How do trees pump water?

Trees absorb large quantities of water from the soil and transport it to the leaves where it supports cellular processes and photosynthesis, but most of the water pumped to the leaves evaporates into the air in a process called transpiration. How trees can pump vast amounts of water up to 30 meter high has been the subject of scientific inquiry since the 1890’s. This animation will delve into transpiration, water cohesion and adhesion, and the cohesion-tension theory of water transport. The video will also describe the recent results from a study on passive water transport in a synthetic tree.

For further reading:

S Bittner, M Janott, D Ritter, et al. Functional-structural water flow model reveals differences between diffuse- and ring-porous tree species. Agricultural and Forest Meteorology, vol 158-159 (2012), pp 80-89.

[thestrongman]

4:23 thanks for the video. how much were the diameter of the tubes to achieve that 3 mts?

[digivisiongopakumar]

Okay thanks for your video.in this case when you cut a tree or bananana tree at a height of around two meter, how again water flowing conti uous through the cut portion even with out branch or leaves .it means there is something in tree roots to pump water in one direction without coming down

[Daniel-wyhm]

Oh, really good. Thanks for the video.

[larspardo]

I feel that we are missing the implications of being able to move water against gravity using only evaporation....specifically is it possible to move water from a reservoir, up a slope, to another reservoir. ...collect the water thru condensation ....& then generate electricity as the water flows down to the first reservoir. If this were possible, it would be the equivalent of a solar powered battery using water as the
I'm pretty sure I'm missing something here....

[ButterflyLullabyLtd]

Hello. A tree cutter told our neighbours that the trees were causing damp problems in their house. Can you please confirm this is not true. We all know that trees suck up water; therefore, they make our gardens less boggy. Sadly, all the trees have been cut down because of mis-information.

[tomhargraves]

The experiment demonstrates that water can be pulled up 3 meters, not 30 meters.

[mahmoudabdelaziz]

The question is: Why doesn't the water get boiled? Lets say pinewood trees grows more than 200 feet, theoretically at some point the water moving upwards has to reach a boiling point!!

[DavidfromMichigan]

So, OK, then this would debunk the whole theory about harvesting your plants before sunrise right? The theory says that at night, plants nutrients will flow back down to the roots, as well as water, making your harvest more palatable.

[geirmyrvagnes]

Cool "fake tree". I don's see how this explains how sap can flow for days from a cut branch high up the tree.

[yunissimos]

Low pressure is my favorite kind of pressure 😂😂😂❤❤😊😊

[cassiemarkland]

Nope, still don't understand pressure, cohesion or adhesion, or cohesion/tension theory. Nice try.

[squarefootarchitects]

No. This is not clear explanation. Air pressure has no role here.