What is the atmospheric phenomenon resulting in a visible water vapor cloud touching the ground?

The phenomenon referred to in the question is fog, which is essentially a cloud that has formed close to the ground. Fog consists of tiny water droplets suspended in the air and occurs when water vapor condenses under certain temperature and humidity conditions. This creates a visibility-reducing layer and results in a dense, often low-lying cloud that can envelop landscapes.

Fog commonly forms when moist air cools and reaches its dew point, leading to condensation. It can be particularly prevalent in areas where the temperature drop occurs during the night or early morning, or in places where warm, moist air travels over cooler surfaces. This is distinct from other options such as rain, which represents liquid precipitation that falls to the ground, or haze, which is caused by a concentration of pollutants or dust particles in the air that can scatter light. Clouds are formations of condensed water vapor but are not specifically associated with ground-level visibility like fog is.