Stefan number

The Stefan number, St or Ste, is defined as the ratio of sensible heat to latent heat. It is given by the formula

$Ste = \frac{C_p\Delta T}{L}$

where $C_p$ is the specific heat, $\Delta T$ is the temperature difference between phases, and L is the latent heat of melting. It is a dimensionless parameter that is useful in analyzing a Stefan problem. The parameter was developed from Josef Stefan's calculations of the rate of phase change of water into ice on the polar ice caps.