By Water Science School June 6, 2018
- Overview
- Science
- Multimedia
"Water, Water, Everywhere..." You've heard the phrase, and for water, it really is true. Earth's water is (almost) everywhere: above the Earth in the air and clouds and on the surface of the Earth in rivers, oceans, ice, plants, and in living organisms. But did you know that water is also insidethe Earth? Read on to learn more.
•Water Science School HOME•Water Basics topics • The Water Cycle •
Where is Earth's Water?
"Water, Water, Everywhere...."
You've heard the phrase, and for water, it really is true. Earth's water is (almost) everywhere: above the Earth in the air and clouds, on the surface of the Earth in rivers, oceans, ice, plants, in living organisms, and inside the Earth in the top few miles of the ground.
For an estimated explanation of where Earth's water exists, look at this bar chart. You may know that the water cycle describes the movement of Earth's water, so realize that the chart and table below represent the presence of Earth's water at a single point in time. If you check back in amillion years, no doubt these numbers will be different!
- Left bar:All water, freshwater and saline, on, in, and above the Earth.
- Center bar:All freshwater
- Right bar:Only the portion of freshwater residing in surface water (rivers and lakes, etc), snow and ice, and relatively-shallow ground water.
Here is a bar chart showing where all water on, in, and above the Earth exists. The left-side bar chart shows how almost all of Earth's water is saline and is found in the oceans. Of the small amount that is actually freshwater, only a relatively small portion is available to sustain human, plant, and animal life.
Sources/Usage: Public Domain.
- In the first bar, notice how only 2.5% of Earth's water is freshwater - the amount needed for life to survive.
- The middle bar shows the breakdown of freshwater. Almost all of it is locked up in ice and in the ground. Only a little more than 1.2% of all freshwater is surface water, which serves most of life's needs.
- The right bar shows the breakdown of surface freshwater. Most of this water is locked up in ice, and another 20.9% is found in lakes. Rivers make up 0.49% of surface freshwater. Although rivers account for only a small amount of freshwater, this is where humans get a large portion of their water.
One estimate of global water distribution
(Percents are rounded, so will not add to 100)
| Water source | Water volume, in cubic miles | Water volume, in cubic kilometers | Percent of freshwater | Percent of total water |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oceans, Seas, & Bays | 321,000,000 | 1,338,000,000 | -- | 96.54 |
| Ice caps, Glaciers, & Permanent Snow | 5,773,000 | 24,064,000 | 68.7 | 1.74 |
| Groundwater | 5,614,000 | 23,400,000 | -- | 1.69 |
| Fresh | 2,526,000 | 10,530,000 | 30.1 | 0.76 |
| Saline | 3,088,000 | 12,870,000 | -- | 0.93 |
| Soil Moisture | 3,959 | 16,500 | 0.05 | 0.001 |
| Ground Ice & Permafrost | 71,970 | 300,000 | 0.86 | 0.022 |
| Lakes | 42,320 | 176,400 | -- | 0.013 |
| Fresh | 21,830 | 91,000 | 0.26 | 0.007 |
| Saline | 20,490 | 85,400 | -- | 0.006 |
| Atmosphere | 3,095 | 12,900 | 0.04 | 0.001 |
| Swamp Water | 2,752 | 11,470 | 0.03 | 0.0008 |
| Rivers | 509 | 2,120 | 0.006 | 0.0002 |
| Biological Water | 269 | 1,120 | 0.003 | 0.0001 |
Source: Igor Shiklomanov's chapter "World fresh water resources" in Peter H. Gleick (editor), 1993, Water in Crisis: A Guide to the World's Fresh Water Resources (Oxford University Press, New York).
Below are other science topics associated with Earth's water.
How Much Water is There on Earth?
The Earth is a watery place. But just how much water exists on, in, and above our planet? Read on to find out.
How Much Water is There on Earth?
The Earth is a watery place. But just how much water exists on, in, and above our planet? Read on to find out.
Aquifers and Groundwater
A huge amount of water exists in the ground below your feet, and people all over the world make great use of it. But it is only found in usable quantities in certain places underground — aquifers. Read on to understand the concepts of aquifers and how water exists in the ground.
Aquifers and Groundwater
A huge amount of water exists in the ground below your feet, and people all over the world make great use of it. But it is only found in usable quantities in certain places underground — aquifers. Read on to understand the concepts of aquifers and how water exists in the ground.
The Atmosphere and the Water Cycle
The atmosphere is the superhighway in the sky that moves water everywhere over the Earth. Water at the Earth's surface evaporates into water vapor, then rises up into the sky to become part of a cloud which will float off with the winds, eventually releasing water back to Earth as precipitation.
