^^ Well, it would be a kinda "light effect". We naturally "see" things by their reflected light (except when looking at unnatural light-emitting sources, such as a video display, for example). The light from the low (rising) sun in this case is being bounced around haphazardly by reflection/refraction via the zillions of small drops of water (mist) which have condensed in the cold/dense early morning atmosphere. Some of that bounced light comes towards the viewer as just white light, partially obscuring the reflected light from the objects (mountains) behind the mist, like a natural veil. The effect dissipates as the air and moisture is warmed up by the sun, and the moisture evaporates.
At those times, depending on air temperature, there are different layers or thicknesses of such haze "veils" through which the reflected light from the mountains has to travel to get to your eye and the camera lens. The effect on the view of the mountains in your shots is quite beautiful, with the shy mountains furthest away being more demure and obscured (with a thicker veil) than those brazen wenches nearer (with a thinner veil). The white haze is like visual "noise". I've been inside that kind of haze/mist in freezing high alpine conditions, and the visual effect can sometimes be far from beautiful. When it is very dense, one literally cannot see anything - no reference point - so which way is up/down is unknown, because it is a visual "whiteout". Extremely disorientating - and potentially highly dangerous. A fog.
Similarly, a rainbow is a light effect when the sunlight gets refracted and split into its constituent colours (a prismatic effect) by the zillions of small drops of water in the atmosphere. The result is seen as a circular rainbow - per the sun - from an aircraft flying above, and as a partial circular rainbow from the ground.
If I have the time, I could happily watch the changing light on mountains all day long (preferably accompanied by a crate of beer and some BBQ meat). From experience though, sadly the best shots are usually those ephemeral ones captured by the senses - via the eyes - and photographs unfortunately tend to run a poor second to those. Which is a good reason for putting down the camera and just watching. Try telling that to Japanese tourists though...
But I do appreciate being able to view "your" mountains, from somewhere else halfway around the world.
