How does fog affect our daily lives?
Fog is something that's most likely to happen in the autumn and winter. But in what sort of ways does fog affect our daily lives?
In this article you can learn:
- How fog can make it difficult to get about
- How fog can affect ships and planes
- What we can do to help ships at sea when it's foggy
- How we can make it safer for ourselves when we're walking in fog
This resource is suitable for weather topics for primary school learners.
Video - How does fog affect our daily lives?
Watch this video to learn how fog can affect our daily lives.
Have you ever looked out of your window and not been able to see the end of your garden or road because of fog?
What about when you have been walking outside and the fog has drifted across your path? It can look a bit spooky, like something out of a scary movie or video game.
When fog is very heavy, we can’t see as far or as clearly, and this can affect all kinds of transport. Aeroplanes won’t take off, ferries might be cancelled or delayed and people have to drive more slowly and carefully because they can’t see obstacles or hazards clearly.
There are many things that have been put in place to make life a little bit easier during fog.
If you’re near the coast, you might see lighthouses or hear foghorns. These are used to warn ships that they are approaching land so they can steer clear of danger even if they can’t see them in the fog.
When it is foggy, drivers switch on their car’s fog lights. These lights are a lot brighter than normal car lights and they help other drivers and pedestrians see that a car is coming towards them.
It’s more difficult to see you clearly when it is foggy too, it’s helpful to wear reflective clothing while out walking to keep you visible and safe.
So while it can be exciting, remember to be extra careful when there’s fog around!
How does fog affect transport?
- Fog is something we're most likely to see in autumn or winter.
- Runway lights at airports help planes take off and land when it is dark or misty. When the fog is very heavy flights can be delayed or even diverted to other airports.
- Fog can make it difficult to drive. Drivers have to be careful and drive more slowly. They might have to use the car's fog lights. These extra strong lights help drivers see further in the fog. Fog lights also let other drivers know there are other cars on the road.
- To help ships during fog, lighthouses cast a strong beam of light across the sea.
- Something else which helps ships at sea are foghorns. Foghorns make a loud, deep regular noise. These warn ships when . they are near land or other ships.
- Ships and boats can also use radar to find their way in fog and to warn others where they are.
Slideshow - Fog
This slideshow shows some of the ways we can make it safer to get about when there's heavy fog.
Image caption, Lighthouse
When there is heavy fog, it can be difficult for boats and ships to see clearly. A lighthouse can shine its light far out to sea in order to warn ships that they are close to land. (Sebastian Loram / Alamy)
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Staying safe in fog
We have to think about what we're going to wear when it's foggy. Anything that helps people see and be seen in fog will help their safety.
- Bright coloured clothes help make you more visible from further away during the day.
- High vis (short for high visibility) clothes are Something is fluorescent if it glows and gives out light when it has absorbed light, heat or another type of radiation.. Any sunlight makes them appear to glow, so they show up very strongly in fog during the day.
- Reflective clothing reflects the light from car's headlights back towards the driver. They can make you more visible, especially at night.
- Cyclists need bright headlights and rear lights to be seen in fog and at night. Adding lights to your clothes of bag can make you more visible even if you are just walking.
Capturing fog
Fog doesn't always cause problems. In fact, sometimes it is helpful.
- Fog nets can be used to collect the tiny water droplets in fog.
- This is very useful in places where there is very little Moisture that falls from the clouds. Snow, rain, hail and sleet are all examples of precipitation..
- For example, fog catching nets are used in parts of Peru, Bolivia, Colombia and Mexico. The water collected is used for washing, cooking and watering crops.
Learn more about fog and fog nets here: What is fog?
Key words about fog
- lighthouse - A tall building with a lamp at the top. The lamp turns to produce a regular beam of light which flashes across the sea to warn ships that land is close by.
- foghorn - A device which makes low, deep regular sounds to warn ships at sea that they are close to land.
- fog lights - Extra strong lights fitted to a car to allow drivers to see better in foggy weather.
Test your knowledge
Test your knowledge of how fog affects daily life with this quick quiz!
Quiz
Challenge
Find a lighthouse near you.
Light from lighthouses is used to warn ships that they're approaching land. This means the ships can steer clear of danger even if it is difficult to see because of the fog.
There are lighthouses around Scotland's coast. Try finding out where the nearest lighthouse is to you.
Can you draw a picture of it?
What is fog? revision-guide
Find out how fog is formed, different types of fog and how we measure it.
Robert Stevenson and the Lighthouse Stevensons. revision-guide
Find out about Robert Stevenson and his family who designed many of the lighthouses around Scotland's coast.
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