If there is an increase in evaporation due to higher ocean surface temperatures, what process would need to increase to keep the water cycle balanced? Evapotranspiration Precipitation Respiration Water runoff
Biology · High School · Thu Feb 04 2021
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If there is an increase in evaporation due to higher ocean surface temperatures, the process that would need to increase to keep the water cycle balanced is precipitation.
Evaporation and precipitation are key components of the water cycle.
When evaporation increases, it results in more water vapor in the atmosphere.
To maintain balance in the water cycle, this increased water vapor needs to be returned to the Earth's surface, and precipitation is the process by which water vapor condenses and falls back to the surface as rain, snow, sleet, or hail.
Therefore, an increase in evaporation should ideally be matched by an increase in precipitation to ensure a balanced water cycle.
This helps to regulate the distribution of water on Earth and sustain various ecosystems.