, BIOMAÏDO (Bio-physicochemistry of Tropical Clouds at Maïdo), took place from March 11 to April 7, 2019, at Reunion Island, in order to study the chemical and biological composition of the air mass, the formation processes of secondary organic matter in heterogeneous environments, the dynamics and evolution of the boundary layer, and the macro- and micro-physical properties of clouds. In this study, cloud microphysical properties are examined and analyzed using observations from the campaign, followed by a comparison with a high-resolution (100m horizontal resolution) numerical simulation with the Meso-NH model. Among the two microphysical schemes (ICE3 and LIMA; Liquid Ice Multiple Aerosol), the model is initialized with the two-moment microphysical scheme LIMA, which is parameterized using aerosol CCN properties initialization derived from ground aerosol measurements (3 modes) and vertical balloon profile aerosol concentrations. Firstly, a sensitivity study on the microphysical scheme will be presented. It demonstrates that clouds form simultaneously in both schemes. However, clouds exhibit greater vertical development in the ICE3 scheme. Additionally, cloud dissipation occurs an hour earlier in the LIMA scheme. Subsequently, an analysis through a microphysical variable balance will be conducted to identify the primary thermodynamic processes characterizing the formation and dissipation of slope clouds.

The BIO-MAÏDO (Bio-physicochemistry of tropical clouds at Maïdo: processes and impacts on secondary organic aerosols formation) campaign was conducted from 13 March to 4 April 2019 on the tropical island of Réunion. The main objective of the project was to improve understanding of cloud impacts on the formation of secondary organic aerosols (SOA) from biogenic volatile organic compound (BVOC) precursors in a tropical environment. Instruments were deployed at five sites: a receptor site, Maïdo Observatory (MO) at 2165 m a.s.l. and four sites along the slope of the Maïdo mountain. Observations include measurements of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and characterization of the physical, chemical and biological (bacterial diversity and culture-based approaches) properties of aerosols and cloud water. Turbulent parameters of the boundary layer, radiative fluxes and emissions fluxes of BVOCs from the surrounding vegetation were measured to help interpret observed chemical concentrations in the different phases. Dynamical analyses showed two preferred trajectory routes for air masses arriving at MO during the daytime. Both trajectories correspond to return branches of the trade winds associated with upslope thermal breezes, where air masses likely encountered cloud processing. The highest mixing ratios of oxygenated VOCs (OVOCs) were measured above the site located in the endemic forest and the highest contribution of OVOCs to total VOCs at MO. Chemical compositions of particles during daytime showed higher concentrations of oxalic acid, a tracer of cloud processing and photochemical aging, and a more oxidized organic aerosol at MO than at other sites. Approximately 20 % of the dissolved organic compounds were analyzed. Additional analyses by ultra-high-resolution mass spectrometry will explore the complexity of the missing cloud organic matter.

Abstract. Observations collected during the SOuth west FOGs 3D experiment for processes study (SOFOG3D) field campaign are examined to document vertical profile of microphysical and thermodynamic properties of fog layers. In situ measurements collected under a tethered balloon provide 140 vertical profiles of liquid water content (LWC) from an adapted cloud droplet probe (CDP), which allow an exhaustive analysis of the life cycle of 8 thin fogs (thickness < 50 m) and 4 developed layers. We estimate thin-to-thick transition time from remote sensing instruments (microwave radiometer and Doppler cloud radar) and surface measurements, by using thresholds for longwave radiation flux, turbulent kinetic energy, vertical temperature gradient, fog top height and liquid water path (LWP) values. We found that a LWP threshold value of 15 g.m−2 is more suited for the thick fogs sampled at the super-site. CDP data are used to compute the equivalent fog adiabaticity from closure (αclosureeq) and compare to value derived from remote sensing instruments, 2-m height visibility, and an one-column conceptual model of adiabatic continental fog assuming that LWC linearly increases with height. The comparison of αclosureeq shows a large variability that results mainly from the parameterization used to estimate LWC at ground, but their evolution as a function of the fog thickness follows the same trend. We found larger negative values of αclosureeq for thin layers, associated to low LWP values. CDP data reveal that reverse trend of LWC profile (LWC being maximal at the ground and decreasing with altitude) are ubiquitous in optically thin fogs, while quasi-adiabatic features with increasing LWC values with altitude are mainly observed in well-mixed optically thick fogs. We investigate the actual fog adiabaticity and lapse rate fraction by using linear regressions to best fit the vertical profiles of LWC and temperature, respectively. This analysis highlights that reverse LWC profiles, when stable temperature conditions exist during the optically thin phase of fogs, evolve towards quasi-adiabatic features with slightly unstable temperature lapse rate, when fogs become optically thick. We also found that LWC at ground is higher during the thin phase and significantly decreases as the profile is changing from reverse to increasing with height. But this trend could be balanced when collision-coalescence and sedimentation processes redistribute the LWC through the fog layer from the top to the ground. This study provides new insights on the evolution of LWC profile during the fog life cycle, that would help to constrain numerical simulations.

