system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
Why does steam sometimes rise from cold water?
gpt
Steam or water vapor is invisible, the "steam" we see is really the water vapor condensing into small water droplets which scatter the light giving them their cloud like appearance.

This happens when the warm water vapor enters a region of cooler air.  A tea kettle going into the room produces these clouds of steam.

Now back to your question. These clouds of steam you see rising from cold water happen in the winter.  Generally a lake or a river is still unfrozen but a very cold air mass has moved in with temperatures in the 20s F (below zero C) or lower.  The water has  vapor pressure, so it is continuously evaporating, however when it enters the colder air, the air can't hold that much water so you see the clouds of steam (and probably some ice crystals) above cold water in the even colder air.