According to the average annual water budget for Texas, how does the majority of surface water leave the state?

The majority of surface water leaves Texas primarily through evaporation and transpiration, which is an essential component of the hydrological cycle. In this process, water from rivers, lakes, and other bodies of water is converted into vapor and released into the atmosphere, significantly impacting the state's overall water budget. Given Texas's climate, which features high temperatures and varying precipitation patterns, evaporation rates tend to be significant. Additionally, transpiration, which refers to the release of water vapor from plants, further contributes to the total water loss from the surface water bodies.

In contrast, while agriculture does use a considerable amount of water, it often returns a portion of that water back to the system through drainage and runoff. Similarly, industrial processes consume water but typically recycle it and do not result in a net loss as significant as evaporation and transpiration. Exporting water to other states is less common and not a primary method of water loss compared to the natural processes of evaporation and transpiration. Thus, the prevalence of these natural processes solidifies the answer regarding how most surface water exits the state.