Infrared Training Center Level 1 Practice Exam

Condensation releases latent heat as water vapor turns into liquid, and that energy is transferred to the surface. That added energy raises the surface temperature, so the area where condensation occurs appears warmer on infrared measurements. The immediate effect of condensation is heating, not cooling, which is why this is the best description. Evaporation would cause cooling because it absorbs latent heat, but that’s the opposite process.