What term is used to describe the process that includes both evaporation and plant transpiration?

The term that describes the combined process of evaporation and plant transpiration is "evapotranspiration." This process is crucial in the hydrological cycle as it accounts for the movement of water from the land to the atmosphere.

Evaporation involves the conversion of liquid water into vapor, primarily from surfaces like rivers, lakes, and soil, while transpiration is the process through which water is absorbed by plant roots from the soil and then released as vapor through small pores in leaves. By considering both processes together, evapotranspiration provides a more comprehensive understanding of how much water is being lost to the atmosphere in a given area, which is vital for irrigation planning, water resource management, and ecological studies.

In this context, the other terms relate to different hydrological processes. For instance, precipitation refers to any form of water, liquid or solid, that falls from the atmosphere to the ground. Condensation is the process of water vapor cooling and changing back into liquid water, forming clouds or dew. Infiltration involves the process by which water enters and moves through the soil. Thus, evapotranspiration is the appropriate term to encompass both the evaporation and transpiration processes together.