The Fog Remote Sensing and Modeling (FRAM) field project: visibility analysis and remote sensing of fog

The main objective of this work is to describe a research project on fog and visibility, and to summarize the results. The Fog Remote Sensing and Modeling (FRAM) project was designed to focus on 1) development of microphysical parameterizations for model applications, 2) development of remote sensing methods for fog nowcasting/forecasting, 3) understanding of issues related to instrument capabilities and improvement of the analysis, and 4) integration of model data with observations. The FRAM was conducted over three regions of Canada and US. These locations were: 1) Center for Atmospheric Research Experiments (CARE), Egbert, Ontario 2005-2006, 2) Lunenburg, Nova Scotia June of 2006 and 2007, and 3) U.S. Department Of Energy (DOE) ARM Climate Research Facility at Barrow, Alaska, US during the Indirect and Semi-Direct Aerosol Campaign (ISDAC) field program April of 2008; FRAM C, FRAM-L, and ISDAC-FRAM-B, respectively. FRAM-C was undertaken in a continental fog environment while FRAM-L was in a marine environment. The FRAM-B was undertaken to study ice fog conditions. During the project, numerous in-situ measurements were obtained, including droplet and aerosol spectra, precipitation, and visibility. Analysis of satellite microphysical retrievals and visibility parameterizations suggested that improved scientific understanding of fog formation can lead to better forecasting/nowcasting skills benefiting both aviation and public forecasting applications.