Which process is part of the water cycle and involves water movement from plant leaves?

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

Answer: (A)

Transpiration is the part of the water cycle where water moves from plant leaves into the atmosphere. Plants absorb water from the soil, move it up through the stem, and some of it exits leaf surfaces through tiny openings called stomata as water vapor. This release of water vapor from leaves adds moisture to the air and helps drive the cycle alongside evaporation from bodies of water. When you include both plant and surface evaporation, the combined process is often called evapotranspiration. Infiltration involves water seeping into soil, runoff is water flowing over the surface, and condensation is water vapor turning into liquid in the air—none of these involve water moving out of plant leaves.