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 from the surface, absorbing latent heat, and later releases it when it condenses into clouds. Understanding latent heat helps explain weather patterns and the behavior of different materials during heating and cooling.