Haar (fog)

Haar rolls into the Firth of Forth, partially shrouding the Forth Bridge.

Haar rolling in over the Forth Bridge

In meteorology, haar or sea fret is a cold sea fog. It occurs most often on the east coast of Scotland between April and September, when warm air passes over the cold North Sea.^[1][2] The term is also known as harr, hare, harl, har and hoar.^[3]

Causes

Haar is typically formed over the sea and is blown to the land by the wind.^[4] This commonly occurs when warmer moist air moves over the relatively cooler North Sea causing the moisture in the air to condense, forming haar.

Sea breezes and easterly winds then bring the haar into the east coast of Scotland and North-East England where it can continue for several miles inland.^[5] This can be common in the UK summer when heating of the land creates a sea breeze, bringing haar in from the sea and as a result can significantly reduce temperatures compared to those just a few miles inland.

Nomenclature

The term haar is used along certain lands bordering the North Sea, primarily eastern Scotland^[6] and the north-east of England. Variants of the term in Scots and northern English include har, hare, harl, harr and hoar. Its origin is related to Middle Dutch haren, referring to a cold, sharp wind.^[7] In Yorkshire and Northumberland it is commonly referred to as a sea roke.^[1]

References

1. Pirie, Gail. "Sea Fog". BBC.co.uk. BBC. Retrieved 9 April 2015.
2. ""haar"". oxforddictionaries.com. Oxford Dictionaries. Archived from the original on 20 July 2012. Retrieved 9 April 2015.
3. "Fog and 'haar' - what's the difference?". www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com. 21 December 2017. Retrieved 7 February 2019.
4. Findlater, J.; Roach, W. T.; McHugh, B. C., Quarterly Journal of the Royal Meteorological Society, vol. 115, Issue 487, p.581-608
5. "Coastal fog". Met Office. Retrieved 30 May 2021.
6. Scots Dictionary
7. Michiel de Vaan (2014-2018), Addenda EWN: haren