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I am an aviation meteorologist and I struggle to distinguish the two of them.

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    $\begingroup$ If you are an aviation meteorologist surely you would know... $\endgroup$
    – GdD
    Commented Aug 20, 2020 at 14:50
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    $\begingroup$ Welcome to aviation.SE! Since this seems to be a general weather question, you might get a better response on earthscience.SE. $\endgroup$
    – Pondlife
    Commented Aug 20, 2020 at 16:14
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    $\begingroup$ If you happened to live where I do, you would readily appreciate the difference. Relative humidity is currently 26%, visibility at the nearest commercial airport is 4 miles in haze (from numerous wildfires): flightstats.com/v2/airport-conditions/RNO $\endgroup$
    – jamesqf
    Commented Aug 20, 2020 at 17:21

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The term haze does not say anything about the humidity of the air because it is by definition caused by dry particles, so not by water. If you have mist (or fog), then water droplets are suspended in the air, which usually comes with 100% humidity.

Here is a set of definitions by the UK's Met Office:

Fog

In our meteorological glossary fog is defined as 'obscurity in the surface layers of the atmosphere, which is caused by a suspension of water droplets'.

By international agreement (particularly for aviation purposes) fog is the name given to resulting visibility less than 1 km. However, in forecasts for the public, this generally refers to visibility less than 180 m.

Mist

Mist is defined as 'when there is such obscurity and the associated visibility is equal to or exceeds 1000 m.' Like fog, mist is still the result of the suspension of water droplets, but simply at a lower density.

Mist typically is quicker to dissipate and can rapidly disappear with even slight winds, it's also what you see when you can see your breath on a cold day.

Haze

A third term you might also hear mentioned is haze. This is a slightly different phenomenon which is a suspension of extremely small, dry particles in the air, not water droplets. These particles are invisible to the naked eye, but sufficient to give the air an opalescent appearance.

(metoffice.gov.uk)

Also see: What is the difference between mist and fog?

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  • $\begingroup$ Thanks for your answer $\endgroup$
    – Rebin Salar
    Commented Aug 20, 2020 at 15:32

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