Sweaty corn is increasing the humidity.

Barb Boustead recalls discovering the concept of “corn sweat” after relocating to Nebraska nearly 20 years ago to work with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Surrounded by vast cornfields, she learned that this term refers to the late-summer increase in humidity caused by corn plants releasing moisture as they cool themselves. Boustead, a meteorologist and climatologist, noted that this phenomenon is well-known among locals.

However, this quintessential part of Midwestern summers may be becoming even more humid due to climate change and the ongoing expansion of industrial agriculture. Climate change is resulting in elevated temperatures and warmer nights, allowing the atmosphere to retain more moisture. Additionally, changing conditions are enabling farmers to cultivate corn in regions further north, ultimately increasing the overall corn yield in the U.S.

Moreover, farmers are expanding the number of corn acres planted, partly to satisfy the growing demand for ethanol, as reported by the USDA’s Economic Research Service. This translates to more corn plants working vigorously to cool themselves, contributing to the oppressive humidity that envelops many parts of the U.S. this week.

This increase in humidity is especially pronounced in the Midwest, where a significant amount of corn is produced. As all the corn reaches the stage of evapotranspiration around the same time, “you get that real surge that’s noticeable,” Boustead explained.

Dennis Todey, who leads the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Midwest Climate Hub, helps farmers adapt to climate change. He pointed out that corn primarily does its evapotranspiration in July instead of August, while soybeans tend to release more vapor in August.

According to Todey, further research is needed to understand how climate change affects corn sweat, as factors like rainfall, type of crops, and farming practices can influence the outcome.

For Lew Ziska, an associate professor of environmental health sciences at Columbia University, the evidence is clear: warmer temperatures lead to increased transpiration from plants. When asked if climate change results in more corn sweat, he affirmed with a simple, “Yes.”

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Ziska also highlighted the rising demand for corn for ethanol production. Currently, over 40% of U.S.-grown corn is converted into biofuels for cars and even planes. Global ethanol production has been rising steadily, except for a slight decline during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to data from the Renewable Fuels Association.

Additionally, the production of ethanol contributes to greenhouse gas emissions.

“It won’t surprise anyone that temperatures have been rising. With the increase in heat, plants are losing water more rapidly,” Ziska remarked.

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Follow Melina Walling on X at @MelinaWalling.

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