What happens when precipitation exceeds evapotranspiration?

When precipitation exceeds evapotranspiration, the excess moisture can lead to runoff or recharge the soil. This occurs because the soil reaches its saturation point, where it can no longer absorb additional water. As a result, the surplus water either flows over the surface as runoff or percolates down through the soil profile, recharging underlying aquifers. This process is crucial for maintaining groundwater levels and supporting the hydrological cycle.

The other options do not accurately describe the expected outcomes of precipitation exceeding evapotranspiration. For instance, soils may not necessarily become heavily compacted due to this condition; rather, compaction more commonly arises from physical pressure, not from excess moisture. While high water levels can potentially lead to waterlogging and affect plant growth, that is a different phenomenon that does not directly represent what happens globally when just precipitation exceeds evapotranspiration. Finally, groundwater levels would typically increase rather than decrease in this scenario, since the excess water may recharge aquifers, rather than depleting them.