What occurs when moist air moves over a colder surface?

When moist air moves over a colder surface, advection fog may develop due to the cooling of the air near the surface, which can cause the air to reach its dew point. As the air cools, the moisture it contains condenses into tiny water droplets, forming fog. This process is particularly common over bodies of water or moist ground when the air temperature drops, and it highlights the relationship between temperature and humidity.

Advection fog typically forms when warm, moist air flows over a cooler surface, allowing it to cool and condense. This phenomenon is influenced by the stability of the air and the temperature gradient between the air and the surface over which it moves. In contrast, condensation forming precipitation generally implies more significant weather changes, such as the formation of clouds and larger rain droplets, which is different from the fog that forms in this situation. High pressure settling in refers to atmospheric conditions that stabilize air and can inhibit fog formation, while thermal activity increasing relates to vertical air movement rather than the horizontal movement of air in the context of fog development.