A satellite‐based climatology of fog and low stratus formation and dissipation times in central Europe

Knowledge of fog and low stratus (FLS) cloud patterns life cycles is important for traffic safety, the production solar energy analysis processes in climate system. While meteorological stations provide information on FLS, a data set describing FLS formation dissipation times large spatial temporal scales does not yet exist. In this study, we use logistic regression to extract from satellite-based 10-year covering central Europe. The resulting first geographic perspective at continental scale. found show clear dependency topography. mountainous areas, forms night dissipates morning. river valleys, typical cycle shifts after sunrise afternoon. Seasonal similar winter autumn, spring summer, with longer events former two seasons.