Fogcombination

Fogcombination is a term that appears in some discussions of atmospheric science to denote the set of interacting processes that determine the behavior of fog in a particular environment. It is not a standard term in meteorology, and definitions vary among sources. In general, fogcombination refers to the combined influence of condensation, droplet coalescence, evaporation, mixing with dry air, radiation effects, and advection that govern fog formation, thickening, persistence, and thinning.

In formation, fog droplets form as air cools to the dew point, and the microphysical evolution—droplet size distribution, collision-coalescence, and deposition—can shift the optical depth and visibility. Turbulence and wind shear can enhance or suppress droplet interactions, contributing to rapid changes in fog density. Radiative cooling at night tends to deepen fog, while solar radiation and surface heating promote evaporation, a balance summarized in fogcombination.

Field observations show fogcombination effects in coastal plain fog banks, valley fog, and urban areas where emissions alter microphysics and radiative properties. It is sometimes used informally in modeling to stress that fog behavior cannot be captured by a single mechanism alone.

See also: fog, radiation fog, advection fog, ground fog, droplet coalescence, atmospheric diffusion.

References: due to its informal status, readers should consult standard meteorology texts for established explanations of fog microphysics and dynamics.