This study investigates thermal circulations on Reunion Island (21 degrees 07'S 55 degrees 32'E), focusing on the complex terrain of the region. Observations from the BIO-MA & Iuml;DO campaign, along with 2 days of high-resolution simulation using the MesoNH model, were analyzed to understand the thermally-driven mechanisms. This simulation was conducted with a horizontal resolution of 100 m and employed a vertically stretched grid, achieving a resolution of 1 m at the lowest levels. Two distinct wind regimes were identified, characterized by katabatic flows prevailing within a 30 m thick layer during nighttime, and an anabatic flow manifesting within a layer spanning from 150 to 200 m during the daytime. The simulation was confirmed through validation with surface measurements, and thus enabling a detailed study of thermal breeze circulations. Results reveal that the intensity of trade winds significantly influences the development of thermal circulations. Complex layered structures in the atmosphere were also identified. At an intensity of 7 m s-1, trade winds impede the development of thermal circulations atop the slope, and result in the emergence of a convergence zone between local and regional circulations. The analysis of the breeze establishment period indicates that the katabatic flow stabilizes in 35 min, quicker than the anabatic flow, which takes 110 min. Momentum and heat budget analysis provide insights into the primary drivers of thermal circulations: buoyancy acceleration, influenced by local surface heating during anabatic flow onset, and local surface cooling during katabatic flow onset. This research explores thermal circulation in the northwestern region of Reunion Island, an area significantly influenced by the return flow of the trade winds, the trade winds themselves, and breezes. Data from the BIOMA & Iuml;DO campaign and simulation using the MesoNH model were employed to analyze the heat-driven air movements in this specific region. The study identified two distinct wind patterns: a downward katabatic flow within a 30 m layer and a diurnal anabatic flow occurring between elevetions of 150-200 m. Validation through surface measurements corroborated the model simulation, facilitating a detailed analysis of thermal breeze circulations. The results indicate that strong directional winds significantly influence air movement patterns. At a speed of 7 m s-1, these winds inhibit upward air movement along the slopes, creating a convergence zone between local and larger-scale wind patterns. Analysis of the breeze establishment periods indicated a faster stabilization of katabatic flow at 35 min compared to 110 min of anabatic flow. Momentum and heat budget analysis revealed the primary drivers: buoyancy acceleration, influenced by local surface heating during anabatic flow and by local surface cooling during katabatic flow. Trade winds strongly impact thermal circulations on Reunion Island, creating complex atmospheric structures Katabatic flow stabilizes faster (35 min) than anabatic flow (110 min), affecting the island's thermal breeze patterns Buoyancy acceleration, local surface heating, and cooling play significant roles in driving thermal circulations

