Can ‘corn sweat’ worsen heat waves?

Can ‘corn sweat’ worsen heat waves?

Yes. Water evaporating off of corn, known as “corn sweat,” can exacerbate heat waves by adding moisture to the air.  Known as “evapotranspiration,” the phenomenon occurs when water transfers from the corn’s surface or the soil to the atmosphere. This can result in higher dew points and humidity. The crop can add as much as 4,000 gallons of water vapor to the air per acre each day. A study on a Midwestern heat wave in 2011 found moisture levels f…