<p>It is called frost smoke or steam fog (or a half dozen other names), sea smoke is the same effect just over the ocean. </p>

<p>It is caused by  high moisture saturation and strong temperature differences between the water and the air. <a href="http://glossary.ametsoc.org/wiki/Steam_fog" rel="noreferrer">http://glossary.ametsoc.org/wiki/Steam_fog</a></p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-12-27T03:38:51.960Z
2017-12-27T03:38:51.960Z
John
<p>I was wondering if there was a name for the effect I’ve noticed over a lake in really cold weather.  You can see white wisps over it, which I think is mist from the lake rising into the air and condensing in the cold, sort of like breathing out in cold weather.</p>

<meteorology>
Is there a name for this weather phenomenon?
Tom
# Is there a name for this weather phenomenon?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2017-12-26)

I was wondering if there was a name for the effect I’ve noticed over a lake in really cold weather. You can see white wisps over it, which I think is mist from the lake rising into the air and condensing in the cold, sort of like breathing out in cold weather.

**Tags:** meteorology


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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2017-12-27. Score: 5 | Accepted answer

It is called frost smoke or steam fog (or a half dozen other names), sea smoke is the same effect just over the ocean.

It is caused by high moisture saturation and strong temperature differences between the water and the air. <http://glossary.ametsoc.org/wiki/Steam_fog>


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