July 2: Rain vapor

[neverspent]

When I was driving to the farm yesterday evening, I came to a place just across the home county line where there had obviously been a rain shower recently. Tires splashing, steam rising from the road. That's something I kind of like about summer rainstorms: when the rain hits the road, the asphalt surface has absorbed so much heat from the sun that the water turns right to vapor and rolls off the road in waves of mist. If it keeps raining, of course the road eventually cools down, but if it's a quick storm, you're just left with the mist.



It's also a good illustration, I think, of why it can be several degrees hotter in cities than it is in the countryside of the same region: more paved surfaces and brick and concrete buildings to absorb the sun's heat. In the country, at least forested areas like around my hometown, there are lots of broad leaves shading the ground and respirating their cellulosic hearts out. Campaigns in cities to create more green space, including on rooftops, make me happy.

Comments

[donutsweeper]

wow, that's really neat

[neverspent]

Thanks! It's much nicer to see than it is to feel, because it feels like a SWAMP. And I've been in swamps, so I know. *g*

[donutsweeper]

oh blargh. Yeah, much nicer to look at!