Publication Date:
2014-11-11
Description:
This numerical study focuses on a dense fog event that occurred during the night of 21–22 January 2008 in the Grand Casablanca region, on the north-western coast of Morocco. This fog event, which lasted for 15 hours, is simulated by the mesoscale non-hydrostatic model Meso-NH and analysed using: conventional meteorological observations from two synoptic stations of the region, MSG satellite imagery and the ECMWF ERA-Interim reanalysis. Results demonstrate that this fog event included the formation of radiation fog over a continental zone and its extension to the coastal zone through the lowering of low-stratus clouds, which is in agreement with observations and is well captured by the Meso-NH model. Sensitivity experiments show that coastal fog prediction improves with improved sea surface temperature. Model skill also depends on the adjustment of microphysical parameters when a single-moment microphysical scheme is used, and on reliable initial conditions.
Print ISSN:
0035-9009
Electronic ISSN:
1477-870X
Topics:
Geography
,
Physics
