Southport, Merseyside, UK. 7th March, 2015. UK Weather: Rare occurrence of Coastal Sea Fog or Haar on Ainsdale Beach, at high tide. Cold sea-mists are generally expected in the winter on the east coast of Scotland and North-East England where it can continue for several miles inland, but it is much rarer on the west coast. The phenomenon occurs when warmer moist air moves over the relatively cooler North Sea causing the moisture in the air to condense, forming haar, hoar, har, harl, or sea fret caused by the movement of moist air lying over a warm landmass.
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. Sea fog is fog that originates over marine environments such as lakes, sounds, or the ocean.
Size: 2400px × 3600px
Location: Southport, UK
Photo credit: © MediaWorldImages / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
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