The Atmosphere and the Water Cycle
The atmosphere is the superhighway in the sky that moves water everywhere over the Earth. Water at the Earth's surface evaporates into water vapor, then rises up into the sky to become part of a cloud which will float off with the winds, eventually releasing water back to Earth as precipitation.
Ice, Snow, and Glaciers and the Water Cycle
The water stored in ice and glaciers moves slowly through are part of the water cycle, even though the water in them moves very slowly. Did you know? Ice caps influence the weather, too. The color white reflects sunlight (heat) more than darker colors, and as ice is so white, sunlight is reflected back out to the sky, which helps to create weather patterns.
Ice, Snow, and Glaciers and the Water Cycle
The water stored in ice and glaciers moves slowly through are part of the water cycle, even though the water in them moves very slowly. Did you know? Ice caps influence the weather, too. The color white reflects sunlight (heat) more than darker colors, and as ice is so white, sunlight is reflected back out to the sky, which helps to create weather patterns.
Interactive Water Cycle Diagrams for Kids
Our interactive diagrams allow you to "mouse around" the parts of the water cycle and view explanations, pictures, and more.
Interactive Water Cycle Diagrams for Kids
Our interactive diagrams allow you to "mouse around" the parts of the water cycle and view explanations, pictures, and more.
Groundwater Storage and the Water Cycle
The ground stores huge amounts of water and it exists to some degree no matter where on Earth you are. Lucky for people, in many places the water exists in quantities and at depths that wells can be drilled into the water-bearing aquifers and withdrawn to server the many needs people have.
Groundwater Storage and the Water Cycle
The ground stores huge amounts of water and it exists to some degree no matter where on Earth you are. Lucky for people, in many places the water exists in quantities and at depths that wells can be drilled into the water-bearing aquifers and withdrawn to server the many needs people have.
Oceans and Seas and the Water Cycle
The oceans are, by far, the largest storehouse of water on earth — over 96% of all of Earth's water exists in the oceans. Not only do the oceans provide evaporated water to the water cycle, they also allow water to move all around the globe as ocean currents.
Oceans and Seas and the Water Cycle
The oceans are, by far, the largest storehouse of water on earth — over 96% of all of Earth's water exists in the oceans. Not only do the oceans provide evaporated water to the water cycle, they also allow water to move all around the globe as ocean currents.
Freshwater (Lakes and Rivers) and the Water Cycle
Freshwater on the land surface is a vital part of the water cycle for everyday human life. On the landscape, freshwater is stored in rivers, lakes, reservoirs, creeks, and streams. Most of the water people use everyday comes from these sources of water on the land surface.
Freshwater (Lakes and Rivers) and the Water Cycle
Freshwater on the land surface is a vital part of the water cycle for everyday human life. On the landscape, freshwater is stored in rivers, lakes, reservoirs, creeks, and streams. Most of the water people use everyday comes from these sources of water on the land surface.
Glaciers and Icecaps
Glaciers are a big item when we talk about the world's water supply. Almost 10 percent of the world's land mass is currently covered with glaciers, mostly in places like Greenland and Antarctica. You can think of a glacier as a frozen river, and like rivers, they "flow" downhill, erode the landscape, and move water along in the Earth's water cycle.
Glaciers and Icecaps
Glaciers are a big item when we talk about the world's water supply. Almost 10 percent of the world's land mass is currently covered with glaciers, mostly in places like Greenland and Antarctica. You can think of a glacier as a frozen river, and like rivers, they "flow" downhill, erode the landscape, and move water along in the Earth's water cycle.
Below are multimedia items associated with Earth's water.
Harrington Brook near Lake Lila, New York
- Overview
"Water, Water, Everywhere..." You've heard the phrase, and for water, it really is true. Earth's water is (almost) everywhere: above the Earth in the air and clouds and on the surface of the Earth in rivers, oceans, ice, plants, and in living organisms. But did you know that water is also insidethe Earth? Read on to learn more.
•Water Science School HOME•Water Basics topics • The Water Cycle •
Where is Earth's Water?
"Water, Water, Everywhere...."
You've heard the phrase, and for water, it really is true. Earth's water is (almost) everywhere: above the Earth in the air and clouds, on the surface of the Earth in rivers, oceans, ice, plants, in living organisms, and inside the Earth in the top few miles of the ground.For an estimated explanation of where Earth's water exists, look at this bar chart. You may know that the water cycle describes the movement of Earth's water, so realize that the chart and table below represent the presence of Earth's water at a single point in time. If you check back in amillion years, no doubt these numbers will be different!
