This paper reviews sea fog researches conducted over the past two decades on the climatology (e.g. spatial-temporal distribution and causes of global sea fog frequency), synoptic meteorology and relevant perspectives. Sea fog climatology examines the global (including both polar regions) distributions of sea fog frequency, seasonal variations and classifications. Researches on the synoptic meteorology and relevant perspectives of sea fog encompass the influence of various factors on the formation and evolution of sea fog, including gravity wave disturbances, land-sea thermal contrasts, sea surface temperature fronts, precipitation/clouds, radiation, turbulence, advection and air-sea interactions, and examine the formation mechanisms of sea fog and sea fog-low cloud systems under the impact of intense weather systems, such as typhoons and explosive cyclones. This section is primarily based on researches regarding sea fog over China’s coastal waters, and also includes related representative studies in areas such as the North Pacific, the North Atlantic and the coastal waters of California, USA, helping readers gain a more comprehensive understanding of the latest developments in sea fog research. Through this synthesis, we aim to deepen the understanding of the complex physical processes governing the formation and dissipation of sea fog. Finally, the review summarizes key insights gained from the mentioned studies, highlights unresolved questions and uncertainties, and provides prospects for future research.