What term describes the loss of water from soils to the atmosphere?

The chosen answer, evapotranspiration, accurately defines the loss of water from soils to the atmosphere. This term encompasses both the process of evaporation, where water is converted from liquid to vapor from soil and water surfaces, and transpiration, which is the release of water vapor from plants. During evapotranspiration, water moves into the atmosphere, playing a crucial role in the water cycle and influencing local weather patterns, soil moisture, and nutrient transport.

In contrast, infiltration refers to the process by which water enters the soil, and condensation relates to the process where water vapor cools and transforms back into liquid, often forming clouds. Precipitation encompasses all forms of water, such as rain, sleet, or snow, that falls from clouds to the ground, which does not relate to the direct loss of water from the soil but rather the input of moisture into the system. Thus, evapotranspiration is the appropriate term to describe the specific phenomenon of water loss from soils to the atmosphere.