What lifts advection fog into low stratus clouds?

Advection fog, which forms when warm, moist air moves over a cooler surface, can be lifted into low stratus clouds due to the presence of surface winds. When surface winds reach approximately 15 knots or stronger, they help to mix the atmosphere. This mixing can raise the layer of fog, transforming it into low stratus clouds as cooler air interacts with the warmer, moist air aloft.

The process relies on sufficient wind strength to enable this vertical movement. As the winds increase, they can elevate the moisture trapped in the fog and spread it out over a larger area, thus facilitating its transition into a cloud layer. This phenomenon is different from other factors that do not contribute directly to the lifting of fog into stratus clouds. For example, nighttime cooling can lead to the formation of fog but does not specifically lift it into a cloud formation. Similarly, high humidity levels and temperature inversions are related to the presence of fog but do not result in the lifting of that fog into cloud form.