|
Water throughout the
World
The majority of the Earth is covered with
water, and almost all of that is part of the
oceans.
Only a small portion of the Earth's water
is freshwater. This includes such things as
rivers,
lakes, and
groundwater.
A significant quantity of water is stored
as ice, within the Polar ice caps. Freshwater is required as potable
(drinking), agriculture, and industry.
Our sources of water are divided into the following resources.
|
World's
Oceans
= 97.3 % |
Freshwater
Lakes
= 0.009 % |
|
Ice caps
and Glaciers
= 2.14 % |
Rivers =
0.0001 % |
|
Soil
Moisture
= 0.005 % |
Groundwater
to 4000m = 0.61 % |
|
Atmosphere = .001 % |
Saline Lakes and
Inland Seas = 0.008 % |
Few rivers flow into the Pacific Ocean since it is bordered by
mountains. However, many large rivers flow into the Atlantic Ocean
carrying sediment from the land.
This process is one step of the
water
cycle
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