Development of a numerical short range forecast model of fog and visibility

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Andreas Bott
• Subject Area: Atmospheric Science
• Term: from 2003 to 2008
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 5415080

In the proposed research project a numerical short range forecast model of fog and visibility shall be developed. The fog model will be based on the Local Model (LM) of the German Weather Service. It will be three-dimensional so that different kinds of fog, such as radiation fog, advection fog, and orographic fog, can be simulated. In a first step a microscale version of the LM will be developed and a detailed spectral microphysical cloud module will be implemented therein. Based on this module a new parameterization scheme for fog will be developed. By utilizing available data of measured fog episodes, numerical case studies will be performed in order to verify the spectral microphysical as well as the parameterized fog model. The aim is to obtain a tool for a numerically efficient fog forecast at locations which are favourable for fog formation and where a high quality fog forecast is of particular importance, e.g. at airports, highways etc. Parts of this research are embedded in the COST 722 Action "Short range forecasting methods of fog, visibility and low clouds" of the European Commission.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants