If you were to put some water in a bucket and left it in your backyard, the water level would rise and fall over time with the weather. The data here represents data collected from a bucket that was initially filled to the halfway mark with water. The water depth was measured on the first of the month for two years. Although the water never completely dried up, it also never overflowed during this time. Answer the next three questions based on the data.
Month | Water Level (cm) | Month | Water Level (cm) |
1 | 30 | 13 | 38 |
2 | 24 | 14 | 39 |
3 | 20 | 15 | 37 |
4 | 24 | 16 | 48 |
5 | 26 | 17 | 48 |
6 | 29 | 18 | 49 |
7 | 35 | 19 | 55 |
8 | 28 | 20 | 45 |
9 | 31 | 21 | 47 |
10 | 34 | 22 | 50 |
11 | 38 | 23 | 55 |
12 | 37 | 24 | 51 |
Which statement explains the general upwards trend of the data over the two-year time period?
◦ Transpiration exceeded precipitation
◦ Evaporation exceeded transpiration
◦ Precipitation exceeded evaporation
◦ None of these statements explains the upward trend.