I'm looking for a phrase to describe the kind of water vapour rising from the surface of a river in the morning. It doesn't have to be a single word but I wouldn't be surprised if there is one.
I'd call it mist or fog but, as far as I know, these could refer to something much thicker (particularly fog).
As the sun climbed higher above the horizon, _________ rose from the surface of the river, enveloping the reeds.
Fume also comes to mind but it seems to have negative connotations.
There are a number of references to 'wisps of mist' in poetry and literature.
wisps of mist float across the secluded horizon
curling wisps of mist were blowing through the top branches of the trees
According to Mother Nature Network
The phenomenon goes by many names, including steam fog, evaporation fog, frost smoke and sea smoke
These terms are probably not poetic enough for your use, and I tend to like some sort of "mist rising from the lake" but beyond the technical names for this the question becomes "Primarily Opinion Based" and off-topic.
