Now let's look at Figure 1, which shows the stages of pool boiling. When the excess temperature lies between 0.2 and 4 degrees Celsius, only free convection can be observed. When excess temperature is between 4 and 20 degrees there is nucleate boiling. In this region isolated bubbles and or columns or slugs of bubbles will exist. At point P in this region, the heat transfer coefficient starts to decrease due to increased bubbles, which lessen the total surface-liquid contact. However, the heat rate continues to rise because of the rising excess temperature until point C where the maximum heat transfer is reached. After this point the decrease in the coefficient surpasses the increase in excess temperature and the heat transfer rate begins to decrease. Between points C and D is the transition region between nucleate and film boiling. In this region there is a combination of both types of boiling. Because the surface is now primarily in contact with a combination of bubbles and a vapor film, the heat transfer coefficient is reduced drastically; and therefore, the heat transfer rate will continue to decrease until point D. From the point D on there is only film boiling where the surface is covered by a vapor blanket. In this region there is no longer any surface to liquid contact; however, the heat transfer rate continues to increase as excess temperature increases because heat transfer by radiation becomes significant.