Second Morning with "Poconip" Ice Fog

Wikipedia has a good description for our local ice fog known as poconip or pogonip:
"In the western United States, ice fog may be referred to as pogonip.  It occurs very rarely during cold winter spells, usually in deep mountain valleys. Ice fog can be quite common in interior and northern Alaska, since the temperature frequently drops below -40° in the winter months. Pogonip only forms under specific conditions; the humidity has to be near 100% as the air temperature drops to well below 0 °C (32 °F), allowing ice crystals to form in the air. The ice crystals will then settle onto surfaces."
"The word pogonip is derived from the Shoshone word paγi̵nappi̵h, which means "cloud". Supposedly, early settlers called it "white death" because they believed the crystals got into their lungs and caused death."
We've had it two days in a row now… can't wait to see if it'll become three!
#Weather   #weatherphotography   #Winter  

“Poconip” ice fog lifting this morning at Topaz Lake, NV, December 10, 2013.

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