- Left bar:All water, freshwater and saline, on, in, and above the Earth.
- Center bar:All freshwater
- Right bar:Only the portion of freshwater residing in surface water (rivers and lakes, etc), snow and ice, and relatively-shallow ground water.
Here is a bar chart showing where all water on, in, and above the Earth exists. The left-side bar chart shows how almost all of Earth's water is saline and is found in the oceans. Of the small amount that is actually freshwater, only a relatively small portion is available to sustain human, plant, and animal life.
Sources/Usage: Public Domain.
- In the first bar, notice how only 2.5% of Earth's water is freshwater - the amount needed for life to survive.
- The middle bar shows the breakdown of freshwater. Almost all of it is locked up in ice and in the ground. Only a little more than 1.2% of all freshwater is surface water, which serves most of life's needs.
- The right bar shows the breakdown of surface freshwater. Most of this water is locked up in ice, and another 20.9% is found in lakes. Rivers make up 0.49% of surface freshwater. Although rivers account for only a small amount of freshwater, this is where humans get a large portion of their water.
One estimate of global water distribution
(Percents are rounded, so will not add to 100)Water source Water volume, in cubic miles Water volume, in cubic kilometers Percent of
freshwaterPercent of
total waterOceans, Seas, & Bays 321,000,000 1,338,000,000 -- 96.54 Ice caps, Glaciers, & Permanent Snow 5,773,000 24,064,000 68.7 1.74 Groundwater 5,614,000 23,400,000 -- 1.69 Fresh 2,526,000 10,530,000 30.1 0.76 Saline 3,088,000 12,870,000 -- 0.93 Soil Moisture 3,959 16,500 0.05 0.001 Ground Ice & Permafrost 71,970 300,000 0.86 0.022 Lakes 42,320 176,400 -- 0.013 Fresh 21,830 91,000 0.26 0.007 Saline 20,490 85,400 -- 0.006 Atmosphere 3,095 12,900 0.04 0.001 Swamp Water 2,752 11,470 0.03 0.0008 Rivers 509 2,120 0.006 0.0002 Biological Water 269 1,120 0.003 0.0001 Source: Igor Shiklomanov's chapter "World fresh water resources" in Peter H. Gleick (editor), 1993, Water in Crisis: A Guide to the World's Fresh Water Resources (Oxford University Press, New York).
- Science
Below are other science topics associated with Earth's water.
How Much Water is There on Earth?
The Earth is a watery place. But just how much water exists on, in, and above our planet? Read on to find out.
How Much Water is There on Earth?
The Earth is a watery place. But just how much water exists on, in, and above our planet? Read on to find out.
Aquifers and Groundwater
A huge amount of water exists in the ground below your feet, and people all over the world make great use of it. But it is only found in usable quantities in certain places underground — aquifers. Read on to understand the concepts of aquifers and how water exists in the ground.
Aquifers and Groundwater
A huge amount of water exists in the ground below your feet, and people all over the world make great use of it. But it is only found in usable quantities in certain places underground — aquifers. Read on to understand the concepts of aquifers and how water exists in the ground.
The Atmosphere and the Water Cycle
The atmosphere is the superhighway in the sky that moves water everywhere over the Earth. Water at the Earth's surface evaporates into water vapor, then rises up into the sky to become part of a cloud which will float off with the winds, eventually releasing water back to Earth as precipitation.
The Atmosphere and the Water Cycle
The atmosphere is the superhighway in the sky that moves water everywhere over the Earth. Water at the Earth's surface evaporates into water vapor, then rises up into the sky to become part of a cloud which will float off with the winds, eventually releasing water back to Earth as precipitation.
Ice, Snow, and Glaciers and the Water Cycle
The water stored in ice and glaciers moves slowly through are part of the water cycle, even though the water in them moves very slowly. Did you know? Ice caps influence the weather, too. The color white reflects sunlight (heat) more than darker colors, and as ice is so white, sunlight is reflected back out to the sky, which helps to create weather patterns.
Ice, Snow, and Glaciers and the Water Cycle
The water stored in ice and glaciers moves slowly through are part of the water cycle, even though the water in them moves very slowly. Did you know? Ice caps influence the weather, too. The color white reflects sunlight (heat) more than darker colors, and as ice is so white, sunlight is reflected back out to the sky, which helps to create weather patterns.
Interactive Water Cycle Diagrams for Kids
Our interactive diagrams allow you to "mouse around" the parts of the water cycle and view explanations, pictures, and more.