Fog water deposition can represent an important part of the atmospheric water, nutrient and pollutant inputs in specific areas such as mountainous or coastal regions (Shimadera et al., 2011). In order to determine the potential of fog water deposition on plants, a field experiment has been performed in the northeast of France to determine fog droplet deposition velocity on different types of plants. The main objective is to improve deposition models by enabling them to accurately account for water inputs from fog or low clouds at ground level. The flux of deposited fog water was estimated by exposing plants to fog and weighing them with a precision balance. Contrary to other flux measurement methods, the weighing method is simple to set up. Three plant types (small conifers, grass and cabbages) plus bare soil were used as impaction and deposition surfaces. A Particulate Volume Monitor (PVM-100) provided the liquid water content (LWC) to calculate fog droplet deposition velocities, and a Fog Monitor (FM-120), the characterization of the droplet size distribution. Two fog events with different features (visibility, LWC and droplet number) were compared with regard to deposition velocity. When wind speed was below 4 m s−1, mean fog droplet deposition velocities ranged from less than 2.2 cm s−1 on bare soil to 40 cm s−1 on cypress. Thus, the impaction of fog droplets can be an important part of fog water deposition on plants.

The composition of dissolved organic matter of cloud water has been investigated through non-targeted high-resolution mass spectrometry on only a few samples that were mostly collected in the Northern Hemisphere in the USA, Europe and China. There remains, therefore, a lack of measurements for clouds located in the Southern Hemisphere, under tropical conditions and influenced by forest emissions. As a matter of fact, the comparison of the composition of clouds collected in different locations is challenging since the methodology for the analysis and data treatment is not standardized. In this work, the chemical composition of three samples collected at Réunion Island (REU) during the BIO-MAÏDO field campaign, in the Indian Ocean, with influences from marine, anthropogenic and biogenic (tropical) emissions, is investigated and compared to the chemical composition of samples collected at the Puy de Dôme (PUY) observatory in France. The same methodology of analysis and data treatment was employed, producing a unique dataset for the investigation of the molecular composition of organic matter in cloud water. Besides the analysis of elemental composition, we investigated the carbon oxidation state (OSC) of dissolved organic matter, finding that overall samples collected at PUY are more oxidized than those collected at REU. Molecular formulas were also classified based on stoichiometric elemental ratios, showing the high frequency and abundance of reduced organic compounds, classified as lipids (LipidC), in this matrix, which led to a search for terpene oxidation products in cloud water samples. To better discriminate between samples collected at PUY and REU, statistical analysis (principal component analysis and agglomerative hierarchical clustering) was performed on the ensemble of molecular formulas and their intensities. Samples collected at REU have a different composition from samples collected at PUY, which is mainly linked to different primary sources, the processing of organic matter in cloud water and the influence of different primary emissions at the two locations.

This paper evaluates fog forecasts of a new AROME configuration dedicated to fog thanks to observations of the recent field campaign SOuth westFOGs 3Dimensions (SOFOG3D). This new configuration takes advantage of an upgraded horizontal and vertical resolution of a two-moment microphysical scheme [Liquid Ice Multiple Aerosols (LIMA)], and of the inclusion of a parameterization of the droplet’s deposition onto vegetation. A statistical study conducted over the 6 months of the SOFOG3D field campaign allowed the evaluation of the quality of fog forecasts produced by this new configuration to compare it to the current operational configuration of AROME. The main findings are as follows: the new configuration forecasts more fog events, with a few more false alarms, but improved the amount of fog events with low top height and with a low water content, underestimated by the reference configuration. The importance of the first level height for a good representation of the first few meters above the ground is crucial to improve the fog formation forecast. A delay of fog dissipation in the morning was highlighted in operational simulations and slightly reduced thanks to LIMA. This two-moment scheme produced thinner fogs, with less water content. These are more realistic, compared with observations, and thinner fog is also easier for solar radiation to dissipate.

