| Term: | ice fog |
| Definition: |
A type of fog, composed of suspended particles of ice, partly ice crystals 20 to 100 m in diameter, but chiefly, especially when dense, droxtals 12?20 m in diameter. It occurs at very low temperatures, and usually in clear, calm weather in high latitudes. The sun is usually visible and may cause halo phenomena. Ice fog is rare at temperatures warmer than -30?C, and increases in frequency with decreasing temperature until it is almost always present at air temperatures of -45?C in the vicinity of a source of water vapor. Such sources are the open water of fast-flowing streams or of the sea, herds of animals, volcanoes, and especially products of combustion for heating or propulsion. At temperatures warmer than -30?C, these sources can cause steam fog of liquid water droplets, which may turn into ice fog when cooled (see frost smoke). See ice-crystal haze, arctic mist. |