Dew and Mist: Nature's Morning Jewels and Curtain Call

THE SCIENCE BEHIND THE FORMATION OF DEW AND MIST

Nature is filled with uncountable heart throbbing phenomena that have always intrigued us catching our attention. Among them lies a phenomenon we often observe during tranquil mornings, dew and mist! With the onset of the dawn of winters, do the misty mornings lead you to wonder how these "jewels" and "curtain" occur in nature?

Dew: Nature's Morning Jewels

Dew is Nature's moisture that appears on surfaces like grass, leaves, and car windows, typically during early mornings! Its formation is governed by the principles of condensation and the dew point.

1. Cooling of surfaces:

During sunsets, the earth's warm air rises causing the surface to cool down along with many other governing factors such as radiative cooling, atmospheric effects, and surface conditions. The cooling process continues throughout the night and under favorable conditions, the surface temperature drops down to dew point i.e. the temperature at which air becomes saturated with water vapor.

2. Dew Point:

The dew point is a necessary factor that needs to be met for the formation of dew! It represents the temperature at which the air's relative humidity reaches 100%, in simple terms that means the air can no longer hold the moisture, leading to condensation of excessive moisture. So, when the surface cools below the dew point, the water vapor in the air condenses into liquid droplets, forming dew.

3. Ideal Conditions:

Clear, calm nights are ideal for dew formation as they allow rapid heat loss through radiation. Whereas calm winds prevent the mixing of air layers, allowing the surface to cool down efficiently. Other than that high humidity increases the dew point, enhancing dew formation as we can generally see it more often during the monsoon season!

Mist: A Veil of Tiny Water Droplets

Mist is a collection of tiny water droplets suspended in air, creating a hazy appearance. It forms when the air close to the surface gets saturated with moisture, leading to condensation. Unlike dew, being surface moisture, mist is a form of atmospheric moisture.

1. Cooling and Humidity:

Mist is often formed when warm, moist air cools rapidly. This cooling can occur through various processes, similar to the ones leading to dew formation but a few factors such as advection (when warm air moves over a cooler surface), or mixing of air masses with different temperatures and humidities and calm winds (as they prevent dispersal of condensed water droplets) leads to the formation of mist. These are the dominant processes in mist formation.

2. Saturation and Condensation:

As the air cools, its capacity to hold moisture decreases, leading to saturation. The excess water vapor then condenses into tiny droplets, forming a coalesced layer on the surface! The size of the droplet is small enough to remain suspended in the air, creating the characteristic haze.

3. Favorable Conditions:

Mist can be observed commonly during early mornings or late evenings when temperatures drop, and humidity levels are high. It can also form in valleys or near bodies of water, where cool air tends to settle, and moisture levels are elevated.

Conclusion

Dew and mist are the subtle remainder of the complex interactions between temperature, humidity, and atmospheric conditions. While dew forms on surfaces that cool below the dew point, mist forms in the air when it becomes saturated with moisture. Dew adorns the morning landscape with glistening droplets, while mist blankets it with a gentle veil that could be seen as Nature's ornaments! These phenomena offer a glimpse into the beauty of condensation, showcasing the intricate science governing our environment. So, next time whenever you step outside on a crisp morning and witness the shimmering dew or the ethereal mist, don't forget to take a moment to appreciate the science providing this fascinating natural wonder.

Author: Ashutosh Yadav

Editor: Sanyam Jain

Illustrator: Pranjal Sengupta

Reviewer: Aviral Srivastava