What environmental condition may cause advection fog to lift into low stratus clouds?

When considering the environmental conditions that may cause advection fog to lift into low stratus clouds, surface winds of approximately 15 knots or stronger are significant. The mechanics behind this involve the movement of air and its impact on moisture content.

Advection fog forms when warm, moist air moves over a cooler surface and cools to the point of saturation, creating fog. When surface winds reach around 15 knots or stronger, they can help to mix the air layers, causing a shift in how the air moves. This increased wind speed facilitates the dispersion of the fog, allowing it to rise. As the fog lifts, conditions can lead to the formation of stratus clouds, which are characterized by a more uniform, layered appearance.

In contrast to this, other conditions such as temperature drops or increased humidity levels are generally responsible for fog formation or persistence, but do not necessarily contribute to lifting it into cloud cover. Cumulus cloud formation indicates a different atmospheric condition altogether, typically occurring under conditions where strong thermal updrafts are present, which is not directly related to the lifting of fog into stratus clouds.