Fogcatching

Fogcatching, also known as fog harvesting or fog collection, is a method of collecting fresh water from fog. This technique is particularly useful in arid and semi-arid coastal regions where regular fog occurs but rainfall is scarce. Fog is composed of tiny water droplets suspended in the air, and when these droplets come into contact with a surface, they can coalesce and be collected.

The most common type of fog collector consists of a mesh made from materials like polyester or polypropylene. This mesh is stretched across a frame, typically in a vertical or slightly inclined position, to maximize the surface area exposed to the prevailing fog winds. As fog passes through the mesh, water droplets adhere to the fibers. Gravity then causes these droplets to trickle down the mesh into a collection channel or gutter located at the base. From there, the water is channeled into storage tanks.

Historically, indigenous communities in areas like the Atacama Desert and parts of the Canary Islands have utilized natural vegetation or simple structures to capture fog water. Modern fog catching technology has refined these principles, often employing larger, more efficient mesh structures. The effectiveness of fog catching depends on several factors, including fog density, wind speed, mesh type, and the overall design and placement of the collector. While not a substitute for rainfall, fog harvesting can provide a crucial supplementary source of water for drinking, irrigation, and other domestic uses in water-stressed environments.