Characteristics of Fog in relation to Tropical Cyclone intensity: A case study for IGI Airport New Delhi

Abstract Widespread catastrophic fog episodes in polluted northern India have been attributed to tropical cyclone activity in the Bay of Bengal & Arabian Sea; however, limited studies have been conducted on the effect of tropical cyclone intensity (‘T’ Numbers) on different fog characteristics in Indo Gangetic Basin, Northern India. In this study, different characteristics, including persistence, intensity, and areal extension, were analyzed at the Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi during 1998–99, 2013–14, and 2016–17. A high-intensity tropical cyclone (Severe to Very Severe Cyclonic Storm) has been found to significantly increase the persistence, intensity, and areal extension of fog by inducing strong subsidence over the IGI Airport/Indo-Gangetic Basin. This knowledge is vital for improving the short-term forecasting of fog in the Indo-Gangetic Basin of Northern India and will further support the Government agencies to take preventive safety measures and planning well in advance time.