How do fog and dew provide water in coastal deserts such as the Namib Desert?

In coastal deserts like the Namib Desert, where traditional rainfall is scarce, fog and dew serve as vital sources of moisture for the ecosystem.12

Mechanisms of Moisture Collection

• Fog: Moisture droplets from fog settle onto the surfaces of plants. Once collected, this water may drip onto the soil to be absorbed by roots or be taken up directly by plant shoots. This process is essential for the survival of highly succulent vegetation in coastal regions. Many endemic animals in these environments also rely on fog to meet their water requirements.132
• Dew: Dew forms on clear, calm nights when surfaces exposed to the sky lose heat through radiation, cooling below the dew point and causing atmospheric water vapor to condense. While dew is less significant in the arid central parts of continents, it can be a primary moisture source for plants and animals in certain desert and semiarid regions. Some plants, such as mosses, lichens, and certain flowering resurrection plants, are specifically adapted to absorb this moisture directly through their aboveground parts.415