Latest news with #Corn Belt
Fast Company
a day ago
- Climate
- Fast Company
Why ‘corn sweat' will make this week's heat wave even worse
Another crushing heat wave is hitting the United States this week. The so-called 'dog days of summer' are in full swing for much of the eastern two-thirds of the U.S., as a heat dome over the Mississippi and Ohio Valleys gradually builds over the eastern U.S. later in the week, according to the Weather Prediction Center (WPC) at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). One unlikely culprit for the high humidity, especially in the Midwest, is 'corn sweat.' What is corn sweat? 'Corn sweat' is the term used to explain how corn, like other plants, excretes water vapor through its leaves via a process called evapotranspiration, which increases humidity in regions where corn is grown during the summer; namely, the Corn Belt, which stretches from North and South Dakota east to Ohio, including Missouri, Minnesota, Iowa, Indiana, Illinois, according to The Washington Post. Where is the heat wave? Nearly 60 million Americans are under heat-related warnings, watches, and advisories this week with oppressive heat forecast across the Central Plains, Midwest, and deep South, according to the WPC. What is the weather forecast this week? Heat indices from the Central Plains to the Southeast are predicted to range between 100 and 110 degrees each day, with localized readings potentially reaching 115 degrees. The National Weather Service's HeatRisk, which ranks heat-related risks on a map, forecasts its most extreme heat level for the Deep South and lower Mississippi Valley on Tuesday, with a major heat risk across the Midwest through Wednesday. Extreme heat warnings are also in place for parts of the Central Plains and lower to mid-Mississippi Valley, along with extreme heat watches across the Midwest, including the majority of the Chicago area. Meanwhile, heat advisories encompass much of the Deep South and northern Florida. That ' dangerous, long lasting heat ' is expected to persist the longest over the mid-Mississippi Valley and mid-South regions from Tuesday through Thursday, when the heat is expected to be the most intense and widespread, with heat waves that last multiple days in a row with little to no relief. Meanwhile, temperatures into the upper 90s will be high enough to set some local daily records in the Southeast for late July. As if that weren't enough, thunderstorms could also pose a flash flood threat in portions of the Southwest, Midwest, and Southeast, with severe storms likely in the Northern Plains and Midwest. The Northeast, which should have comfortable temperatures in the 80s in the first half of the week, is forecast to hit 97 to 98 degrees on Friday, in a number of cities including Boston and New York.
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Climate
- Daily Mail
Why 'corn sweat' is to blame for massive 100-degree heat dome affecting 200 million Americans ALL WEEK
'Corn sweat' has turned up the heat in the US, pushing temperatures above 100 degrees for nearly 200 million people nationwide. A thick wave of extreme humidity is expected to hit at least 30 states from the Plains to the East Coast boiling in a massive heat dome this week, with temperatures rising over 100 degrees, and scientists say 'corn sweat' is making the heat feel even worse. As corn reaches its peak growth phase across the Corn Belt, in states like Iowa and Illinois, the fields started acting like steam machines, fueling dangerous heat that could last through the weekend. They have started pumping thousands of gallons of water per acre into the air each day through a process called evapotranspiration, or corn sweat. That moisture gets trapped under the heat dome, turning the region into a huge sauna. That heat dome is like a hot air bubble covering an area and trapping heat like a lid on a pot, keeping cooler air and rainstorms out. This makes everything underneath get hotter and hotter, with no way to cool down. Officials warned that the heat index is expected to reach 110 to 115 degrees in parts of Missouri, Illinois, Iowa, and Indiana. Major Midwest cities like Kansas City, Des Moines, and Chicago are all under heat watches or warnings through the night, as meteorologists have said the air will stay thick and damp even after the sun sets. Justin Glisan, an Iowa State University climatologist, said: 'The phenomenon as being thick and oppressive, particularly if there is no wind, like being fully clothed in a sauna or steam room.' According to AccuWeather, more than 200 million people across 37 states will experience the triple-digit heat wave by Friday. Officials have issued extreme heat alerts for the Mississippi Valley, while the entire Chicago area is under an extreme heat watch through Thursday. This week, humidity from cornfields has intensified the already severe heat dome, extending from Texas to the Great Lakes. Over 100 cities are expected to challenge overnight heat records, raising serious risks for heat stress, especially where there is no air conditioning. The timing of this summer scorcher is no coincidence, as it coincides with the blossoming period of the corn plant. In Iowa alone, corn is planted across millions of acres. On Thursday and Friday, the heat dome will expand further east, covering the regions that rarely see this level of heat and humidity, especially New England and parts of the Northeast. In Maine, where summer temperature usually stay in the 70s or low 80s, it could reach the 90s by Friday. Portland is most likely to hit 94 degrees, but humidity will make it feels live over 100 Fahrenheit. Boston will also get very hot, with temperatures near 100 when you factor in the moisture in the air. Even cities near the coast would not be safe from the heat. Meteorologists say this heat will be short but strong. It's not like the long-lasting heat in the Plains, but it still could cause problems. The heat comes from moisture moving east, mostly from the Midwest's corn fields, which release a lot of water vapor into the air. This makes the air feel even hotter. New York City will see some of its hottest days this month with highs in the mid-90s and nights staying warm near 80 degrees. Many cities in the South and Midwest will also stay hot at night, giving little relief from the heat. Places like Little Rock and Jackson could see nighttime lows only reach the 80s. Corn in states like Iowa, Illinois, and Indiana is at a stage where it releases lots of moisture, which adds to the humidity spreading east. Washington, DC, will hit 97 degrees Friday, but it will feel hotter, between 105 and 110 because of the extra humidity coming from the South and Midwest. According to AccuWeather, Dallas will reach over 100 degrees, and Houston and San Antonio will stay in the triple digits. Forecasters say the Central Plains, including Kansas and Nebraska, could shift from humid to dangerously dry by mid-August. The heat will worsen with dry ground, pushing temperatures from the upper 90s to 100, with some areas possibly hitting 110 degrees Fahrenheit. AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Chad Merrill said: 'The bottom line is that this has the look of a long-lasting heat wave with limited rainfall.' The Corn Belt is not in a drought right now, but that could change. As the ground dries under this heat dome, less water will evaporate to cool the air, and actual temperatures will rise even more. Some areas could climb to 110 degrees or more. Even tropical moisture from the Gulf would not help much. High pressure is blocking it from moving north in most places, and whatever rain does fall likely would not be enough to cut the heat.
Washington Post
2 days ago
- Climate
- Washington Post
Sweating corn will intensify a heat wave this week
July has already been more humid than average, and now another, less obvious factor will enhance humidity this week: corn sweat. Like a person breathing, corn exhales water vapor through its leaves — a process called evapotranspiration — which exacerbates humidity in agricultural regions during the summer. In the week ahead, some of the country's most oppressive heat and humidity will be found in the Corn Belt, an area of the United States that stretches from the Dakotas to Ohio, sending heat index values toward a dangerous 115 degrees. States such as Missouri, Minnesota, Iowa, Indiana, Illinois and the Dakotas are forecast to have humidity levels that rival or exceed Florida's.
Khaleej Times
6 days ago
- Business
- Khaleej Times
Trump says Coca-Cola to switch to cane sugar in US
Beverage giant Coca-Cola has agreed to use real cane sugar in its US production, President Donald Trump announced Wednesday on social media. The company currently uses high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) in its domestic beverages — a sweetener that has long drawn criticism from Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr. and his Make America Healthy Again movement. "I have been speaking to Coca-Cola about using REAL Cane Sugar in Coke in the United States, and they have agreed to do so," Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform. "I'd like to thank all of those in authority at Coca-Cola. This will be a very good move by them — You'll see. It's just better!" The US president did not explain what motivated his push for the change, which would not impact his well-known favorite beverage, Diet Coke. Since his return to the White House, Trump has re-installed a special button in the Oval Office which summons a helping of the sugar-free carbonated drink. Coca-Cola did not immediately confirm the ingredient shift. "We appreciate President Trump's enthusiasm for our iconic Coca‑Cola brand. More details on new innovative offerings within our Coca‑Cola product range will be shared soon," the company said in a short statement. HFCS became popular in the 1970s, with its use skyrocketing thanks to government subsidies for corn growers and high import tariffs on cane sugar. Any shift away from corn is likely to draw backlash in the Corn Belt, a Midwestern region that has been a stronghold of support for Trump. Both HFCS and sucrose (cane sugar) are composed of fructose and glucose. However, they differ structurally: HFCS contains free (unbonded) fructose and glucose in varying ratios -- 55/45 in soft drinks -- while sucrose consists of the two sugars chemically bonded together. These structural differences, however, don't appear to significantly affect health outcomes. A 2022 review of clinical studies found no meaningful differences between HFCS and sucrose in terms of weight gain or heart health. The only notable distinction was an increase in a marker of inflammation in people consuming HFCS. Overall, both sweeteners appear similarly impactful when consumed at equal calorie levels. Despite this, Mexican Coke — which is made with cane sugar — is often sold at a premium in US stores and prized for its more "natural" flavour. Trump's prized Diet Coke is sweetened with aspartame — a compound classified as a "possible carcinogen" by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC).
Asharq Al-Awsat
7 days ago
- Business
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Trump Says Coca-Cola to Switch to Cane Sugar in US
Beverage giant Coca-Cola has agreed to use real cane sugar in its US production, President Donald Trump announced Wednesday on social media. The company currently uses high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) in its domestic beverages -- a sweetener that has long drawn criticism from Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and his Make America Healthy Again movement, AFP said. "I have been speaking to Coca-Cola about using REAL Cane Sugar in Coke in the United States, and they have agreed to do so," Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform. "I'd like to thank all of those in authority at Coca-Cola. This will be a very good move by them -- You'll see. It's just better!" The US president did not explain what motivated his push for the change, which would not impact his well-known favorite beverage, Diet Coke. Since his return to the White House, Trump has re-installed a special button in the Oval Office which summons a helping of the sugar-free carbonated drink. Coca-Cola did not immediately confirm the ingredient shift. "We appreciate President Trump's enthusiasm for our iconic Coca‑Cola brand. More details on new innovative offerings within our Coca‑Cola product range will be shared soon," the company said in a short statement. HFCS became popular in the 1970s, with its use skyrocketing thanks to government subsidies for corn growers and high import tariffs on cane sugar. Any shift away from corn is likely to draw backlash in the Corn Belt, a Midwestern region that has been a stronghold of support for Trump. Both HFCS and sucrose (cane sugar) are composed of fructose and glucose. However, they differ structurally: HFCS contains free (unbonded) fructose and glucose in varying ratios -- 55/45 in soft drinks -- while sucrose consists of the two sugars chemically bonded together. These structural differences, however, don't appear to significantly affect health outcomes. A 2022 review of clinical studies found no meaningful differences between HFCS and sucrose in terms of weight gain or heart health. The only notable distinction was an increase in a marker of inflammation in people consuming HFCS. Overall, both sweeteners appear similarly impactful when consumed at equal calorie levels. Despite this, Mexican Coke -- which is made with cane sugar -- is often sold at a premium in US stores and prized for its more "natural" flavor. Trump's prized Diet Coke is sweetened with aspartame -- a compound classified as a "possible carcinogen" by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC).
