What are the different types of fog?

Radiation fog

Radiation fog usually occurs in the winter, aided by clear skies and calm conditions. The cooling of land overnight by thermal radiation cools the air close to the surface. This reduces the ability of the air to hold moisture, allowing condensation and fog to occur. Radiation fog usually dissipates soon after sunrise as the ground warms. An exception to this can be in high elevation areas where the Sun has little influence in heating the surface.

Valley fog

Valley fog forms where cold dense air settles into the lower parts of a valley, condensing and forming fog. It is often the result of a temperature inversion, with warmer air passing above the valley. Valley fog is confined by local topography and can last for several days in calm conditions during the winter.

Advection fog

Advection fog occurs when moist, warm air passes over a colder surface and is cooled. A common example of this is when a warm front passes over an area with snow cover. It is also common at sea when moist tropical air moves over cooler waters. If the wind blows in the right direction, then sea fog can become transported over coastal land areas.

Upslope fog

Upslope fog or hill fog forms when winds blow air up a slope (called orographic uplift). The air cools as it rises, allowing moisture in it to condense.

Evaporation fog

Evaporation fog is caused by cold air passing over warmer water or moist land. It often causes freezing fog, or sometimes frost. When some of the relatively warm water evaporates into low air layers, it warms the air, causing it to rise and mix with the cooler air that has passed over the surface. The warm, moist air cools as it mixes with the colder air, allowing condensation and fog to occur.

Evaporation fog can be one of the most localised forms of fog. It can happen when:

  • Cold air moves over heated outdoor swimming pools or hot tubs, where steam fog easily forms.
  • Cold fronts or cool air masses move over warm seas. This often occurs in autumn when sea temperatures are still relatively warm after the summer, but the air is already starting to cool.