Almost exactly a year ago, I had a glimpse of sea smoke in the sixth boro here.   Basically, it can be seen when “cold” air comes into contact with warmer water;  as soon as the air is warmed by the rising sun, the mist dissipates.   Photos taken during the window it’s visible, in combination with the twilight colors, have rich colors.

Above and below, that’s Sea Lion transiting the swirling wisps of smoke.

Fort Schuyler appeared next, passing

through the warm exhalations of the warm water of flooding tide, backlit by the rising sun.

A bit later, the golden hour of dawn was no more, but

the smoke was visible,

as Genesis Vigilant glided past. 

Once it was alongside my location, with the sun to the right of the photo, no smoke could be seen.

All photos, any errors, WVD.

More sea smoke can be seen here and here.   Ice, on the other hand, looks like this.