Why does air cool more slowly after fog has formed?

Question

*Must give two reasons for full points!

Answer 1

The primary reason why air cools more slowly while fog is forming is because of thermodynamics. The process that forms fog, condensation, is exothermic, that is, it releases heat to the environment, which reduces the rate of cooling.

http://okfirst.ocs.ou.edu/train/meteorology/HeatTransfer.html

A secondary reason why air would cool more slowly while fog is forming (or while it exists), is that the fog absorbs a portion of the outgoing thermal radiation from the earth's surface. This lowers heat loss due to radiative cooling.

But the primary reason that cooling is reduced while fog is forming would be due to thermodynamics.

Answer 2

1)moisture in the air retains heat better than when there is little moisture (it gets cold quickly when the sun goes down in the desert)

2)if fog forms then heat from the earth is reflected back towards the earth

and third do your own homework next time


the 4th is condensation creates heat, but full points should go to first correct answer of at least 2, which is the first answeer given

Answer 3

The formation of the fog means that condensation is taking place. This process releases a small amount of heat. The fog then acts to trap any heat (longwave radiation) being emitted from the ground.

Answer 4

(1) Fog does not allow sun's rays to penetrate and heat the surface and the air above it .
(2)During the formation of fog,water vapour condenses on condensation nuclei releasing latent heat of condensation which prevents the surface and the air above it from cooling.