What is evapotranspiration?

Evapotranspiration is when water from plants and soil turns into vapor and goes up into the air.

Imagine you're playing outside on a hot day, and your skin feels like it's drying out, that’s evaporation. Now picture a tree in the same sunny spot, drinking water from deep underground and letting some of it escape through its leaves, that’s transpiration. Together, they make one big process called evapotranspiration.

Think of the ground like a sponge that's been soaked with water. When the sun shines on it, the sponge starts to dry out, that's evaporation. Plants are like little sponges too! They suck up water from the soil and then let some of it escape through their leaves when it’s hot, that’s transpiration.

So, whether you're a plant or just dirt in the sun, you're helping turn water into vapor every day, just like how your skin dries when you’re out playing.