We Have The Corn Sweats

Top of Mind

Corn sweat is real.…

Did you know that corn sweats? Me either… The phenomenon called “transpiration” occurs when corn plants release moisture into the atmosphere. This moisture can increase humidity levels in the surrounding air (like Columbus…), especially during our already hot and humid summer months.

Here's how it works:

Transpiration: Corn plants, like all plants, take in water from the soil through their roots. Some of this water is used for growth, but much of it is released back into the atmosphere through tiny pores in the leaves called stomata. This release of water vapor is known as transpiration.

Humidity Impact: In areas with large cornfields, the amount of water vapor released can significantly raise local humidity levels. On hot days, this increase in humidity can make the temperature feel even hotter and more uncomfortable. This is often referred to as the "corn sweat" effect.

Here is where it gets wild, though…

Research conducted by the USDA Agricultural Research Service suggests that corn can contribute between 3,500 and 5,000 gallons of water per acre to the atmosphere over the course of one to two days. A typical pool contains 18,000 - 20,000 gallons. That means 1 Acre of corn could potentially FILL A POOL every 4 DAYS!

The Good News…

At least we’re not Iowa? In Iowa, corn pumps out "a staggering 49 to 56 billion gallons of water into the atmosphere each day." 

The National Weather Service said that on a hot summer day, it can add up to 10 degrees to the dew point, a measure of the humidity in the air.

So don’t be surprised if you detect an essence of corn the next time you jump in a pool.

Welcome To The Neighborhood

Scarlet Letter Trivia

Question: The media giant Nickelodeon was founded in Columbus, Ohio, and the channel's name comes from the first five-cent movie theaters, called Nickelodeons.

What year was Nickelodeon founded?

A. 1969
B. 1977
C. 1979
D. 1985

When Nature Takes a Breather: Ohio’s Historic Drought…

It’s official: Ohio isn’t just sweating—it’s practically baking. The summer of 2024 has gone down in the books as one of the driest ever recorded. If you’ve noticed trees prematurely dropping their leaves or turning a crispy shade of brown, you’re not alone. Ohio is stranded in the middle of a historic drought—so historic, in fact, that for the first time since the U.S. Drought Monitor began tracking in 2000, parts of Ohio have reached D4-Exceptional Drought status. That’s the highest drought level, and it’s currently turning Athens and Meigs counties into dust bowls.

As of the end of August, nearly 75% of Ohio is facing some level of drought, with 15% classified under D3-Extreme Drought conditions. Columbus hasn’t escaped the dry spell either. This summer has seen a mere 5.07 inches of rain—nearly 8 inches below average—earning it the title of the third driest summer on record. At this rate, we’ll see at least one more car crash into a building before we see some rain.

Pastures have essentially stopped growing, hay production is crawling along, and livestock owners are hauling thousands of gallons of water just to keep their animals alive. Meanwhile, the family of creeks and streams in southeastern Ohio are drying up fast and furiously, and the Hocking River in Athens is at its lowest flow since 1930. In short, things aren’t precisely flowing smoothly.

Columbus isn’t a farming city (despite what everyone NOT from Columbus might believe); the city’s unique geography doesn’t help with the heat. Columbus is consistently hotter than its surrounding areas, thanks to the urban heat island effect. All that concrete, pavement, and glass soak up the sun during the day and re-emit it at night, turning the city into a slow-cooking oven. So even after the sun sets, temperatures remain slightly higher than in neighboring suburbs. So now, when your dad says, “It’s not the heat, it’s the humidity,” you can throw in, “Actually, Dad, it’s the urban heat island effect.”

And the final kick to our collective sweaty balls: The lack of rain stresses our trees so much that they’ve started shedding their leaves early, skipping the vibrant autumn colors we usually enjoy. So, if you were hoping for our beautifully epic fall foliage season, you might want to adjust your expectations. We’re looking at a shorter, less colorful autumn, thanks to one of the driest summers in recent memory.

TLDR: Ohio’s drought is reaching historic levels, with Columbus feeling the burn more than most. From crops struggling in the fields to trees shedding their leaves prematurely, the lack of rain is taking a toll on both the land and the people. With scorching temperatures amplified by the city’s urban heat island effect, it’s clear that this summer has been one hot one for the record books. As we head into fall, the big question is: Where you at, Rain?

ZEST FEST 2024!

Saturday, September 14th!

Our Friends over at @noblecut are throwing a festival celebrating their flagship Limoncello and the other cellos in the Noble Cut family. The festival will include an outdoor party, cocktails, tours, food, and fun!

“What better way to say goodbye to summer and hello to fall than Cello Fest! We're teaming up with our neighbors and friends at Heart State Brewing to host an outdoor party with Noble Cut cocktails, craft beer, food trucks, vendors and more. We'll be giving mini tours of the distillery and have tastings in the bottle shop too!”

There will be raffles and chances to win cool swag as we raise money for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.

Tickets are $15 ($5 from each ticket benefiting the National MS Society)

Trivia Answer

B. 1977 - Nickelodeon launched December 1, 1977, when Warner Cable Communications Debuted the first 2-way interactive cable system, QUBE, in Columbus, Ohio.

Signing Off