Hydrosphere Contents

1. Water

Conclusion

The hydrosphere is the collective term given to all the different forms of water on the Earth's surface. Most (97%) is held in the oceans. Water is continually in motion in the hydrological cycle, with residence times ranging from 2,500 years for ocean water to a matter of days for streamwater and atmospheric moisture. The uneven natural distribution of water is one of the main factors explaining the variation in biomes around the globe.

Questions and answers

1.How much water is there in the hydrosphere?

question 1 answers

2.Where is the majority of the water in the hydrosphere stored?

question 2 answers

3.What is the hydrological cycle?

question 3 answers

4. What proportion of atmospheric moisture is redeposited on the sea as rain or snow?

question 4 answers

5. Where does the fresh water most accessible to humans collate?

question 5 answers

6. What happens to precipitation which sinks below the biologically active zone?

question 6 answers

7. How can variability in the natural distribution of water be managed?

question 7 answers

Question 1 answer

There are 1.4 billion km present as liquid water, ice and water vapour.

Question 2 answer

Ocean storage in seawater and marine sediment incorporates 97.3% of this volume.

Question 3 answer

The circulation of water - in liquid, solid, or vapour form - through a series of reservoirs in the environment.

Question 4 answer

90% is redeposited on the sea, the remaining 10% is transported as water vapour and rains on the land.

Question 5 answer

In natural lakes or reservoirs.

Question 6 answer

The water will accumulate as groundwater, some of which may become rapidly recycled back to the surface of the Earth in the form of springs and wells, and a further fraction may remain locked up in the sediments for thousands of years.

Question 7 answer

The supply of water in a location is crucial in determining the potential productivity of that place. Humans can artificially modify and manipulate a local environment to increase water availability by water management techniques, such as irrigation. Through such management techniques, water can be diverted to where it is needed or be stored in water reservoirs for later use.