FARMERSBURG, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) — After a hot week in the Wabash Valley, many people are asking why it is still so humid outside.
Our Chief Meteorologist Jesse Walker said one of the reasons is something called evapotranspiration or corn sweat.
“That is a combination of evaporation which comes from the ground and transpiration which is the release of moisture from the corn, or any plant can do that, even us when we sweat,” said Walker. “When the moisture evaporates, it helps to cool us or the plant.”
He said that the more corn that is around you, the muggier it will feel.
“For example, one acre of corn during its peak can give off about 4,000 gallons of water vapor per acre,” said Walker. “If you live near a large field, that is going to be a huge amount of water vapor. We all know that the more moisture in the air, the muggier it is, the higher the heat index, and the hotter it feels to our bodies.”
Local farmer Brad Burbrink said that you can tell the difference when you are inside the corn fields.
“Once you actually get into the cornfield, it is actually cooler when you are inside the field then when you are standing out in the sun,” said Burbrink. “I think it is just that plant moving that moisture through that makes it to when you actually get into the field itself it isn’t as hot as when you are standing out in the sun.”
Walker said while corn sweat releases a lot of moisture, it doesn’t usually affect rainfall.
“They can throw a little more moisture into the atmosphere and maybe increase the chances of rain a little bit, but its impact would be pretty small,” said Walker.
However, Burbrink said farmers will take all the moisture they can get.
“Any moisture we can get this time of year is always welcomed as it helps add weight to the end of the kernels,” said Burbrink. “Getting moisture and getting the atmosphere rolling and keeping us out of drought-like conditions is a big deal this time of year in August.”
Walker added that when the corn starts to dry out and die off in the next few weeks, it will no longer feel as muggy outside.
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