Conduction is transfer of heat within the same body, such as heating of the soil surface that can be transferred deeper into the soil. Convection is heat transfer by a body of moving gas or liquid. Radiation is heat transfer without any intermediate body. This is how heat is transferred from the sun to the earth. Finally, latent heat transfer occurs when heat is transported from one place to another through the evaporation and condensation process.
Evaporation absorbs heat and condensation releases heat.
Microclimates can be important in the effect of freezing temperatures and frost inducing conditions. Valley floors are more susceptible to frost injury, because cold air tends to move down slopes to lower areas. Cloud cover can reduce or eliminate the formation of frost due to its insulating effect. Clouds will reduce or eliminate radiant heat transfer from the earth, causing warmer temperatures at the earth's surface. There are two basic types of frost or freeze potentials that can occur.