Fog from the Ground Up: Investigating the Conditions Under Which Fog Forms and Evolves Within the Nocturnal Boundary Layer

Fog is of critical importance to forecast accurately, not least because of the hazard it presents to human safety. Yet, while weather forecasts have improved significantly over recent decades—and continue to improve—fog remains a particularly challenging phenomenon to predict. The research presented within this thesis takes a step back from prediction, and aims to better understand the conditions under which fog forms and deepens. Topics investigated include the observational likelihood of fog, the near-surface conditions during the infancy of a fog layer, the spatial variability of fog (and the influences thereon), and the growth and evolution of a fog layer.