A giant blanket of radiation fog has smothered California’s Central Valley for several days and is expected to linger for days more. But fear not, the fog has nothing to do with nuclear meltdowns or the splitting of atoms. The rest of this article is behind a paywall. Please sign in or subscribe to access the full content.

What is radiation fog?

Radiation fog is a perfectly normal type of fog that’s most common when things get chilly in the fall and winter. It develops on clear, calm nights when the ground cools rapidly, chilling the air just above it. Once that air reaches saturation, moisture condenses into millions of tiny droplets, creating a thick mist that hangs in the air.

It’s called radiation fog because it forms through radiational cooling, not because it contains ionizing

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