Dew
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Missing image Water_drops_on_spider_web.jpg Dew on a spider web |
Dew is the term for small droplets of water that appear on thin objects in the morning or evening. This is a form of condensation. Dew results from atmospheric moisture that condenses after a warm day and appears during the night on cooled surfaces as small drops. The cool surfaces cool the nearby air, decreasing the amount of humidity (dissolved moisture) the local air can hold. The extra vapor condenses (precipitates out of solution in the air). When temperatures are low enough, dew will take the form of ice; this form is called frost.
As dew is related to the temperature of surface, in late summer it is formed most easily on surfaces which are not warmed by conducted heat from deep ground, such as railings, car roofs and bridges.
Culturally, dew is often associated with purity and freshness. This is evidenced by the names of certain popular beverages such as Mountain Dew and Sierra Mist.