Latent heat is the amount of energy absorbed or released by a substance during a phase change, such as melting or boiling, without changing its temperature. For example, when ice melts into water, it absorbs heat from the surroundings, but its temperature remains constant until all the ice has turned to water. This energy is crucial in various natural processes, such as the water cycle, where water evaporates and condenses, affecting weather patterns. Understanding latent heat helps in fields like meteorology and engineering, where managing temperature changes during phase transitions is essential for efficiency and safety.