Fog is an atmospheric phenomenon.
Fog is a cloud that is found near the surface and that, due to the concentration of the droplets that make it up, hinders normal vision . When the fog is very low and its thickness is reduced, it is called fog .
It can be said, therefore, that the fog is a meteor : that is, an atmospheric phenomenon . More precisely, it is a hydrometeor , since it is generated by water (in this case, the droplets that form clouds).
Fog appears when, in the atmosphere , there are suspended droplets of up to two hundred micrometers. This reduces horizontal visibility to a kilometer or a little more .
Differences between fog and mist
The difference between fog and mist is given by the intensity of the particles and, therefore, by the level of visibility . When the meteor allows a vision of no more than one kilometer, it is defined as fog. On the other hand, if it is possible to see more than a kilometer horizontally, it is fog.
Due to its concentration of particles, the fog does not prevent the passage of the sun 's rays, which are still visible. Fog, on the other hand, hides rays due to its high particle density.
Fog makes vision difficult.
Its consequences
It is important to keep in mind that both fog and fog generate various inconveniences, especially fog because it further reduces visibility. When these phenomena are recorded, it is essential to drive with maximum caution , at low speed and with the lights on to minimize the risk of an accident , for example.
Fog affects daily activities, but especially the use of vehicles and that is why there are various tips that should be followed to minimize the probability of accidents on public roads . One of the worst aspects of this weather phenomenon is that it can take us by surprise, especially if we are not paying attention to the weather forecast. If we add to this the need to arrive early to work, for example, rushing can lead to misfortune.
In an urban landscape, fog tends to hide the peaks of cathedrals and the highest floors of buildings, fills green spaces with mist and makes it especially difficult to see cars on the road. One of the tools we have at hand when driving is the fog light , which is projected closer to the ground , below the bank that forms the fog. This light beam is flat, so that it produces a minimum degree of reflection, and wide, to illuminate parts of the road more effectively.
Precautions against fog
If our vehicle does not have fog lights, we can use the low beams instead. Their effectiveness is not the same, since they were not designed to solve all the problems caused by fog on the road, but it is always superior to that offered by high beams, whose use is prohibited during days of lower visibility . We can change between one and the other gradually, testing its effects if we believe that the weather has improved.
As mentioned in a previous paragraph, one of the worst decisions we can make on a foggy day is to allow the rush to get the best of us. Therefore, regardless of our commitments, we must reduce speed in accordance with the regulations and our common sense. The risk that comes with driving quickly on a foggy or foggy day is a collision with another car or with an element that we detect when it is too close to us.
To increase visibility, it is also recommended to use the car defroster. Of course, this can become a source of distraction , so we must regulate its speed and frequency as necessary.