steam fog

steam fog

[′stēm ‚fäg]

(meteorology)

Fog formed when water vapor is added to air which is much colder than the vapor's source; most commonly, when very cold air drifts across relatively warm water. Also known as frost smoke; sea mist; sea smoke; steam mist; water smoke.

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific & Technical Terms, 6E, Copyright © 2003 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

steam fog

A type of fog that occurs on water surfaces and appears as steam or condensed water vapor. This type of fog is formed when very cold air passes across a warmer water surface and mixes with the warm air there. For the fog to occur, the temperature should be low—usually around the freezing point or lower—and there should be a marked inversion in the air before it moves over the water.

An Illustrated Dictionary of Aviation Copyright © 2005 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved