In the global water budget, how does the value of evapotranspiration on land compare with that over oceans?

Correct answer: It is much lower on land than over oceans

Direct answer: B, evapotranspiration is much lower on land than the corresponding water loss over oceans in the global water budget. Evapotranspiration combines evaporation from soil, water surfaces, and plant transpiration. Oceans cover a much larger area than land and provide an extensive, continuously available water surface, so evaporation from oceans is very large. Land also contributes evaporation and transpiration, but its area and available surface water are more limited and vary with vegetation, soil moisture, and climate. A is incorrect because it ignores the dominant oceanic area. C is incorrect because the two reservoirs do not have identical areas or water availability. D is incorrect because land vegetation, soil, and inland waters do release water vapour. Memory cue: in the global budget, oceans are the major evaporation source; land is not water-vapour-free.