# Fog Simulator - Tasks at 09 UTC

## Task List: Weather forecasting and warnings

Hopefully you have managed to go through the materials and design a weather image in your head. It is a lot of information to process, especially if you are not familiar with the terrain and climate of this area.

### Tasks at 09 UTC

### Question #1: Satellite Data

With the help of the satellite images, have you detected places with fog or low stratus?

Correct answer(s) is/are: 2)

Feedback for 1): Feedback: Not quite, also the area south of the Alps is covered by fog. The cloud type fog product helps to distinguish between different layers of fog.

Feedback for 2): No, the cloud structures that you see with the HRV or IR images are actually fog and low stratus! The whitish structure north of LOWL that does not move much is snow on the surface. The cloud type fog product helps to distinguish between different layers of fog.

Feedback for 3): No, the cloud structures that you see with the HRV or IR images are actually fog and low stratus! The whitish structure north of LOWL that does not move much is snow on the surface. The cloud type fog product helps to distinguish between different layers of fog.

### Question #2: Model

By looking at the model data, what information can you get about the surface wind?

Correct answer(s) is/are: 1)

Feedback for 1): Yes, this is the impression that you get from the regional model data (INCA).

Feedback for 2): No, the geopotential field at 300 hPa is too high to make good conclusions for the surface. If you look at the regional model (INCA) you can see more realistic details about the surface wind.

Feedback for 3): No, the pressure gradient is from east to west, so following this the wind should be rather easterly. If you look at the regional model (INCA) you can see more realistic details about the surface wind.

### Question #3: Webcams

What impression do you get from looking at the four webcams?

Correct answer(s) is/are: 2)

Feedback for 1): Not quite, the webcams Bad Mitterndorf and Hochkar are located just between the foggy area north and south of the Alps. Above the main alpine ridge there seems to be no fog at this time. If you look closely on webcam Hochkar you can see the boarder of the fog just behind the mountains. On the webcam Turracher Höhe you can watch the fog moving into the valley from the east in the course of the morning.

Feedback for 2): Yes, the webcams Bad Mitterndorf and Hochkar are located just between the foggy area north and south of the Alps. Above the main alpine ridge there seems to be no fog at this time. If you look closely on webcam Hochkar you can see the boarder of the fog just behind the mountains. On the webcam Turracher Höhe you can watch the fog moving into the valley from the east in the course of the morning.

Feedback for 3): No, only two webcams show foggy conditions (Obervellach and later Turracher Höhe). The webcams Bad Mitterndorf and Hochkar are located just between the foggy area north and south of the Alps. Above the main alpine ridge there seems to be no fog at this time. If you look closely on webcam Hochkar you can see the boarder of the fog just behind the mountains. On the webcam Turracher Höhe you can watch the fog moving into the valley from the east in the course of the morning.

### Question #4: Synop

Use the synop weather observations in order to find the true statement:

Correct answer(s) is/are: 1)

Feedback for 1): Yes exactly. At some stations you can also see the symbol for surface fog (two horizontal yellow stripes), e.g. at 08:00 in Graz (southeast). Attention: Some stations with not equal but similar temperatures and dew point temperatures might be free of surface fog but could still have a low stratus layer above (elevated fog).

Feedback for 2): No, the larger the spread between temperature and dew point temperature, the dryer the air! To find places with saturated air, look for stations with equal temperature and dew point temperature.
At some stations you can also see the symbol for surface fog (two horizontal yellow stripes), e.g. at 08:00 in Graz (southeast).
Attention: Some stations with not equal but similar temperatures and dew point temperatures might be free of surface fog but could still have a low stratus layer above (elevated fog).

Feedback for 3): No, the dew point temperature is always below (or equal) the air temperature!
To find places with saturated air, look for stations with equal temperature and dew point temperature. At some stations you can also see the symbol for surface fog (two horizontal yellow stripes), e.g. at 08:00 in Graz (southeast).
Attention: Some stations with not equal but similar temperatures and dew point temperatures might be free of surface fog but could still have a low stratus layer above (elevated fog).

### Question #5: Radiosounding

Did you look at the radiosoundings of Vienna, Linz and Munich? Could you detect a low cloud layer in at least one of them?

Correct answer(s) is/are: True

Feedback for True: Yes, Linz and Munich have a saturated layer around 900 hPa. Above this the air is much drier. AT 00 UTC there is no indication of surface fog however.
In Vienna a thin cloud layer is visible at about 800 hPa.

Feedback for False: Linz and Munich have a saturated layer around 900 hPa (temperature line and dew point temperature line close together). Above this the air is much drier (distance between the two lines). At 00 UTC there is no indication of surface fog however.
In Vienna a thin cloud layer is visible at about 800 hPa.

### Question #6: First Consultation

Try to give a first briefing to the pilot whether a departure from airport Linz till 13 UTC will be possible or not.

Correct answer(s) is/are: 2)

Feedback for 1): No, the wind direction is mainly easterly, so the stratus layer is moved away from the airport. There is little risk the fog might rebuild till the end of the day. It remains unclear however whether an approach at airport Klagenfurt can be managed until 15 UTC. Keep an eye on the alternative options Zell am See (LOWZ) and Graz (LOWG).

Feedback for 2): Exactly, low stratus is only left over south of Linz and because of mainly easterly winds there is little risk the fog might rebuild till the end of the day. It remains unclear however whether an approach at airport Klagenfurt can be managed until 15 UTC. Keep an eye on the alternative options Zell am See (LOWZ) and Graz (LOWG).

Feedback for 3): Yes, low stratus is only left over south of Linz and because of mainly easterly winds there is little risk the fog might rebuild till the end of the day. It remains unclear however whether an approach at airport Klagenfurt can be managed until 15 UTC. Keep an eye on the alternative options Zell am See (LOWZ) and Graz (LOWG).

When you answer all the questions and when you are sure you are finished you can click 'Finish this part!'.

* TECHNICAL NOTE: For the best interactive experience throughout this module please use the most recent versions of Firefox or Internet Explorer browser!