Find out why fog is one of Menlo Park’s best friends at USGS lecture on July 31

Growing up in Menlo Park, my house faced West toward the hills. My mother would use that vantage point to reliably predict summer heat — or lack thereof.

The best summer days, from a comfortable temperature viewpoint, occurred when the fog from the Coast would extend inland, reliably burning off by 11:00 am or so. The second best was when the bank would hover on the hilltops, reassuring my heat-averse mother that it wouldn’t get too hot.

The USGS in Menlo Park reminds us that “fog is more than just nature’s air conditioning keeping Bay Area residents cool while others in California bake in the summer’s heat; it is also extremely valuable for the local economy for everything from wine production to tourism.”

On Thursday, July 31st, USGS Physical Scientist Alicia Torregrosa will tell us about the importance of coastal fog to animals and people and how it helps to maintain a vibrant ecosystem that benefits all living things in the area. She will also answer age old questions such as:

• Is July the foggiest month?
• How do ocean conditions from Tahiti to Alaska, change summertime fog for northern California?
• Where is the foggiest place in the Bay Area?

You will also hear how USGS scientists are using new analyses and satellite sensors to understand the dynamics of fog.

The free public lecture will take place at 7:00 pm at the U.S. Geological Survey, Building 3 Auditorium, 345 Middlefield Rd. in Menlo Park.

Note: The fog photo that accompanies this post was taken by Menlo Park-based photographer Frances Freyberg; it is used here for illustrative purposes only and is not part of the USGS lecture.