Why may a steam-like mist appear over a lake on a cold morning?

Correct answer: Moist air from warmer water condenses in cold air

Correct answer: A. A lake can remain warmer than the air above it, especially during a cold morning. Water from the lake adds moisture to the air immediately above the surface. When this relatively warm, moist air mixes with colder air, it cools toward saturation. Some water vapour then condenses into countless tiny droplets, producing a visible mist that may look like steam. It is not necessarily boiling steam; the visible whiteness is mainly caused by liquid droplets scattering light. Option A correctly describes the sequence: water supplies moisture, cold air cools it, and condensation creates mist. Option B is impossible and has no atmospheric explanation. Option C is wrong because cold air can still contain water vapour; its capacity to hold vapour is lower, not necessarily zero. Option D is a humorous distractor with no scientific basis. Memory cue: “Warm water plus cold air can reveal hidden moisture.”