Visakhapatnam: A rare meteorological phenomenon known as “arctic sea smoke” was seen along the Beach Road in Visakhapatnam. Appearing like a dramatic fog-like condition, it has captured the attention of residents and weather experts alike.The dense fog, clearly visible to the naked eye, appeared as a misty cover surrounding the coastal area following the recent rainfall in the region. Although some may consider it just typical fog, meteorologists clarify that this is a natural phenomenon that requires particular atmospheric conditions. P. Sunitha, a professor from the meteorology department in Andhra University, explained the science behind this phenomenon. “There are two key conditions that create this effect – the land-sea temperature differential and sea breeze patterns,” she said. She added that this phenomenon arises from temperature fluctuations between daytime and nighttime. “In the daytime, the land experiences high temperatures, whereas the night brings cooler weather. Throughout the day in the morning, afternoon, evening, and early morning, there are always temperature variations of 1 to 3 degrees Celsius,” Sunitha said. She identified the specific meteorological condition as “Arctic fog,” which forms when cooling conditions meet warm temperature zones. It doesn’t produce rain but converts into a kind of fog, causing this unique phenomenon. She assured residents that the phenomenon is generally not harmful to health. However, she cautioned that if pollution levels are high and the fog mixes with sulfuric acid or nitrogen compounds, it could potentially affect the respiratory system. “Sometimes, it can convert into acid rain, which usually does not occur in Andhra Pradesh, especially Visakhapatnam, but is more common in areas like Telangana,” she noted Vizag Weathermen, through his social media platform, provided additional insight into the phenomenon. He said that sea smoke, also known as arctic sea smoke or steam fog, forms when very cold air moves over relatively warmer seawater. He said the formation process begins when freezing or near-freezing air moves over warmer ocean water, causing the warmer water to evaporate into the colder air above it. When the warm moisture rises into the cooler air, it quickly cools down and transforms into small water droplets, leading to the creation of fog that hovers just above the water’s surface. This fog looks as though it is “steaming” or “smoking” from the water, resulting in its unique smoky look, which gives name to this phenomenon.
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