Final answer:
Water vapor that condenses on a surface below 0 degrees Celsius turns directly into solid ice in a process called deposition, releasing latent heat and often forming frost.
Step-by-step explanation:
When water vapor condenses on a surface with a temperature below 0 degrees Celsius, it undergoes a phase change and becomes solid ice, a process known as deposition.
Condensation typically occurs when water vapor in the air comes into contact with a cold surface, releasing latent heat and turning into liquid water. However, if the surface is below freezing (below 0 degrees Celsius), the water vapor can go directly from a gaseous to a solid state without becoming liquid first, skipping the liquid phase entirely. This process releases latent heat of sublimation.
The release of latent heat increases the temperature of the adjacent environment. Therefore, the energy removed from the water vapor aids in forming frost on the cold surface, which we often see on windows or grass during cold mornings.