ABSTRACT
Vegetation covers nearly 30% of the Earth’s land surface and inžuencesclimatethroughtheexchangesofenergy,water,carbondioxide,andotherchemicalspecieswiththeatmosphere (Bonan,2008).›roughtheprocessofphotosynthesis(using theSun’senergytoconvertcarbondioxidefromtheatmosphereintosugars),vegetationgenerallygrowswhereverthere isavailablewaterandlight(MonteithandUnsworth,2008).›e complementofphotosynthesisistranspiration,themovementof waterfromthesoilthroughtheplantsandintotheair,aprocess whichplantsusebothtoaccessnutrientsandtoregulatetheir temperature.Comparedtoevaporationfrombaresoils,transpirationisextremelye®cientatmovingwaterbetweenlayersdeep in the soil and the atmosphere.
