Earth's Water Distribution

• Approximately 70% of Earth's surface is covered by water.
• Hydrosphere is all the water on the Earth.
• This includes oceans, lakes, streams, ice, ponds, glaciers, and rivers.
• Salt water makes up 97% of the Earth's surface water, including oceans, seas, and saltwater resources.
• Salt water isn't suitable for drinking or crop cultivation.
• Only 3% of Earth's water is freshwater.
• Less than 1% of Earth's water is available for human and animal consumption.
• The remainder, 2%, is found in ice caps and glaciers.

Fresh Water Breakdown

• 69% of freshwater is frozen in glaciers and ice caps.
• Glaciers are thick sheets of ice, of which most of Earth's freshwater is frozen, and found as snow cover.
• Ice caps are frozen water covering areas like Antarctica.
• 30% of freshwater is groundwater.
• Groundwater is stored in cracks and spaces between soil and underground rocks.
• Less than 1% of freshwater is running and standing water.
• Running water encompasses freshwater sources like rivers and streams.
• Standing water refers to freshwater sources like ponds and lakes.
• A tiny portion of Earth's water is in the atmosphere as water vapor.

Sources of Fresh Water

• Groundwater seeps into soil, entering groundwater aquifers or underground layers of rock/soil.
• Water flows through aquifers until reaching an impermeable rock layer.
• Freshwater accumulates on this rock and can be accessed via drilling/digging and pumping through a well.
• Running water sources include streams and rivers.
• Running water provides freshwater for homes, farms, and businesses.
• Standing water comprises usable freshwater sources like lakes and reservoirs.
• A reservoir is an artificial lake created for water storage, often by building a dam on a river.
• Water is stored behind the dam and released as needed.
• Storage is the process of water being stored on Earth's surface, in the ground, or as a water feature.