What is a Cloud?

A cloud is a visible body of water that has condensed high in the atmosphere.

When water evaporates from the earth surface, it forms vapour which may move vertically (towards the
sky) or horizontally (along the earth surface) or both vertically and horizontally. It all depends on the
direction and pattern of wind flow in the region.

If the water vapour formed from evaporation moves towards the sky and condenses at high altitudes it
forms a cloud. The vapour condense around dust and smoke particles (called condensation nuclei) to
form clouds. Clouds vary in their height and mass.
MIST

What is a Fog or Mist?

When the condensation (which you read above) occurs close to the earth surface, it forms a fog or mist.
So, a fog or mist is simply a cloud that has formed close to the earth surface.

Therefore, every feeling you get when walking through a fog or mist is what you get when walking
through a cloud. The obscurity and unclearness, the cold and chilling temperature, those are the same
feelings you will get when you walk through the clouds.

What’s the difference between Fog and Mist?

A fog and a mist are the same, the only difference is the extent of unclearness.

If visibility is less than 1,000 metres (a kilometre) geographers call it a 'fog' but if visibility is greater than
a kilometre (1,000 metres) geographers call it 'mist’. It’s as simple as that.

So, clouds, mists and fogs are masses of condensed body of water.
Haze refers to very tiny dry particles (not water) such as dust, smoke etc. which are suspended in the air
and are invisible to the naked eye. If such suspended materials are dense enough to cause unclearness
to the sight, then we can call it haze.

These suspended particles may sometimes cause the red sky which you see at sunset.

Fog is a complex yet basic meteorological occurrence that reduces visibility to less than 1km. There is
always a small amount of water vapor present in the air. But when the tiny aerosol droplets are visible,
they reduce the visibility and that is known as fog. Putting it simply, fog is just a cloud laying very low
near the Earth’s surface. Fog, like clouds, is composed of millions of tiny aerosol droplets or ice crystals.
It forms when cold air near the earth’s surface condenses water vapor within it. These droplets are light
enough to stay suspended in the air.

How is Fog formed?

Thermal radiation cooling of the land when there is a drop in the temperature during the night, which
cools the air near the surface, is a typical essential condition for fog development. This decreases the
ability of the air to contain moisture or water vapor, which are generally present in the air. It is usually
known as humidity. When the air becomes saturated with water vapor, water drops begin to condense.
In other words, the gas reverts to the liquid state or water. When these water droplets remain
suspended in the air, they form fog, a dense cloud. As a result, fog is described as a visible mass
composed of cloud water droplets floating in the air or near the ground.

Types of Fog

There are various kinds of fog, and each one forms under a particular set of circumstances based on
where it comes from and how it forms. Six distinct types of fog are identified worldwide. On the Indian
landmass, however, there are typically two types of fog.

Radiation fog- The water vapor close to the cold ground condenses as it cools at night under clear, cold,
and generally calm conditions. This fog is a localized occurrence that occurs usually in the morning and
lasts for a few hours.

Advection fog- It is created when humid, hot air travels over a cold surface and cools. When it occurs,
the air can no longer retain water and condenses, resulting in fog.

What is smog?

Smog is a mixture of fog, smoke and particulate matter. All the non-meteorological occurrences like
stubble burning activities, vehicular emissions, and many more, lead to the generation of smog. Inhaling
fog would not affect your health, whereas, on the other hand, inhaling smog can cause serious health
issues.
When fog is already present in the air, it contains moisture. Smoke and particulates adhere to the
moisture particles, further limiting visibility.

What is smog made of?

Smog is a deadly mixture of smoke and fog. As mentioned above, fog is a form of cloud on the earth’s
surface containing tiny water droplets. These water droplets have the ability to stay suspended in the air
for hours. Smog is an intense form of air pollution, consisting of various harmful toxic gasses such as
sulfur dioxide, soot and benzene. The smoke, which would otherwise have been hanging higher in the
sky, and the dust particles, which would have landed on the ground, remain suspended in the air as they
mix with the fog and generate a photochemical reaction.
VISIBILITY AFFECTS NAVIGATION