Transpiration

plants · water cycle · nature's cooling system

Water's upward journey. Water travels up from a plant's roots all the way to its leaves, stems, and flowers. Then it evaporates into the air as invisible water vapor, almost like the plant is breathing out moisture.

Nature's air conditioner. When plants release water vapor, it cools them down on hot days. This is the same cooling effect you feel when water evaporates from your skin after a swim.

Tiny door controls. Plants have microscopic pores called stomata on their leaves that open and close like tiny doors. When it's dry, plants close these doors to save water, but this also stops them from taking in nutrients and carbon dioxide they need to grow.

Nutrient delivery system. Transpiration helps move minerals and nutrients from the soil up through the plant's whole body. Without this water movement, plants couldn't deliver the food they need to all their different parts.

Part of Earth's water cycle. The water vapor plants release joins the atmosphere and eventually becomes clouds and rain. Transpiration is how plants return billions of gallons of water back to the sky every day.