Low-Level Clouds

How does sea fog form? See how warm air moves over cold water and cools to its dew point temperature to create dense marine advection fog.

How does freezing fog form in sub-zero air? Learn why supercooled water droplets turn to rime ice on contact with cold surfaces in Australia.

Valley fog formation occurs when radiative cooling and drainage flow trap moist air in low terrain overnight. Understand how temperature inversions work.

Learn how upslope fog formation occurs through orographic lifting and adiabatic cooling on Australian mountain slopes.

Advection fog formation happens when moist air cools over cold surfaces. Learn how temperature gradients and marine layers create coastal fog.

How does radiation fog form? Learn about the roles of terrestrial radiation, clear skies, and calm winds in cooling the boundary layer to saturation.

Learn how stratocumulus cloud formation happens as moist air hits a stable layer and spreads.

How do stratus clouds form through stable air cooling and moisture saturation?

Learn how cloud types and weather forecasting identify atmospheric stability and rain risks.

Learn about the rare stratocumulus volutus cloud. This tube-shaped horizontal roll cloud forms in stable air under specific wind shear conditions.

Identify stratocumulus floccus in AU skies. Learn to spot this tufted species and understand its link to atmospheric instability and virga.

Identify stratocumulus castellanus in Australian skies. Learn how these turreted clouds signal atmospheric instability and convection.