THE IMPACT OF MOUNTAIN TO BASIN WINDS ON THE DIURNAL VARIATION IN FOG OVER THE SICHUAN BASIN, CHINA

There is an increased demand for the accurate prediction of fog events in the Sichuan Basin (SCB) using numerical methods. A dense fog event that occurred over the SCB on 22 December 2016 was investigated. The results show that this dense fog event was influenced by the southwest of a low pressure with a weak horizontal pressure gradient and high relative humidity. This fog event showed typical diurnal variations. The fog began to form at 1800 UTC on 21 December 2016 (0200 local standard time on 22 December 2016) and dissipated at 0600 UTC on 22 December 2016 (1400 local standard time on 22 December 2016). The Weather Research and Forecasting model was able to partially reproduce the main features of this fog event and the diurnal variation in the local mountain to basin winds. The simulated horizontal visibility and liquid water content were used to characterize the fog. The mountain to basin winds had an important role in the diurnal variation of the fog event. The positive feedback mechanism between the fog and mountain to basin winds was good for the formation and maintain of the fog during the night. During the day, the mountain to basin wind displayed a transition from downslope flows to upslope flows. Water vapor evaporated easily from the warm, strong upslope winds, which resulted in the dissipation of fog during the day. The topography surrounding the SCB favored the lifting and condensation of air parcels in the lower troposphere as a result of the low height of the lifting condensation level.