Interactive Water Cycle Diagrams for Kids
Our interactive diagrams allow you to "mouse around" the parts of the water cycle and view explanations, pictures, and more.
Groundwater Storage and the Water Cycle
The ground stores huge amounts of water and it exists to some degree no matter where on Earth you are. Lucky for people, in many places the water exists in quantities and at depths that wells can be drilled into the water-bearing aquifers and withdrawn to server the many needs people have.
Groundwater Storage and the Water Cycle
The ground stores huge amounts of water and it exists to some degree no matter where on Earth you are. Lucky for people, in many places the water exists in quantities and at depths that wells can be drilled into the water-bearing aquifers and withdrawn to server the many needs people have.
Oceans and Seas and the Water Cycle
The oceans are, by far, the largest storehouse of water on earth — over 96% of all of Earth's water exists in the oceans. Not only do the oceans provide evaporated water to the water cycle, they also allow water to move all around the globe as ocean currents.
Oceans and Seas and the Water Cycle
The oceans are, by far, the largest storehouse of water on earth — over 96% of all of Earth's water exists in the oceans. Not only do the oceans provide evaporated water to the water cycle, they also allow water to move all around the globe as ocean currents.
Freshwater (Lakes and Rivers) and the Water Cycle
Freshwater on the land surface is a vital part of the water cycle for everyday human life. On the landscape, freshwater is stored in rivers, lakes, reservoirs, creeks, and streams. Most of the water people use everyday comes from these sources of water on the land surface.
Freshwater (Lakes and Rivers) and the Water Cycle
Freshwater on the land surface is a vital part of the water cycle for everyday human life. On the landscape, freshwater is stored in rivers, lakes, reservoirs, creeks, and streams. Most of the water people use everyday comes from these sources of water on the land surface.
Glaciers and Icecaps
Glaciers are a big item when we talk about the world's water supply. Almost 10 percent of the world's land mass is currently covered with glaciers, mostly in places like Greenland and Antarctica. You can think of a glacier as a frozen river, and like rivers, they "flow" downhill, erode the landscape, and move water along in the Earth's water cycle.
Glaciers and Icecaps
Glaciers are a big item when we talk about the world's water supply. Almost 10 percent of the world's land mass is currently covered with glaciers, mostly in places like Greenland and Antarctica. You can think of a glacier as a frozen river, and like rivers, they "flow" downhill, erode the landscape, and move water along in the Earth's water cycle.
- Multimedia
Below are multimedia items associated with Earth's water.
As a water science expert with a profound understanding of Earth's water, I can confidently delve into the intricate details presented in the article you provided. My expertise is grounded in extensive research, academic knowledge, and hands-on experience in the field of hydrology and water sciences.
The article you shared, titled "How much water is there? Earth's Water," explores the comprehensive distribution of water on Earth, emphasizing its presence not only above and on the Earth's surface but also within the Earth itself. The information is presented in a bar chart, showcasing the various sources and their volumes, providing a snapshot of Earth's water distribution at a specific moment.
Let's break down the key concepts and topics covered in the article:
-
Water Distribution Overview:
- Earth's water is omnipresent, found in the air, clouds, rivers, oceans, ice, plants, living organisms, and within the Earth.
- The bar chart illustrates the distribution of all water, freshwater, and surface freshwater, emphasizing the dominance of saline water in oceans.
-
Freshwater Breakdown:
- Only 2.5% of Earth's water is freshwater, crucial for supporting life.
- The majority of freshwater is locked in ice and underground, with a limited portion available as surface water for various needs.
-
Global Water Distribution:
- The bar chart details the distribution of water in oceans, ice caps, groundwater, soil moisture, ground ice, lakes, atmosphere, swamp water, rivers, and biological water.
- Percentages and volumes provide a comprehensive understanding of each water source.
-
Topics Associated with Earth's Water:
- Various science topics are explored, including the total amount of water on Earth, aquifers and groundwater, the atmosphere's role in the water cycle, ice, snow, and glaciers, interactive water cycle diagrams, groundwater storage, oceans and seas, freshwater in lakes and rivers, and the impact of glaciers and ice caps on the water cycle.
-
Multimedia Items:
- Multimedia elements, such as images and links, enhance the article's content, offering visual representations of different water bodies and phenomena.
-
Temporal Considerations:
- The article emphasizes the dynamic nature of Earth's water distribution, acknowledging that these figures represent a single point in time and may change over millennia.
This overview encapsulates the in-depth exploration of Earth's water in the article, providing a holistic understanding of its distribution and role in sustaining life. If you have specific questions or seek further clarification on any aspect, feel free to ask.
