Department of Energy Argonne National Laboratory Office of Science NEWTON's Homepage NEWTON's Homepage
NEWTON, Ask A Scientist!
NEWTON Home Page NEWTON Teachers Visit Our Archives Ask A Question How To Ask A Question Question of the Week Our Expert Scientists Volunteer at NEWTON! Frequently Asked Questions Referencing NEWTON About NEWTON About Ask A Scientist Education At Argonne Fog and Steamy Conditions 
Name: Abby
Status: N/A
Age: N/A
Location: N/A
Country: N/A
Date: N/A
Question:
Last night, right after a heavy rain, A fog formed by the river and we could see our breathe in the air. There was also a 'fog' coming off a sweaty jogger? What was the cause of this?

Replies:
Abby,

The relative humidity of the air must have been very nearly 100%. This is quite likely, as you say that there had just been a heavy rain.

Any addition of water to the air (such as from evaporation from the river, your breath, or evaporation off of the sweaty runner) would saturate the air and cause "fog" to form.

David R. Cook
Climate Research Section
Environmental Science Division
Argonne National Laboratory

Click here to return to the Weather Archives

NEWTON is an electronic community for Science, Math, and Computer Science K-12 Educators, sponsored and operated by Argonne National Laboratory's Educational Programs, Andrew Skipor, Ph.D., Head of Educational Programs.

For assistance with NEWTON contact a System Operator (help@newton.dep.anl.gov), or at Argonne's Educational Programs

NEWTON AND ASK A SCIENTIST
Educational Programs
Building 360
9700 S. Cass Ave.
Argonne, Illinois
60439-4845, USA
Update: June 2012
Weclome To Newton

Argonne National Laboratory