Blackpool Lancashire. UK Weather. 10th January 2018. Weather phenomenon as starlings gather on the North Pier at Blackpool in freezing fog as dusk approaches. Tens of thousands of birds still find their way to roost through dense sea coastal fog which is blanketing the coast. One of winter's most amazing spectacles; thousands of starlings mumurating before they roost for the night disappearing into the mists. Credit: MediaWorldImages/Alamy Live News


On the east coast of Scotland sea fog is known locally as haar or North Sea Haar, and it is often said to plague local residents during the Summer. Likewise, it's English counterpart - Fret or Sea Fret can make Summer days on the East coast of England miserable. So why does this weather phenomenon spoil a day that could otherwise be spent on the beach? Where does sea fog come from and how does it form? Sea fog usually occurs between April and September. But is most likely on the east coast of the UK, or over the Northern Isles during early summer, before the sea has started to warm up. It forms when a parcel of warm air passes over the notoriously cold North Sea. The warm air at the bottom of the parcel is cooled by the cold air below, until it can no longer hold the moisture that was previously contained within. Therefore, it releases some of the moisture in the form of liquid water through condensation. Add an onshore component like a wind of 5-20 mph, and the cooling in the bottom of the warm parcel of air is spread upwards and generates a fog; sea fog. Moreover, if the wind is coming from a direction between North and South East, the sea fog will make its journey from the sea over the land.


Size: 2400px × 3600px
Location: Blackpool, United Kingdom
Photo credit: © MediaWorldImages / Alamy / Afripics
License: Royalty Free
Model Released: No

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