Transpiration

• what is transpiration?

  • evaporation and diffusion of water from plants surface (leaves)
  • evaporation creates slight shortage of water in leaf - more water is drawn up from rest of plant through xylem vessels
  • more water drawn from roots - constant transpiration stream through plant
• how does light intensity affect rate of transpiration?

  • brighter the light = greater the transpiration rate
  • stomata closes as it gets dark - photosynthesis can not happen in the dark - don't open to let co2 in
• how does temperature affect rate of transpiration?

  • warmer = faster transpiration
  • water particles = more energy to evaporate and diffuse out of stomata
• how does wind speed affect the rate of transpiration?

  • higher wind speed = great transpiration rate
  • wind removes water vapor allowing water to evaporate
• how does humidity affect the rate of transpiration?

  • drier air = faster transpiration
  • diffusion takes place much quicker in really high concentrations to really low concentrations