Fog and Haze - Meaning, Facts

Fog and Haze

Condensed water vapour from clouds, or water droplets, are what create fog and haze, two atmospheric conditions that reduce visibility to some extent. Despite sharing a similar composition, fog and haze differ slightly from one another in terms of density and how much visibility is affected. Fog restricts visibility to more than a kilometer, whereas mist limits sight to less than a kilometer. This is because fog is denser than mist and hence has a bigger impact on visibility.

Due to the fact that both are merely different thicknesses of clouds, the two names are frequently used interchangeably. Take a peek at this page to learn more about what it means.

Meaning of Fog and Haze

A shallow, dense cloud known as fog is made up of small water globules floating in the atmosphere.

A mist is a cloud made of small water vapour droplets floating in the atmosphere at ground level as a result of temperature inversions or variations in humidity.

Density

Fog has High density

Haze has far less density as compared to Fog.

Visibility

In fog situation, the visibility is hardly approximately a kilometer.

In mist situation, the visibility is restricted to a distance more than a kilometer.

Longevity

Fog has a longer existence.

Haze doesn't last long.

Fog is simply condensed water vapour suspended in the atmosphere that forms an opaque film close to the Earth's surface and reduces visibility. It is a complicated atmospheric phenomenon that is significantly influenced by nearby bodies of water, wind speed, geography, etc.

A certain quantity of water can be held by air, and the more heat there is, the more water it can hold. After a certain point, the air starts to cool and as the temperature approaches the dew point, it starts to condense, and fog occurs. The more water that is in the air, the more humid it becomes.

Fog cannot form if humidity, temperature, and pressure are not present. Water, as we all know, needs a surface devoid of gas to transform from a gas to a liquid. And they create this surface with a tenth of a single drop. Condensation nuclei or cloud seeds are the names given to these tiny components. Condensation nuclei or cloud seeds are created by the combination of dust, dirt, aerosols, and all contaminants. If there are plenty of these tiny particles in the environment, water vapour condensation will begin even when the relative humidity is below 100%.

The droplets we see happen when the warm water droplets are abruptly cooled. Haze is frequently detected when the warm, moist air perceived is quickly cooled. Airborne emissions during the winter are the most typical example of haze.

North India’s fog situation

The regions of the nation most affected by fog are Delhi, North Haryana, South Punjab, West Uttar Pradesh, and North Bihar. In these places, there is a definite relationship between pollution, land use, and fog frequency. In a city like Delhi, where there are many contaminants in the air, there is a lot of surface area where water vapour can condense and generate fog. However, in rural areas, irrigation of fields supplies more moisture than is required for fog. Fog and haze are caused by a number of factors, including severe pollution in the region in addition to topographical and meteorological factors.

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Story: Staff Blaze