ice fog after a week of -40 temps
Ice fog is any kind of fog where the droplets have frozen into extremely tiny crystals of ice in midair. Generally this requires temperatures at or below −35 °C (−30 °F), making it common only in and near the Arctic and Antarctic regions. It is most often seen in urban areas where it is created by the freezing of water vapor present in automobile exhaust and combustion -products from heating and power generation. Urban ice fog can become extremely dense and will persist day and night until the temperature rises. [From wikipedia.]
So now you know. I took this picture yesterday morning after a trip to buy groceries. That line is a nice, long crack in R's windshield. You're not Alaskan if you don't have a cracked windshield.
The ice fog has gotten worse and worse as this cold snap has carried on lo these last 10 days. In Fairbanks we experience temperature inversions in the winter, where high pressure keeps colder air at lower elevations and warmer (comparably speaking) air at higher elevations.
This inversion also causes vehicle exhaust and woodsmoke and whatnot to compress at lower elevations, which gives you ice fog. There is lots more information about temperature inversions here.
Another lovely pic, taken from the gas station. Visibility is less than 1/4 mile (.4 km) here.
It's cold here, but we're managing. At least we're prepared for this kind of weather, as much as someone can be.
More pictures of ice fog here, courtesy of the International Arctic Research Center.
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