In this study, we use a synergy of in situ and remote sensing measurements collected during the SOuthwest FOGs 3D experiment for processes study (SOFOG3D) field campaign in autumn and winter 2019–2020 to analyse the thermodynamic and turbulent processes related to fog formation, evolution, and dissipation across southwestern France. Based on a unique measurement dataset (synergy of cloud radar, microwave radiometer, wind lidar, and weather station data) combined with a fog conceptual model, an analysis of the four deepest fog episodes (two radiation fogs and two advection–radiation fogs) is conducted. The results show that radiation and advection–radiation fogs form under deep and thin temperature inversions, respectively. For both fog categories, the transition period from stable to adiabatic fog and the fog adiabatic phase are driven by vertical mixing associated with an increase in turbulence in the fog layer due to mechanical production (turbulence kinetic energy (TKE) up to 0.4 m2 s−2 and vertical velocity variance (σw2) up to 0.04 m2 s−2) generated by increasing wind and wind shear. Our study reveals that fog liquid water path, fog top height, temperature, radar reflectivity profiles, and fog adiabaticity derived from the conceptual model evolve in a consistent manner to clearly characterise this transition. The dissipation time is observed at night for the advection–radiation fog case studies and after sunrise for the radiation fog case studies. Night-time dissipation is driven by horizontal advection generating mechanical turbulence (TKE at least 0.3 m2 s−2 and σw2 larger than 0.04 m2 s−2). Daytime dissipation is linked to the combination of thermal and mechanical turbulence related to solar heating (near-surface sensible heat flux larger than 10 W m−2) and wind shear, respectively. This study demonstrates the added value of monitoring fog liquid water content and depth (combined with wind, turbulence, and temperature profiles) and diagnostics such as fog liquid water reservoir and adiabaticity to better explain the drivers of the fog life cycle.

Observations made during the recent SOuth‐west FOGs 3D experiment (SOFOG3D) have been used to investigate the formation and evolution of radiation fog over heterogeneous forest plantations. The focus was on comparing measurements made at a relatively open site on arable land with those made in an approximately 700‐m diameter field surrounded by tree plantations, with both sites hosting an instrumented 50‐m mast. These data showed that at the more sheltered site radiation fog tended to form earlier than at the more open site. This coincided with more rapid decreases and lower minima in both near‐surface temperatures and vertical turbulence from the late afternoon. It is proposed here that the surrounding forest creates a sheltering effect, which can cause a reduction in vertical turbulence and therefore the mixing of cool near‐surface air with warmer air aloft. The near‐surface region is therefore able to cool rapidly, enabling fog to form more readily. Data from additional sites with varying surroundings supported the findings that the more sheltered sites tended to exhibit lower near‐surface nocturnal temperatures. However, the onset of fog formation observed at these additional sites suggested that there could be a limit to how sheltered a site may be before fog formation is inhibited rather than enabled by the surroundings.

Abstract. Cloud radars are capable of providing continuous high-resolution observations of the cloud. These observations are related to the microphysical properties of clouds. Power law relations in the form of Z = a · LWCb are generally used to estimate liquid water content (LWC) profiles. The constants a and b from the power-law relation vary with the cloud type and cloud characteristics. Due to the variety of such parameterizations, selecting the most appropriate Z-LWC relation for a continuous cloud system is complicated. Additional information such as Liquid water path (LWP) from a co-located microwave radiometer is used to scale the LWC of the cloud profile. An algorithm for estimating the LWC of warm clouds using radar-microwave radiometer synergy in a variational framework is presented. This method also accounts for attenuation due to cloud droplets and retrieves a suitable scaling factor (lna) of the profile in addition to the LWC. The optimal estimation techniques incorporate a priori information of desired variables, and the forward model converts these variables into observation parameters. In this algorithm formulation, the measure of uncertainty in observations, forward model and, a priori acts as weights in the retrieved quantities. These uncertainties in the retrieval are analyzed in the sensitivity analysis of the algorithm. The retrieval algorithm is first tested on a synthetic profile for different perturbations in sensitivity parameters. The sensitivity study has shown that this method is susceptible to LWP information. The algorithm is then implemented to various cloud and fog cases at SIRTA observatory to estimate LWC and the scaling factor. The scaling factor changes for each cloud profile, and the range of lna are consistent with suggested values in literature. The validation of such an algorithm is challenging, as we need reference measurements of LWC co-located with the retrieved values. During the SOFOG-3D campaign (South-West of France, October 2019 to March 2020), in-situ measurements of LWC were collected in the vicinity of a cloud radar and a microwave radiometer, allowing comparison of retrieved and measured LWC. The comparison demonstrated that the cloud-fog heterogeneity was playing a key role in the assessment. The proposed synergistic retrieval algorithm is applied to 39 cloud and fog cases at SIRTA, and the behavior of the scaling factor is studied. This statistical analysis of scaling is carried out to develop a radar-only retrieval method. The climatology revealed that the scaling factor can be linked to the maximum reflectivity of the profile. From climatology, the statistical relations for scaling factor are proposed for fog and cloud. Thanks to the variational framework, a stand-alone radar version of the algorithm is adapted from the synergistic retrieval algorithm, which incorporates the climatology of scaling factor as a priori information to estimate the LWC of warm cloud. This method allows the LWC estimation using only radar reflectivity and climatology of scaling factor.

