Leaves play a crucial role in the water cycle through a process called transpiration, where water evaporates from the leaf surface, adding water vapor to the atmosphere.
Transpiration: Leaf's Contribution to the Water Cycle
Plants absorb water from the soil through their roots. This water travels up through the stem and reaches the leaves. According to the provided reference, once water reaches the leaves, some of it evaporates from the leaves, adding to the amount of water vapor in the air. This is transpiration.
The Process Explained:
- Absorption: Plants draw water from the soil via their root systems.
- Transportation: Water is transported from the roots, through the stem, and into the leaves.
- Evaporation (Transpiration): Water evaporates from the leaf surface, entering the atmosphere as water vapor.
Importance of Transpiration
- Cools the Plant: Evaporation has a cooling effect, preventing the leaves from overheating, similar to how sweating cools humans.
- Water Vapor in the Atmosphere: Transpiration significantly increases the amount of water vapor in the air, contributing to cloud formation and precipitation.
Therefore, leaves are essential contributors to the water cycle, actively releasing water back into the atmosphere through transpiration.
