Recently, the streets of Shandong Province (China) were shrouded in a thick, dark layer of fog, resembling cotton, which obscured visibility and created a strange, even frightening atmosphere. Many locals expressed that they had never seen such a sight before. How can this phenomenon be explained?
Weather-related events can affect many people, at least within a region, which always draws the attention of individuals everywhere.
Here is the video:
According to meteorologists, what people observed, while resembling clouds, was actually a special type of fog known as stratus fog.
As stated by the UK Meteorological Agency, stratus fog occurs when warm, moist air moves over a colder surface, causing the air to cool. For example, a mass of warm air passing over a snow-covered area can create this fog. Stratus fog is also commonly seen at sea when warm air moves over cooler water. Depending on the wind direction, fog from the sea can also be pushed inland.
Unlike typical fog that tends to remain stationary, stratus fog can move horizontally, making it appear more like clouds floating low in the city.
Furthermore, stratus fog can form at any time of day, with evening conditions making it appear darker, and it can persist for several hours to many days, not easily dissipating even when temperatures rise during the day, unlike other types of fog.
Stratus fog can look very much like clouds enveloping the city. (Photo: WHAS).
Regarding its impact on human life, stratus fog is typically “thicker” than other types of fog, resulting in visibility dropping to near zero (or zero). Therefore, residents are advised against driving during times of stratus fog due to the dangers it poses.
