Articles | Volume 26, issue 1
https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-26-681-2026
© Author(s) 2026. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-26-681-2026
© Author(s) 2026. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Research article
| 
15 Jan 2026
Research article |
| 15 Jan 2026
| 15 Jan 2026
Cloud base height determines fog occurrence patterns in the Namib Desert
Institute of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Karlsruhe, Germany
Institute of Meteorology and Climate Research Atmospheric Trace Gases and Remote Sensing, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Karlsruhe, Germany
Hendrik Andersen
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
Institute of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Karlsruhe, Germany
Institute of Meteorology and Climate Research Atmospheric Trace Gases and Remote Sensing, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Karlsruhe, Germany
Jan Cermak
Institute of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Karlsruhe, Germany
Institute of Meteorology and Climate Research Atmospheric Trace Gases and Remote Sensing, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Karlsruhe, Germany
Roland Vogt
Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
Bianca Adler
Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences (CIRES), University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado, USA
NOAA Physical Sciences Laboratory, Boulder, Colorado, USA
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We created the first continuous maps of fog occurrence for the central Namib Desert by combining satellite observations with ground measurements. The study shows where and how often fog reaches the surface and distinguishes it from low clouds that remain above the ground. These maps improve understanding of an important hidden water source that supports desert ecosystems and may help future studies of climate and water availability.
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Trace gases and aerosols (tiny airborne particles) are released from a variety of point sources around the globe. Examples include volcanoes, industrial chimneys, forest fires, and ship stacks. These sources provide opportunistic experiments with which to quantify the role of aerosols in modifying cloud properties. We review the current state of understanding on the influence of aerosol on climate built from the wide range of natural and anthropogenic laboratories investigated in recent decades.
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Short summary
We investigated cloud base height changes in the Namib Desert and developed a method to estimate it using ground-based humidity data. This improves fog monitoring by distinguishing fog from low clouds, which satellites alone cannot reliably do. Our results reveal diurnal patterns and linkages to coastal proximity in the vertical dynamics of fog and low clouds, highlighting key atmospheric processes with potential importance for future research.
We investigated cloud base height changes in the Namib Desert and developed a method to estimate...
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