evapotranspiration

[ ih-vap-oh-tran-spuh-rey-shuhn ]

noun

, Meteorology.

1. the process of transferring moisture from the earth to the atmosphere by evaporation of water and transpiration from plants.
2. Also called flyoff, the total volume transferred by this process.

evapotranspiration

/ ɪˌvæpəʊˌtrænspəˈreɪʃən /

noun

1. the return of water vapour to the atmosphere by evaporation from land and water surfaces and by the transpiration of vegetation

Word History and Origins

Origin of evapotranspiration¹

First recorded in 1945–50; evapo(ration) + transpiration

Example Sentences

The monitor uses a “convergence of evidence” approach that pulls in data from dozens of indicators each week, including measurements of precipitation, soil moisture, snowpack, snow water equivalents, streamflows, evapotranspiration, and groundwater and reservoir levels, he said.

From Los Angeles Times

Vegetation such as trees provide a valuable cooling effect, shading surfaces and deflecting solar radiation while releasing moisture into the atmosphere through evapotranspiration -- the process in which plants absorb water through their roots and release it as water vapor through their leaves.

From Science Daily

An evapotranspiration database called OpenET became publicly available in early 2023.

From Science Daily

It provides satellite-based evapotranspiration estimates for the western United States.

From Science Daily

Subtracting evapotranspiration in fallow fields from total evapotranspiration yields the amount of water that crops are actually consuming.

From Science Daily

More About Transpiration

What is evapotranspiration?

Evapotranspiration is the process of moisture moving from the earth to the atmosphere through water evaporation and plant transpiration. 

Evapotranspiration refers to the moving of water and moisture from the soil and plants to the atmosphere. Evaporation is water in the soil surface becoming vapor as the result of temperature and other factors. The hotter it is, for example, the more water that will evaporate.

Transpiration is a plant releasing water as vapor through its leaves. Transpiration helps a plant regulate its internal temperature. Corn, a crop grown in much of the Midwestern United States, is well known for transpiring to regulate its internal temperature, for example.

Because water moves to the atmosphere from a wide variety of sources, the term evapotranspiration is sometimes used broadly to describe any evaporation or movement of water from the earth to the atmosphere, even from sources other than plants and soil. 

Example: Evapotranspiration is a vital part of all major rainforest ecosystems.

Where does evapotranspiration come from?

The first records of the term evapotranspiration come from around the 1940s. It combines the term evaporation, meaning “the act of turning a liquid or solid into a vapor,” and transpiration, meaning “the act of emitting watery vapor.” Evapotranspiration is both evaporation and transpiration.

Did you know ... ?

What are some synonyms for evapotranspiration?

• flyoff
• water loss

What are some words that share a root or word element with evapotranspiration? 

• evaporation
• transpiration
• evaporator
• evaporimeter
• transpire

What are some words that often get used in discussing evapotranspiration?

• atmosphere
• cloud
• roots
• plants
• vapor

How is evapotranspiration used in real life?

Evapotranspiration is most commonly used in the contexts of environmental sciences and industries that rely on irrigation, such as agriculture.

Shoutout to evapotranspiration from the corn for the more humid conditions for those home runs! 🌽 #FieldOfDreamsGame

— Tyler Roney (@TylerJRoney) August 13, 2021

8:20PM – Current dew point in Aurora is an extremely oppressive 84 degrees! This is due to a combo of 2 things: moisture "pooling" along a weak front & evapotranspiration from maturing crops. Mid 80s dew points are pretty rare, but not completely unheard of this time of yr #NEwx

— NWS Hastings (@NWSHastings) July 18, 2019

Corn sweat (noun):
Evapotranspiration, a cooling mechanism. This moisture released by the crops can increase humidity in a hyper localized area which in turn increases the heat index value. 🌽🥵

— Caitlin Harvey (@CaitlinHarveyWX) July 19, 2021

 

Try using evapotranspiration!

True or False?

Evapotranspiration is sometimes used to describe any evaporation of water into the atmosphere.