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Harefield, England, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

Latitude: 51° 35' 11'' N

Longitude: 0° 29' 9'' W

03 November 2016 0734 (Local Time)
Camera direction: towards SSE

Image P/S code: P.11.1.1.5

Image I.D.: 5188

Evaporation fog
Evaporation fog is formed when cold, stable air moves over a much warmer body of water. Evaporation from the relatively warm water saturates the cold air above. Water vapour then condenses in the cold air, producing “steam fog”.

This picture shows evaporation fog, or steam fog, formed over the water of the Grand Union Canal at Harefield in southern England, UK. The air temperature over the surrounding countryside fell by the end of the night to around, or just above, 0 °C. There was mist in some places, but in general radiation fog did not form over fields. However, the evaporation from water surfaces such as streams, rivers and, in this case, canals provided the very localized saturation necessary to form fog.
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© George Anderson
Harefield, England, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Latitude: 51° 35' 11'' N
Longitude: 0° 29' 9'' W
03 November 2016 0734 (Local Time)

Camera direction: towards SSE
Image P/S code: P.11.1.1.5
Image I.D.: 5188
The 0000 UTC upper-air sounding from Herstmonceux in south-east England, UK shows a nocturnal cooling inversion near the surface. Above the surface, the air in the lower atmosphere was relatively dry.
© University of Wyoming
Shallow evaporation fog
As the early morning Sun warmed wet soil, evaporation saturated the cold air immediately above the ground. Water vapour condensed in the cold air, producing this shallow “steam fog”.
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© Rodney Hale
Houghton Conquest, England, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Latitude: 52° 4' 5'' N
Longitude: 0° 28' 18'' W
27 August 2014 0750 (Local Time)

Camera direction: towards SE
Image P/S code: S.11.1.1.5
Image I.D.: 4854
Steam fog/evaporation fog
Evaporation fog is formed when cold, stable air moves over a much warmer body of water. Evaporation from the relatively warm water saturates the cold air above and water vapour condenses in the cold air, producing “steam fog”.

This picture shows steam fog, formed over the Grand Union Canal at Harefield in southern England, UK. The air temperature over the surrounding countryside fell by the end of the night to around, or just above, 0 °C. There was mist in some places, but in general radiation fog did not form over fields. However, the evaporation from water surfaces such as streams, rivers and, in this case, canals provided the very localized saturation necessary to form fog.
Links in the image description will highlight features on the image. Mouse over the features for more detail.
© George Anderson
Harefield, England, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Latitude: 51° 35' 6'' N
Longitude: 0° 29' 8'' W
03 November 2016 0740 (Local Time)

Camera direction: towards E
Image P/S code: P.11.1.1.5.1
Image I.D.: 5187
Steam devil rising from evaporation fog/steam fog
A steam devil rises above evaporation fog over a small river.

A steam devil is a small, gently whirling column of saturated air of varying height, with a small diameter and approximately vertical axis, that forms when cold air is over a relatively much warmer body of water or saturated surface. Steam devils are typically seen in association with evaporation fog (steam fog or Arctic sea smoke). They are typically about 1 m in diameter and several metres high.
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© Kristen Bobo
Cane Creek, Van Buren County, Tennessee, United States of America
Latitude: 35° 48' 42'' N
Longitude: 85° 26' 29'' W
05 September 2010 0807 (Local Time)

Image P/S code: S.11.3.5
Image I.D.: 5461
Steam devils in steam fog/evaporation fog
In this picture, several steam devil vortices are seen at 1, 2, 3 and 4 rising from evaporation fog over a small river. Steam devils are small, gently whirling columns of saturated air of varying height, with a small diameter and approximately vertical axis, that form when cold air is over a relatively much warmer body of water or saturated surface. Steam devils are typically seen in association with evaporation fog (steam fog or Arctic sea smoke). The vortices are about 1 m in diameter and several metres high.
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© Kristen Bobo
Cane Creek, Van Buren County, Tennessee, United States of America
Latitude: 35° 48' 42'' N
Longitude: 85° 26' 29'' W
05 September 2010 0806 (Local Time)

Image P/S code: P.11.3.5
Image I.D.: 5462
Arctic sea smoke
A very cold, Arctic air mass was present over the unfrozen and relatively warmer water of Saint John Harbour in New Brunswick, Canada. Arctic sea smoke, or steam fog, formed over the water and drifted south-east on a light north-westerly wind.

Sea smoke is a type of evaporation fog formed when cold stable air moves over a much warmer body of water. Evaporation from the relatively warm water saturates the cold air above and the water vapour condenses, producing steam fog, or sea smoke.
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© Eric Van Lochem
Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada
Latitude: 45° 16' 24'' N
Longitude: 66° 3' 48'' W
06 January 2015 0830 (Local Time)

Camera direction: towards SW
Image P/S code: S.11.1.1.5.1 6
Image I.D.: 5512
Arctic sea smoke
A very cold Arctic air mass (-20 °C) was present over the unfrozen waters of the Bay of Fundy, New Brunswick, Canada. In comparison, the sea was relatively warm, with a difference of around 30 °C between the sea surface temperature and the air temperature at 2 m. Steam fog, or Arctic sea smoke, formed over the water and drifted south-east on a light north-westerly wind. Snow showers occurred to the lee of the bay, over Nova Scotia (beyond the background Cumulus clouds).
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© Eric Van Lochem
Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada
Latitude: 45° 16' 24'' N
Longitude: 66° 3' 48'' W
06 January 2015 0730 (Local Time)

Camera direction: towards S
Image P/S code: S.11.1.1.5.1 7
Image I.D.: 5513
Arctic sea smoke
This photograph shows steam fog, or Arctic sea smoke, over the waters of the Bay of Fundy between mainland New Brunswick and Grand Manan Island, New Brunswick, Canada. This is an evaporation fog, caused when cold air moves over a much warmer body of water. In this particular example, the air temperature was around –16 °C, while the sea surface temperature was about 8 °C. Evaporation from the relatively warm water saturated the cold air above and water vapour condensed in the cold air, producing the steam fog, or sea smoke. Cumulus clouds also formed above as a result of thermal instability in the boundary layer.
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© Eric Van Lochem
Blacks Harbour, New Brunswick, Canada
Latitude: 45° 3' 32'' N
Longitude: 66° 47' 6'' W
09 January 2017 1000 (Local Time)

Camera direction: towards N
Image P/S code: S.11.1.1.5.1 8
Image I.D.: 5535

Evaporation fog

Shallow evaporation fog

Steam fog/evaporation fog

Steam devil rising from evaporation fog/steam fog

Steam devils in steam fog/evaporation fog

Arctic sea smoke

Arctic sea smoke

Arctic sea smoke