Fog is a difficult meteorological phenomenon to predict due to its high spatial and temporal variability and the complexity of physical processes and their interplay. In this context, the SOFOG3D field campaign, which took place during winter 2019/2020 over the Landes region in the South-West of France, provides a 3D mapping of the boundary layer during fog events. It aims to advance our understanding of fog processes in order to improve forecasts of fog events by numerical weather prediction (NWP) models. The present study focuses on three days between 28 and 30 December 2019 characterized by different fog life cycles between two sites about 100 km apart. In situ and remote sensing measurements, such as microwave radiometer and cloud radar, show that on the supersite a radiative fog that occurred the first night lifted into a stratus in the morning remained all day long, and lowered in the afternoon to form a new fog by stratus lowering. In contrast at the Agen site, the stratus completely dissipated and a radiative fog formed the second night. The widespread radiative fog over the entire domain during the first night developed due to cold air advection from the East. We conduct data analysis to study why the stratus lowering is generalized over the northern part of the domain, while the stratus completely dissipates over the southern part of the domain. This analysis is complemented by a 3D numerical simulation performed with the Meso-NH model applied at 100 m resolution with a downscaling approach from the operational AROME model, using the LIMA 2-moment microphysical scheme with a prognostic representation of a multimodal aerosol population. Preliminary results show that for the second night, the simulation well reproduces the contrasting fog life cycle for both sites with radiative fog on Agen and stratus lowering on the supersite but forming earlier fog on the former. A budget analysis is conducted to investigate the spatial heterogeneity of this fog event at the regional scale and to study the physical mechanisms involved in fog formed by stratus lowering that remains especially difficult to forecast by NWP models.

While fog can severely affect human activities (air, land and marine transportation), its forecast with current numerical weather prediction (NWP) models stays challenging, especially due to the lack of observations in the atmospheric boundary layer and the misrepresentation of non linear small scale processes. To improve knowledge on fog formation, evolution and dissipation, several instruments have been deployed during the SOFOG3D (SOuth west FOGs 3D experiment for processes study) experimental campaign to provide an unprecedent database of detailed 3D observations. In that context, a network of 8 ground-based microwave radiometers (MWR) provided continuous temperature profiling as well as integrated water vapor and liquid water path measurements during a 6 month period. Additionally, Martinet et al (2020) highlighted large temperature errors in the AROME-France (Application of Research to Operations at Mesoscale) NWP model background profiles during fog forecasts, leading to temperature differences up to 6 K when compared to tower measurements. Nevertheless, this study also demonstrate that the assimilation of MWR observations with a one dimensional variational data assimilation scheme could leads to improved initial conditions. To go further in that direction, MWR temperature profile observations from the SOFOG3D experiment have been added in the AROME-France operational data assimilation system, which uses a three dimensional variational algorithm (3D-Var) and climatological and homogeneous background error covariances (B matrix), to quantify the benefit on operational analyses and forecasts of several fog events. Then, the recently developped ensemble variational (EnVar) data assimilation system has been used to conduct new assimilation experiments. The main advantage of such method is to prescribe a fully flow dependent B matrix which is spatially and temporally coherent with the forecasted meteorological conditions. In consequences, it leads to more realistic increments. The results obtained with the different assimilation experiments will be presented. Firstly, a statistical analysis of the impact on the AROME-France analyses and short-range forecasts against conventional observations will be discussed. Secondly, specific SOFOG3D observations will be used to investigate the benefit on dedicated fog case studies.

The database presented in this study has been acquired during the SOuth west FOGs 3D (SOFOG3D) experiment for processes study. This international campaign led by Météo-France during the winter 2019–2020 aimed at deploying a unique network of both in situ and remote sensing measurements in order to document spatial and temporal variabilities of fog events. To support this scientific objective but also to conduct first data assimilation experiments within the French convective scale model AROME, an un-precedented network of 8 ground-based microwave radiometers (MWR) has been deployed in 7 different locations known to be prone to fog occurrences. The database gives access to vertical profiles of temperature and humidity (both absolute and relative) from the surface up to 10 km altitude as well as integrated water vapor and liquid water path estimates. The retrieved profiles offer a very large database that can be exploited for several scientific purposes: fog process studies at specific location, documentation on the variability of fog properties at the regional scale, better understanding of the atmospheric boundary layer (ABL) height and dynamics during wintertime conditions, development of nowcasting products dedicated to fog alerts, data assimilation experiments to improve fog forecasts, development of synergetical advanced products, and evaluation of new model configurations with advanced parameterization or resolutions.

The evolution of the droplet size distribution (DSD) during the fog life cycle remains poorly understood and progress is required to reduce the uncertainty of fog forecasts. To gain insights into the physical processes driving the microphysical properties, intensive field campaigns were conducted during the winters of 2010–2013 at the Instrumented Site for Atmospheric Remote Sensing Research (SIRTA) in a semi-urban environment southwest of Paris city center to monitor the simultaneous variations in droplet microphysical properties and their potential interactions at the different evolutionary stages of the fog events. Liquid water content (LWC), fog droplet number concentration (Nd) and effective diameter (Deff) show large variations among the 42 fog events observed during the campaign and for individual events. Our findings indicate that the variability of these parameters results from the interaction between microphysical, dynamical and radiative processes. During the formation and development phases, activation of aerosols into fog droplets and condensational growth were the dominant processes. When vertical development of radiation fog occurred under the influence of increasing wind speed and subsequent turbulent motion, additional condensational growth of fog droplets was observed. The DSDs with single mode (around 11 µm) and double mode (around 11 and 22 µm) were observed during the field campaign. During the development phase of fog with two droplet size modes, a mass transfer occurred from the smaller droplets into the larger ones through collision–coalescence or Ostwald ripening processes. During the mature phase, evaporation due to surface warming induced by infrared radiation emitted by fog was the dominant process. Additional droplet removal through sedimentation is observed during this phase for fog with two droplet size modes. Because of differences in the physical processes involved, the relationship between LWC and Nd is largely driven by the DSD. Although a positive relationship is found in most of the events due to continuous activation of aerosol into fog droplets, LWC varies at a constant Nd in fog with large Deff (>17 µm) due to additional collision–coalescence and Ostwald ripening processes. This work illustrates the need to accurately estimate the supersaturation for simulating the continuous activation of aerosols into droplets during the fog life cycle and to include advanced parameterizations of relevant microphysical processes such as collision–coalescence and Ostwald ripening processes, among others, in numerical models.

Marine ecosystems are important drivers of the global climate system. They emit volatile species into the atmosphere, involved in complex reaction cycles that influence the lifetime of greenhouse gases. Sea spray and marine biogenic aerosols affect Earth's climate by scattering solar radiation and controlling cloud microphysical properties. Here we show larger than expected marine biogenic emissions of butenes, three orders of magnitude higher than dimethyl sulfide, produced by the coastal part of the Benguela upwelling system, one of the most productive marine ecosystems in the world. We show that these emissions may contribute to new particle formation in the atmosphere within the marine boundary layer through production of Criegee intermediates that oxidize SO 2 to H 2 SO 4 . Butene emissions from the marine biota may affect air quality and climate through ozone, secondary organic aerosol, and cloud condensation nuclei formation even in pristine regions of the world. Our results indicate a potentially important role of butene emissions in marine particle formation that requires investigation in other regions.