Follow a droplet. Trace a force. Measure the change. Explore the physical ideas, instruments and evidence behind Weatherhill’s research and infrastructure programs.
06 CHAPTERS / 04 FILMS / 03 MODELS HARDWARE IN DEVELOPMENT · METHODS OPEN TO INSPECTION
WH / MECHANISM VIEW 01INTERACTIVE SCHEMATIC
CONCEPT ILLUSTRATION · NO PERFORMANCE SCALE
Air carries droplets past the collector. Some intercept its surface; others follow the flow around it.
THE IDEA IN ONE MINUTE
MOVE THE WATER. MEASURE THE EFFECT.
Fog is suspended liquid. Our research asks whether physical forces and carefully designed surfaces can change where that liquid goes—and whether the change produces useful water or better optical conditions.
The mechanism must have a destination: a collector, a receiver, a different phase or a measured flow out of the volume. The measurement then tells us whether the effect is useful.
Alongside that physical research, our infrastructure work connects weather exposure with demonstrated readiness. It turns observations and evidence into a defined next decision.
Published science
Mechanisms and definitions supported by linked papers and official references.
Weatherhill development
Proposed instruments and experiments, with their current stage made explicit.
Interactive illustrations
Models and original schematic films. Their output is not experimental evidence.
CHOOSE YOUR DEPTH
INSIDE THE MECHANISMS.
Start with a plain-English explanation, then inspect the equations, comparisons and practical limits.
Try a simple optical model. Lower transmission means stronger extinction over the same path. Changing the measurement distance changes what the same transmission means.
The full chapters explain every symbol and assumption. Explore incoming fog-water flux and air replacement in the other models.
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What clearer air actually means
32 SEC / CAPTIONED / SILENT SCHEMATIC
See how a reference beam becomes an extinction measurement—and why water mass is a different endpoint.
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00–08 seconds — 01 · TRANSMISSION Compare light transmitted through fog with a clear-path reference, using a defined optical path.
08–16 seconds — 02 · EXTINCTION In a homogeneous attenuation model, transmission T gives extinction beta: beta = -ln(T) / L.
16–24 seconds — 03 · DROPLET SIZE Droplet size changes how water scatters light. Equal liquid-water mass does not guarantee equal transmission.
24–32 seconds — 04 · VALIDATION Use matched controls, multiple optical paths and independent days. A single cleared beam does not establish runway visibility.
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From fog to useful water
32 SEC / CAPTIONED / SILENT SCHEMATIC
Track liquid across a collection boundary, including retained water, losses and delivery.
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00–08 seconds — 01 · RESOURCE A fog collector intercepts existing liquid droplets. Harvesting water vapor requires a different phase-change process.
08–16 seconds — 02 · DESTINATIONS Some intercepted water drains; some remains on surfaces or returns to the airflow. Measure each destination.
16–24 seconds — 03 · RECEIVER BALANCE Receiver storage changes with deposition and rainfall minus evaporation, withdrawals and other losses.
24–32 seconds — 04 · USEFUL OUTPUT Report delivered water, energy, maintenance and water quality together. Collected water is not automatically suitable for its intended use.
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From observations to readiness
32 SEC / CAPTIONED / SILENT SCHEMATIC
Connect hazard records, demonstrated controls, missing evidence and a practical next action.
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00–08 seconds — 01 · EXPOSURE Hazard observations describe exposure: which conditions occurred, where, when and at what severity.
08–16 seconds — 02 · READINESS Weatherhill Score assesses readiness across five proposed pillars using control-specific evidence.
16–24 seconds — 03 · EVIDENCE GAPS Missing evidence stays unknown. Critical gaps remain visible even when the other controls score well.
24–32 seconds — 04 · IMPROVEMENT Verified improvements can raise readiness while hazard exposure stays the same. The score is a pilot method, not a proven loss forecast.
A physical effect becomes useful only when it answers the right question. Collected water, a local optical change, sustained field performance and a customer outcome are distinct milestones.
Our first instrument is planned to compare powered and passive collection in measured fog. Future field work has to show where an effect occurs, how long it lasts and what happens as new fog enters.
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