In this topic, you learn about the cycle of water and its function for plants, for nature itself and its impact on the local climate.
The water on planet Earth is (put simply) in a continuous cycle of evaporation, condensation, precipitation, seepage and runoff. While the focus in recent decades has been on the drainage of rainwater, there has been a change in awareness due to climate change. In order to avoid flooding, attempts are being made to increasingly allow water to seep away locally. Examples of this are e.g. the sponge city, unsealing and the greening of roofs. In addition to reducing flood events, water storage practices also help to positively impact the climate. The effect of evaporation of water from water surfaces and not overgrown grounds together with the transpiration of planted surfaces is called evapotranspiration. It leads to local cooling and the reduction of heat islands.
Researchers at the Dutch University of Wageningen put the cooling capacity of a tree at 20 to 30 kilowatts. This corresponds to about ten air conditioners or a perceived temperature that is 10 to 15 degrees lower.
The life of plants depends on the availability of water. Water is necessary for plants to photosynthesize and for mineral and nutrient distribution within the plant.