Posted on 07/22/2025 11:40:40 AM PDT by E. Pluribus Unum
The colloquial term is exactly as it says. It involves corn crops "sweating" through a process formally known as evapotranspiration.
Forecasters say much of the United States could see well-above-average temperatures through this week, primarily in the Midwest and around the East Coast.
Most of the triple-digit temperatures can be attributed to a phenomenon known as a "heat dome," when a large area of high atmospheric pressure traps hot air underneath, similar to the way a lid traps heat and moisture on a pot, meteorologists say.
But in the Midwest specifically, there's another phenomenon adding to the suffocating sun: Corn sweat.
The colloquial term is exactly as it says. It involves corn crops "sweating" through a process formally known as evapotranspiration.
According to the experts, the natural process is how plants release water vapor into the atmosphere, which combines with other molecules in the air and adds to the humidity.
The Midwest is home to millions of acres of corn, earning part of the region the nickname "Corn Belt."
During the growing season, typically spring to early fall, an acre of corn can release about 3,000 to 4,000 gallons of water a day, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
Taranis, which is a crop intelligence firm, said 12 million acres of corn "sweating" can add up to 48 billion gallons of water daily, which is roughly enough to fill 73,000 Olympic-size swimming pools.
Unfortunately, we humans (and most animals) are the ones who are actually sweating from this phenomenon.
(Excerpt) Read more at scrippsnews.com ...
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This is a true phenomenon. This is the first time I have heard the term “Corn Sweats”. We always called it Transpiration.
FTA:
"The colloquial term is exactly as it says. It involves corn crops "sweating" through a process formally known as evapotranspiration."
For God’s sake!!! It IS summer!
Fire every one these people running with the panic news. Are we all going to die tomorrow???
There has been a “swath” of repeated hefty rains through Central and Southern Illinois , catching much of Missouri and also the lower Ohio River Valley, the last few weeks, after a very wet May and June. Some years the spigot turns off in early July, but, not this year. The corn, except for some places where it either drowned or got blown down, looks fantastic. So do the weeds, but all do add to the humidity: Our local NWS office (Paducah) even admitted the models were underestimating the effect of the evapotranspiration juicing up the area lower atmosphere, priming added thundershowers, etc. It’s a classic case of “It’s not the heat, it’s the humidity.” And there’s almost no breeze except for a few of those t-showers popping up.
The Paducah NWS radar image is showing fewer of those t-showers today, as despite the sauna-like air mass, there isn’t much to trigger them, but where present, they are not moving much. I wouldn’t be surprised to see an isolated flash flood warning or two.
Well, our local (Paducah) NWS did say yesterday(?) the humidity levels were at 30 year return rates. So, while “normally hot”, we do have an unusually juicy air mass in place.
And, journalism never changes...
No panic: At my age I just don’t stay in the sun too long, I take good breaks in 79 deg. AC (like, right now!), and I drink plenty of my chilled to 34 degrees Gatorade+Pink Lemonade recipe!
(It’s a toned down version of how I handled, in younger years, working in attics sometimes on summer days. THERE one really had to be careful: I wore a watch with a timer set for “get out after 15 minutes!” Same for even the slightest hint of light-headedness. Then cool down & hydrate “for 30” while prepping for the next sally.
I was installing equipment and running wiring and such, mostly. “Fun”, sort of.)
It IS a dumb article.
*Corn sweat* my foot. Never heard of it before.
They are sweating toilet water!
Brawndo’s got what corn craves.
My Great Granpa used to grow popcorn and used mules to farm with. One day it was so hot the corn started popping in the field. Those stupid mules thought it was snow and froze to death.
I’ve never heard the term “Corn Sweat” either.
But... I can imagine some ol’ farmer around here (Mid-South USA) using the term instead of “evapotranspiration”, which term I’m sure you do know. My Dad (a Forestry Prof) was using it a long time ago. :-)
An aside: I just now had to put shallow bowls under some of my eggplants’ pots (said plants are in shade!) because it’s either that or water them every 4 hours because they are “evapotranspiring” so much this afternoon!
LOL!
Transpiration by plants…nothing new🤷🏼♂️😵💫😵💫😵💫
“Remove all subsidies, price guarantees, fed funded insurance, and kill mandated ethanol in gasoline. Then we can have better food, weather, and cars.”
...and FAR LESS “Corn Sweat”.
Ha! I never laugh and this made me laugh.
Great time to reemove ethanol from gasoline!
Apparently, very dumb. But what can you do when AI and the teachers union is calling the shots on your kids education.
Is something .
planting the idea that even growing crops is causing climate change.
With the forgone conclusion, that the planet needs 75% population reduction .
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