THE HYDROSPHERE

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THE HYDROSPHERE

• The Earths water system

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71 of the planet surface is covered by water
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What are the components of the hydrosphere?

• Oceans and seas
• lakes and rivers
• icecaps and glaciers
• groundwater and soil water
• atmospheric moisture

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The role of water

• Provides key ingredient for plant and animal life
• weathers and erodes and removes materials and
  helps form soil
• provides habitat for many species
• transports nutrients and waste from one location
  to another
• redistributes energy from the Equator towards the
  poles
• provides water for agriculture

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Water sustains wildlife and plants
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Rivers change landscapes
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Rain supports biodiversity
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Water transports nutrients and waste
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Water redistributes energy across the planet

• The Gulf Stream carries heat energy towards the
  Arctic

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Water for crops

• Much of human agriculture now depends upon
  irrigation

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Distribution of water

• 97 of the Earths water is in the oceans and is
  salt water
• less than 2 is ice found at the poles and in
  glaciers and icecaps
• groundwater and soil water accounts for less than
  .05 of all Earth water
• streams, rivers and lakes account for .02 of
  all water
• atmosphere holds only .0001 of all water

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Critical issues for humans

• Only fresh water is suitable for most human uses
• fresh water has to be free of both organic and
  inorganic contaminants for most uses
• human activities have traditionally used water as
  a dumping stream for waste
• once contaminated, water is unavailable for use,
  and may be harmful for other species
• population growth has made water a scarce
  resource in more communities
• some countries have already fought wars over
  water scarcity

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Hydrologic cycle
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