Difference Between Fog and Mist

The major difference between Fog and Mist is that fog is much dense and thicker as compared to mist. It is sometimes difficult to understand the difference between both. They both are created by water droplets. The difference is only in their location and density. The density of fog is more as compared to mist, thus it lasts longer.

Fog reaches ground level even if it is a hill or mountain. Mist is created by a temperature inversion, changes in humidity, activities like a volcano. Fog reduces its visibility to less than one kilometer on the other side, a mist can reduce till one and two-kilometer. Thus, fog is much more visible as compared to mist. They both are made from clouds. Fog lasts longer as compared to mist.

The key differences between fog and mist are as follows

Difference between Fog and Mist

Character	Fog	Mist
Definition	Fog is defined as the thick layer of cloud, that appears at the surface level, and is a composition of small droplets of water suspended in the air.	Mist is defined as the layer of cloud, that is created due to the volcanic activities, changes in the level of temperature and humidity.
Density	The density of fog is always thick as compared to mist.	The density of mist is comparatively low as compared to Fog.
Durability	Fog last for longer period.	Mist last for a short time.
Visibility	It is visible for less than one kilometre.	It is visible between one to two kilometres.

Fog

Fog is a thick layer of cloud at the lower surface and generally created by a water body like a lake, moist ground, or ocean. It takes place when the difference between dew point and air temperature is less than 2.5 degrees celsius.
Fog is created when gas liquefies into small water droplets that are suspended in the air.

This process includes the intersection of the water vapor to the air into the areas of upward motion, daytime heating or evaporating water from the surface of oceans, or wetland. cool air moving over mild or hot water, and lifting air over mountains. Water vapor normally begins to liquefy on the surface of dust, salt, or ice in order to form clouds.
Fog produces drizzle or very light snow. Drizzle takes place when the humidity attains 100% and the small droplets turn into large droplets.

Depending upon how the cooling caused, different types of Fog are formed.

• Radiation Fog
• Evaporating Fog
• Ice Fog
• Ground Fog
• Freezing Fog

Radiation Fog

Radiation fog is created by the cooling of land after sunset, this land then cools the adjacent air by thermal transmission. This transmission forces the temperature of the air to fall and reach the dew point. This creates the fog.

Evaporating Fog

Evaporating Fog is formed by water bodies clad with much cool air. This situation can create whirlwind over the water. This is also known as steam fog or dust devil.

Ice Fog

Ice Fog is formed at very low temperatures and also by the moisture in the air when a group of animals exhales. It can be related to the ground level composed of small ice crystals. This often takes place in the blue sky conditions.

Ground Fog

Ground Fog is the fog that covers less than 60% of the sky. The level of this fog does not extend to the higher clouds. However, this is similar to the radiation fog. In some cases, the depth of the fog is on the order of tens of the centimetres over certain lands with the absence of winds.

Freezing Fog

Freezing Fog is the composition of droplets of super cooled water that freezes to surface on contact.

Mist

Mist is the situation caused by tiny water droplets suspended in the air. It occurs when warm and moist air meets sudden cooling. It is most commonly seen when air is exhaled in the winter or throwing on a stove or sauna.

Mist can be created with the spray if the humidity and temperature conditions are right. It also happens when humid air cools rapidly when air comes in contact with the surface which is cooler than the air, natural weather. It is most often observed when the droplets of warm water are suddenly cool down and becomes visible to us. The most common example is exhaling air in the winter or a cool place.

Reference

https://www.diffen.com/difference/Fog_vs_Mist

https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/2339888/fog-mist-difference/

https://www.vedantu.com/biology/difference-between-fog-and-mist