Why would a lion's breath steam?

Question

Someone close to me went to the circus and saw the lion's breath cloud up. Is there a reason for this, or is she certifiably crazy?

Answer 1

their breath would have been considerably hotter than the surrounding air.

like when you exhale in winter

Answer 2

Was it cold outside?

Answer 3

First of all its not "steam" (which is invisible).  It is what people normally call steam...which is the freshly condensed water vapor when it changes state and makes water droplets.  That is what clouds are; you can see water droplets but not steam (nor water vapor, in general).  But the hot, water-vapor laden air out of a mammals lungs hits colder outside air and immediately condenses to a little cloud of water droplets that then disperse and re-evaporate into vapor again.  Usually it is warm enough that there is no noticeable cloud formation but sometimes if it is cold (especially in the winter, as we all know) we see a little cloud formation right as the hot, wet air hits the cold outside air and causes the state change of water from vapor to liquid.

Answer 4

Without getting too scientific about vapor pressures and all, the lions are exhaling warm air loaded with moisture.  When they exhale into cooler and drier air, the moisture appears as "steam"  because the cooler air can't hold as much moisture.  Breathe on a window for an example.