Researchers study changes in Central Coast fog belt By Caitlin Fillmore
As fog rolls in on California’s Central Coast, it blankets farming regions from Sonoma to Monterey counties. The “fog belt” con-
ditions help nourish strawberry crops, reducing their de- mand for water and at times allowing farmers to cut irri-
With diminished fog along the Central Coast, researchers
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gation by 25%, said Sara Baguskas, a San Francisco State University professor of geography and the environment. Baguskas, who has studied fog-plant interactions, including agricultural ben- efits, since 2008, is part of a research team from multiple institutions focusing on characteristics of coastal fog. The goal is to maximize fog as a resource for farming and water supplies. The researchers are also monitoring potential impacts of reduced fog due to climate change. “Fog is a fundamental phenomenon,” said Dan Fernandez, an environmental sci- ence professor and researcher who heads the Fernandez Fog Lab at California State University, Monterey Bay. “Fog could have precipitation benefits, but it’s part of the water cycle that is not often considered.” Anecdotal and scientific data suggest
from multiple California universities are studying fog pattern changes to address water scarcity and gauge potential climate impacts.
California’s coastal fog has diminished during the last 30 years, Baguskas said. “Research does not indicate that fog will disappear, but we are uncertain how coast- al fog may change in the future,” she said. “Increasing communication between agri- culturalists who observe local meteorology
on a daily basis and researchers who are trying to understand its patterns will enrich our understanding of how coastal fog may be impacted by climate change.” For the past 50 years, fog research has primarily focused on fog’s ecological im- pact. As temperatures across California are
predicted to steadily rise, fog’s relevance to water scarcity, including for agriculture, holds new relevance, researchers say. Fernandez and a fog study team— including students from Cal State
See FOG, Page 12
10 Ag Alert May 15, 2024
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