Which process describes water returning to the atmosphere via evaporation and plant transpiration?

Which process describes water returning to the atmosphere via evaporation and plant transpiration?

• A. Infiltration
• B. Evapotranspiration
• C. Condensation
• D. Runoff

Answer: (B)

Water returning to the atmosphere through both evaporation and plant transpiration is evapotranspiration. Evaporation is the transformation of liquid water from oceans, lakes, or soil into water vapor. Transpiration is the release of water vapor from plant leaves as water moves from the soil through the plant. Together, these two processes describe moisture moving back into the air, which is exactly what evapotranspiration accounts for. Infiltration is water soaking into the soil to become groundwater; condensation is vapor turning into liquid in clouds; runoff is water flowing over land to streams. So evapotranspiration best fits the description.

Water returning to the atmosphere through both evaporation and plant transpiration is evapotranspiration. Evaporation is the transformation of liquid water from oceans, lakes, or soil into water vapor. Transpiration is the release of water vapor from plant leaves as water moves from the soil through the plant. Together, these two processes describe moisture moving back into the air, which is exactly what evapotranspiration accounts for. Infiltration is water soaking into the soil to become groundwater; condensation is vapor turning into liquid in clouds; runoff is water flowing over land to streams. So evapotranspiration best fits the description.