Recent research has shown that latent heat release during cloud formation in ascending air streams is a crucial process for the formation of atmospheric blocking that is not probably accounted for in current blocking theories, might lead to model deficiencies in the representation of blocking, and can contribute to future changes in blocking occurrence due to climate warming. In this project, we aim to improve our understanding of this linkage between latent heat release and blocking with the help of Lagrangian diagnostics applied to reanalysis data, global climate simulations and simulations of individual blocking cases with artificially modified latent heat release.