Bonnie Rannald's Photo-Explorations in focus with nature. : white death

Saturday, February 8, 2014

Freezing Fog Creates Artistic Impressions

Pogonip on a Cold Winter Morning

In the higher elevations of the Great Basin Desert during winter when cool air passes over the warm, moist ground, you can expect to see the occurrence of freezing fog or "Pogonip". The term Pogonip is from the Shoshone word: paγinappih meaning cloud.

Early settlers called the pogonip "White Death" because it was believed that if ice crystals were breathed in to the lungs, it could result in death. I'm not sure about the ice crystals causing death since I have been out breathing them numerous times, however when the fog is so thick you can become disoriented and possibly freeze to death.

As the freezing fog settles in, tiny droplets cling to surfaces, creating an artistic wonderland.

A desert willow branch with summer's seed pods appears elegantly in the subtle lighting.

A water droplet lies suspended just before it begins to drop from a frost covered pod.

The end of a bamboo stick is textured with rim ice.

Semi-diffused light behind a garden shade creates a glittered tapestry accented with frozen ice particles.

Muted colors and diffused light highlight a frost covered chicken wire fence, giving it aesthetic appeal.

The fog begins to thicken, dropping the temperature. It's time to go back inside to clear the ice particles from my nose with something hot to drink.

If any of my readers know of legends of the "White Death", would you please share them in the comment section?

What an exciting and interesting photo-adventure this day has been. I love it when I am drawn to an area and not knowing what to expect I get treated to new experiences.

Photography places me in the moment where I can share that moment in time. It becomes a life story as represented by my interaction with the scene. The happiness and beauty or the sorrow and strife; how I focus leaves a lasting impression that might touch the viewer on a spiritual level.

"Reflecting Nature's Artistry"

Many of these images are available on my website:

http://www.bonnierannald.com/

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Thursday, December 24, 2009

Freezing Fog

Pogonip

With the arrival of winter in Northern Nevada when there has been an overnight snow and the sun comes out the next morning, we will probably have a meteorological phenomenon known as freezing fog or Pogonip.

Freezing fog is a some what rare condition that occurs in the mountain valleys when the humidity is around 100%, the temperature is near freezing, and cool air passes over warm, moist land.

During the month of December 2009, we have been experiencing freezing fog or Pogonip quite often.

The word Pogonip came from the Shoshone word Payinappih meaning "cloud" or "white death", as the early English-speaking settlers termed it. Pogonip was called the white death because the fog can get so thick a person could become lost and disoriented in a manner of seconds. Additionally, prolonged breathing of the ice crystals can damage the lungs.

In freezing fog the water vapor is super-cooled, filling the air with small ice crystals similar to very light snow.

The super-cooled water droplets remain in the liquid state until they come in contact with a surface upon which they can freeze.

As the frozen particles collect on a surface, white rime ice forms which is similar to the ice inside a freezer.

Freezing fog creates a beautiful effect of a winter wonderland with the layers of frosty ice all around.

As beautiful as it appears, it can also be very dangerous when driving, walking or during prolonged exposure.

For more information follow this link:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ice_fog

www.wrh.noaa.gov/Reno