Total water realm of the Earth’s surface, including the oceans, surface waters of the lands, ground waters, and water held in the atmosphere.
Hydrosphere
The total water realm of the Earth’s surface, including the oceans, surface waters of the lands, ground waters, and water held in the atmosphere, is often referred to as the Earth’s hydrosphere. The hydrosphere comprises roughly 97% of the Earth’s total water.
The oceans make up the vast majority of this water, accounting for about 96.5% of all the Earth’s water. The remaining water is distributed among different sources, including freshwater bodies such as lakes, rivers, and streams, with only a small percentage held in ground waters.
Water also exists in the atmosphere in the form of water vapor, clouds, fog, and precipitation. This water is constantly cycled through the atmosphere and the hydrosphere through the process of the water cycle.
Overall, the Earth’s hydrosphere is critical to supporting life as we know it, providing water for human consumption, irrigation, and other industrial uses, as well as contributing to the regulation of the planet’s climate and weather patterns.
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