Questions and Answers
What percentage of the Earth's water is salt water?
97%
Where is the majority of unfrozen freshwater found?
Groundwater
What are the natural sources of fresh water?
Surface water, under river flow, groundwater, and frozen water
What are the human uses of water resources?
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Where is groundwater depletion occurring most prominently?
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Study Notes
Water Resources
- Approximately 97% of the Earth's water is salt water, making it unsuitable for human consumption.
- The majority of unfrozen freshwater (about 68%) is found in ice caps, glaciers, and permanent snow.
Natural Sources of Fresh Water
- Freshwater is found in rivers, lakes, and reservoirs, which account for only 1.7% of the Earth's water.
- Groundwater, which is the water stored beneath the Earth's surface, makes up around 29.9% of the freshwater.
- Atmosphere water, in the form of water vapor, is another natural source of freshwater.
Human Uses of Water Resources
- Water resources are used for agriculture, industry, and domestic purposes, including drinking, sanitation, and hygiene.
- Freshwater is also used for energy production, such as in hydroelectric power plants.
Groundwater Depletion
- Groundwater depletion is occurring most prominently in areas with intensive agriculture, such as the High Plains of North America and the Indo-Gangetic Plain of India.
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