On the performance of microlysimeters to measure non-rainfall water input in a hyper-arid environment with focus on fog contribution

Abstract The measurement of non-rainfall atmospheric water input (NRWI) in arid environments requires instruments that are capable to detect even smallest amounts of total daily water input of less than 0.1 mm. Microlysimeters yield robust and high precision data of such low NRWI. We provide a technical description of a self-constructed microlysimeter and demonstrate its excellent performance regarding the analysis of NRWI in the Central Namib Desert. Three stations of the FogNet measurement network have been equipped with microlysimeters in order to measure fog deposition. NRWI and evaporation for days/nights without fog shows a persistent diurnal course. Deviations from this baseline define the amount of fog deposition, intensity and duration of a fog events. A more detailed analysis of a five-day period reveals the complex nature and variation between individual fog events with respect to the different patterns of fog deposition and fog precipitation and the contribution of adsorption, dew and fog to NRWI. The relation between fog precipitation and fog deposition is not straightforward and a simple parameterization of the processes that quantifies the amount of the water sampled by fog collectors and its connection to NRWI is still lacking.