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fog

vr.tr.fog · thing-q37477

Let an agent handle fog through its type, visibility and duration, which matter for transport safety and forecasting.

Thing Registry Physical world and living systems PHY.FLW
Bundle → Layer → Finding → QuestionsClassifiersWhat it isWhy it existsDistinguishing featuresWhat robots and AI may and may not doMoral aspectsOwnersLinks to other meta-modelsIdentity and identifiersDirect propertiesRecognitionCapabilities and actionsHazards and failure modesStandards and interfacesContext of useSources

Bundle → Layer → Finding → Questions Filled

4 bundles · 8 layers · 8 findings · 16 questions

Formation How the fog formed.

Type

Radiation, advection, upslope.

Fog type

The formation process.

  1. What type of fog is this? definition
  2. What conditions formed it? definition

Lifecycle

Onset and dissipation.

Timing

When it formed and when it will clear.

  1. When did it form, and when is it expected to clear? measurement
  2. What would make it persist? boundary
Observation Measuring visibility.

Visibility

Measured visibility.

Visibility reading

The visibility value and instrument.

  1. What is the visibility, and how was it measured? measurement
  2. How patchy is the fog? measurement

Reports

METAR and SYNOP codes.

Coded report

The coded reports.

  1. How is this fog reported in METAR or SYNOP? provenance
  2. What does the report miss? boundary
Transport impact Effects on travel.

Roads

Driving in fog.

Road guidance

Rules and advice for drivers.

  1. What rules apply to driving in fog here? provenance
  2. When should travel be avoided? action

Aviation and shipping

Visibility minima.

Operational minima

Minima and procedures.

  1. Which visibility minima apply at this airport or port? measurement
  2. What procedures apply below them? action
Other effects Health, ecosystems and water.

Health

Fog and pollution.

Health effects

Interaction with pollutants.

  1. Does this fog trap pollutants, forming smog? boundary
  2. Who should be advised? action

Fog water

Fog collection and ecosystems.

Water yield

Water gathered from fog.

  1. How much water can fog collectors yield here? measurement
  2. Which ecosystems depend on fog? definition

Classifiers Filled

Family
Thing Registry
Category
Physical world and living systems
Entry kind
thing
Plane
PHY
Domain
PHY.FLW
Other names and narrower kinds
artificial fog, freezing fog, Fog in higher levels, ground fog, radiation fog, whiteout, blowing snow, mist, Haar, ice fog, sea smoke, garúa

What it is Filled

A cloud of tiny water droplets or ice crystals suspended in the air at or near the ground, reducing horizontal visibility below 1 km.

Why it exists Filled

Let an agent handle fog through its type, visibility and duration, which matter for transport safety and forecasting.

Distinguishing features Filled

  • Fog is defined by visibility below 1 km at the surface.
  • Fog is a cloud at ground level consisting of suspended liquid water droplets or, in ice fog, ice crystals.
  • Fog is classified by formation processes including radiation, advection, upslope cooling and evaporation.
  • Fog is distinct from smog and haze, which are pollution aerosols.

What robots and AI may and may not do Filled

Must not

  • Operate a vehicle, vessel or drone in fog beyond its sensing and stopping limits.
  • Present a forecast of clear visibility as certain when fog is possible.
  • Switch off fog signals, lights or warning systems on roads, ports or airfields.

Only with a human decision

  • Closing a road, port or airfield because of fog, or reopening it.

May

  • Report fog, visibility and forecasts from official meteorological sources.
  • Slow down, use lights and keep distance when operating a vehicle it is authorized to drive in fog.

Moral aspects Filled

  • Sudden fog causes pile-ups; warnings save lives only if they are timely and honest.

Who is affected

  • Drivers, pilots and mariners
  • Passengers and road users

Owners Filled

Steward

Nobody owns fog; national meteorological services forecast it and traffic authorities manage its risks.

Links to other meta-models Filled

parent

  • Q104541 - registry parent class
  • Q1972098 - registry parent class
  • Q40526 - registry parent class

related

  • aerosol - water droplets suspended in air
  • cloud - cloud at the surface
  • mist and haze - mist is thinner; haze is dry particles
  • transport - visibility limits for roads, aviation and shipping

What else AI and robots need to interact with it Filled

Identity and identifiers required Filled

  • Vercy registry: vr.tr.fog
  • Wikidata: Q37477 (https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q37477)
  • WMO present weather code: codes 40-49 in SYNOP fog reports
  • METAR code: FG, BR, FZFG aviation weather reports

Direct properties required Filled

  • visibility: below 1000 m - dense fog below 50-200 m depending on the service
  • droplet diameter: 1-40 micrometres
  • liquid water content: 0.05-0.5 g/m3

Recognition required Filled

  • Visibility below 1 km near the ground
  • Mist is similar but thinner, with visibility of 1 km or more
  • Low cloud touching high ground is fog to people on the hill
  • A grey or white veil near the ground that hides distant objects; freezing fog leaves rime on surfaces.

Capabilities and actions required Filled

  • forecast it, especially radiation fog overnight
  • observe it, as visibility in weather reports
  • plan around it, for aviation, shipping and roads
  • harvest water from it, with fog collectors in dry regions

Hazards and failure modes required Filled

  • Multi-vehicle collisions in sudden fog
  • Flight delays and diversions
  • Ship collisions in reduced visibility
  • Icing from freezing fog

Standards and interfaces required Filled

  • WMO Manual on Codes
  • ICAO Annex 3 meteorological service for aviation
  • Road traffic rules on fog lights and speed in fog

Context of use required Filled

  • Describing and forecasting a weather condition that disrupts transport and affects health and ecosystems.
  • radiation fog
  • advection fog
  • upslope fog
  • freezing fog
  • ice fog
  • steam fog

Sources Filled

  1. Wikidata item Q37477: fog - identity and sense of the item
  2. Wikipedia: Fog - general description of the item

Open questions

  • Should fog types be separate entries?
  • How should visibility thresholds differ by service and jurisdiction?
  • How should fog forecasts be expressed for agents advising drivers?

Machine files

Card as JSON Specification Card backlog vercy.card/1

Provenance

thing registry research (pass 2) · unreviewed

Built from: models/things/publications/thing-q37477/spec.json