We will address the potential role of fog as a vector of important materials through answering the following questions. Q1) What are the spatial and temporal patterns of concentrations of inorganic nutrients, biological molecules (i.e. algal toxins) and chemical contaminants in California coastal fog water? Q2) What are the spatiotemporal dynamics of fog-borne prokaryotic and eukaryotic microbes, and which environmental factors affect their viability and production rates? Q3) What are the identities of the emissions sources that are influencing the concentration of contaminants in fog water? Q4) What are the atmosphere-to-surface fluxes for the materials of interest in fog drip? 

We will collect fog water samples, atmospheric particulate matter, and lichen bioindicators across a network of sites in California. The presence of a broad range of chemical and biological materials will be evaluated using multidisciplinary and novel tools. 

From May to August (typical coastal fog season) we will 

• Deploy three autonomous fog collectors (CASCC-AFC) at carefully selected locations to simultaneously collect fog water samples on an event basis for analysis of the chemical and biological constituents.

• Sample atmospheric particulate matter (PM) on glass fiber filters over 3-7 intervals. 

• Sample lichen bioindicators will be sampled at each fog collecting location as a one-time activity. 

• Collected 1-min weather data and daily back trajectory analysis to determine where foggy air masses originated. 

• Measure fog water deposition to a standard fog collector to both allow for calculating fog fluxes to the surface and to compare with satellite images of fog and low cloud cover (FLCC).