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The influence of upwelling extent upon fog incidence at Lüderitz, southern Africa
Author(s) -
Olivier J.,
Stockton P. L.
Publication year - 1989
Publication title -
international journal of climatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.58
H-Index - 166
eISSN - 1097-0088
pISSN - 0899-8418
DOI - 10.1002/joc.3370090106
Subject(s) - upwelling , climatology , oceanography , geology , environmental science
This paper examines the influence of the horizontal extent of the cold‐water upwelling on the incidence of fog at Lüderitz, Namibia, during 1983–1984. The spatial extent of the upwelling was measured on days with synoptic conditions conducive to fog formation, i.e. when a coastal low was centred to the south of the study area. A significant relationship was identified, indicating increased fog occurrence with an upwelling extent of less than 200 km and vice versa. The moisture necessary for fog formation was postulated as originating from the warm water to the seaward side of the upwelling zone. With a narrow upwelling, the circulation around the coastal low extends beyond the cold‐water mass, whereas when the extent of the upwelling exceeds that of the coastal low circulation, evaporation is limited, resulting in a relatively dry onshore air flow.