Typical Appearance In Vertical Cross Sections

Fog and stratus are boundary layer phenomena, and vertical cross sections should preferable be zoomed into the lowest 300 or 500 hPa or the atmosphere to see the features most conveniently.

  • Relative humidity:
    A moist lower troposphere and relatively dry layers above typical for both radiation and advection St/Fog.
  • Total Cloud cover:
    High (over 80%) cloud cover either very near or at the surface (both fog types ) or slightly lifted off the surface (advection St/Fog).
  • Isentropes:
    Potentially stable situation at the lowest part of the troposphere.
  • Temperature:
    Surface (for both fog types) or elevated (for advection Stratus) temperature inversion.

Advection Fog/St

09 November 2005/12.00 UTC - Meteosat 8 HRV image; position of the Vertical Cross Section indicated

Radiation Fog

04 October 2005/06.00 UTC - Meteosat 8 HRV image; position of the Vertical Cross Section indicated

Relative Humidity

Advection Fog/St

09 November 2005/12.00 UTC - Vertical cross section; blue: relative humidity

Radiation Fog

04 October 2005/06.00 UTC - Vertical cross section; blue: relative humidity

Total Cloud Cover

Advection Fog/St

09 November 2005/12.00 UTC - Vertical cross section; green: total cloud cover

Radiation Fog

04 October 2005/06.00 UTC - Vertical cross section; green: total cloud cover

Isentropes

Advection Fog/St

09 November 2005/12.00 UTC - Vertical cross section; black: isentropes

Radiation Fog

04 October 2005/06.00 UTC - Vertical cross section; black: isentropes

Temperature

Advection Fog/St

09 November 2005/12.00 UTC - Vertical cross section; red, magenta, blue: temperature

Radiation Fog

04 October 2005/06.00 UTC - Vertical cross section; red, magenta, blue: temperature