Are you wondering why your area is blanketed with thick clouds? It is because there is a fog that is affecting your current area, blocking the sceneries surrounding your physical environment. If fog is announced to stay in your area for a quite some time, you will expect that this phenomenon will likely to stay for several hours before it will dissipate. But if you are currently experiencing a severe weather disturbance, it takes longer hours before you will see the sky again.
If you are living in an area where fog is a frequent phenomenon, this is the right time for you to enjoy the chance of taking several sceneries that will help you improve your memorable events that will create a permanent scene. This includes taking a snapshots of a scenery where there is a fog as a natural effect at the background. Fog plays an important role in our environment because it carries moisture that will help any dry surface to be replenished with water. This is due to the presence of droplets that are floating in the atmosphere that could settle to any surface that it can make a contact whenever it settles down to the surface.
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| A fog yards away from the landscape |
What is a fog?: A fog is an astronomical phenomenon that we commonly observe especially in the afternoon. This is a visible mass that is composed of ice crystals, icy cloud water droplets that are suspended in our atmosphere. Fog is regarded as a form of a cloud that is low-lying enough to reach the planet's surface. When we see this phenomenon, we are blinded by the whitish or greyish colored floating particles that cover our surroundings.
A fog can interrupt our surroundings because it affects the visibility. It can be distractive because it alters our visual capacity to be limited due to the blocking effects of the icy droplets or heavy water vapor suspended in the air. Transportation industries are greatly affected when fog occurs to their pathway. The reason behind is that fog can block any pathways that could risk the flight path or travelling path of any travelling object.
How fog forms?
If the dew point temperature is lower than 3 degrees Celsius, the vapor from liquid or icy substance starts to form. The vapor will then start to become micro-droplets of water that after condensation and then will be suspended or integrated with the air through an upward motion. Water vapor is usually transpired when the Sun's heat will cause the seawaters to evaporate, creating tiny vapors that will rise up and creates fog.
A fog is regarded as a form of a cloud that is low-lying, this is the reason why they have similar formation pattern with the clouds. The duration where fog forms takes a short time if there is no co-existing severe weather. However, if there is an upcoming weather disturbance, the period where fog stays takes longer. Fog is capable of producing precipitation but can be only through drizzle that could humidify the air of the area.
Effects of fog
1. Environmental effects
- Limits visibility: Fog can disrupt atmospherical visibility for at least one kilometer if there is no accompanied weather disturbance. If there is an accompanied weather disturbance such as severe storms, fog can last for at least several more hours to at least few days. Fog can cause risks for accidents for transportation vehicles because the path will be blocked by the vapors. This is the reason why some transportation temporarily delays or postpones flights when there is a thick fog in their area.
- Provides additional moisture: If there is a thick low-lying cloud that takes place in your area, you should be careful because it can provide moisture. This is because the water vapor will be undergoing condensation process wherein bigger droplets will attract together in order to form a larger droplet that creates a new water source. Fog is known to provide an alternative source of moisture that will feed the ecosystem to prevent them from starvation. Animals from the wild depend on fog so that they can have an alternative and safer way to collect water from the environment.
- Cools the temperature: Fog is an effective temperature regulator especially in areas where extreme heat is already hazardous enough to the environment. The vapor will be absorbing the heat from the environment that will be responsible for cooling the temperature. People in the area where fog occurs will have a temporary ease from a stressful and risky environment that is rigged with hot temperature.
2. Health effects
- Causes respiratory distress: The tiny particles of fog can enter to the respiratory tract of a person while they inhale. These particles contain droplets that might cause allergic reactions along the walls of the respiratory tract of the person. Some vapors are composed of living organisms that will be causing infection with the respiratory of the person who inhaled some contaminated droplets from the atmosphere.
- A risk for hypothermia: If an individual will be exposed to a foggy environment, the body will start to adjust by maintaining its body temperature to prevent the person from feeling cold. Hypothermia occurs when a person will be exposed to a longer period of time outside the environment where there is an existing fog that currently affects the environment.
Advice
- It is important to stay indoors when there is a fog so that it will prevent any risks for developing respiratory diseases.
- When driving, switch on your fog light to provide a visual guide that will let you see your pathway under a thick fog.
- Another option when driving is to stop until the path is clear to prevent accidents along the road.
- Wear thick clothing such as jackets when you still need to go outdoors while it is currently foggy outside.
- Drink warm fluids to keep your body's heat on the normal level.
- Wear gloves because icy fog can cause frostbites that can cause permanent damage to your fingers.
- Check for the latest news updates regarding the local weather in your area.
