Dr. Bruno Basso on How Michigan’s Cornfields Are Quietly Raising the Heat

July 22, 2025

In a recent WKAR article, Michigan State University professor Dr. Bruno Basso explains how the state’s cornfields are doing more than growing crops—they’re heating up the atmosphere. As corn "sweats," it releases water vapor into the air, a process known as evapotranspiration. This can significantly raise the humidity and make it feel much hotter.

“This additional contribution especially in the Midwest from corn evaporating through their leaves makes the entire atmosphere feel more like a steam room,” said Basso. He adds that, "This phenomenon can raise the apparent temperature by as much as 15 degrees and even enhance the chances of summer thunderstorms."

Basso also pointed out that this creates microclimates—localized areas where temperature and weather conditions differ drastically from surrounding regions. “We certainly do not have the acreages in corn that Iowa or Illinois or Indiana has. So, this problem is significantly reduced in Michigan,” he noted.

We first highlighted this “corn sweat” effect in our August 2024 post sourced from Vox—this latest update reinforces Basso’s point that agriculture plays a powerful, if often overlooked, role in shaping local climate.

Read the full article at WKAR.org