The Structure of Hydrosphere Hydrosphere l The hydrosphere

The Structure of Hydrosphere

Hydrosphere l The hydrosphere is the part of the earth that contains water.

The Structure of Hydrosphere Oceans— 96. 5% of water is salt water and it found in the oceans. l Fresh water—the remaining 3 percent is freshwater. l l Fresh water distribution: l l Ice: 1. 762% Groundwater: 1. 7% Surface Fresh Water: 0. 014% Atmosphere and soil: 0. 002%

Understanding Where Your Water Is Located—Oceans and Ice l What bodies of water hold the largest amount of water? l Oceans—the largest bodies of water on Earth (contain salt water only) l Examples of oceans: l Atlantic Ocean l Indian Ocean l Pacific Ocean

Understanding Where Your Water Is Located—Oceans and Ice l What features house water as ice? l Icebergs: a large piece of freshwater ice floating in open waters.

Understanding Where Your Water Is Located—Oceans and Ice l What features house water as ice? l Glaciers: any large mass of ice that moves slowly over land l *permanent snow areas also “house” water as ice

Fresh Water Locations—Surface Water l What is the difference between a watershed and a river basin? l Both terms describe land that drains into a river, stream or lake. l River Basin: the term used to describe an area that drains into a large river l Watershed: the term used to describe an area that drains into a smaller river or stream.

Fresh Water Locations—River Basins and Watersheds l Larger river basins are made up of many interconnected watersheds l Example: Cape Fear and Neuse River Basins are made of many small watersheds. l The water in a watershed runs to the lowest point—a river, stream, lake, or ocean

Fresh Water Locations—Rivers, Streams, and Lakes l What is a river? l. A large channel along which water is continually flowing down a slope—made of many streams that come together.

Fresh Water Locations—Rivers, Streams, and Lakes l What is a stream? l A small channel along which water is continually flowing down a slope—made of small gullies.

Fresh Water Locations—Rivers, Streams, and Lakes l What is a lake? l A body of water of considerable size contained on a body of land.

Fresh Water Locations-Groundwater l What is groundwater? l The water found in cracks and pores in sand, gravel and rocks below the earth’s surface.

Aquifer l What is aquifer? l Is a rock layer that stores water and allows water to flow through it.

Other Surface Waters l What is a wetland? l An area where the water table is at, near or above the land surface long enough during the year to support adapted plant growth.

Other Surface Waters l What l are the types of wetlands? Swamps, bogs, and marshes Swamp: a wetland dominated by trees l Bogs: a wetland dominated by peat moss l Marshes: a wetland dominated by grasses l

Additional Vocabulary Artesian Well – a well in which water rises because of pressure within aquifer. l Reservoir – a lake that stores water for human use. l Tributary-a stream feeding a larger stream or a lake l