Distribution of Earth's Water

Summary

The video script discusses the distribution of Earth's water, highlighting that 96.5% is saltwater in oceans. Of the remaining 2.5% fresh water, 70% is ice, 30% is groundwater, and only 1.2% is surface water. Further, 69% of surface water is inaccessible ground ice, leaving 20.9% in lakes and 10.1% in rivers, atmosphere, and other sources. Ultimately, just 0.03% of Earth's water is accessible surface fresh water, emphasizing the scarcity of this vital resource.

Takeaways

• 🌍 96.5% of Earth's water is saltwater, primarily in the oceans.
• 💧 Only 2.5% of Earth's water is fresh, which is essential for life.
• ❄️ Nearly 70% of fresh water is locked in glaciers and polar ice caps.
• 🌱 30% of fresh water is stored deep underground, requiring wells to access.
• 💧 1.2% of fresh water is surface water, which is more easily accessible.
• ⛷ 69% of surface fresh water is in the form of ground ice or permafrost.
• 🏞️ 20.9% of surface fresh water is found in lakes.
• 💧 10.1% of surface fresh water is in rivers, the atmosphere, and other surface sources.
• 🌎 A mere 0.03% of all Earth's water is accessible surface fresh water.
• 🌱 The distribution of Earth's water highlights the scarcity of accessible fresh water.

Q & A

What percentage of Earth's total water is salt water?

A staggering 96.5 percent of Earth's total water is salt water, primarily found in our oceans.

How much of Earth's water is classified as fresh water?

Only 2.5 percent of all the water on Earth is considered fresh water.

What forms does the remaining 1 percent of Earth's water take?

The remaining 1 percent is salty water found in estuaries and other brackish bodies of water.

What percentage of fresh water is locked as solid ice in glaciers and polar ice caps?

Nearly 70 percent of fresh water is locked as solid ice in Earth's glaciers and polar ice caps.

How much of the fresh water is trapped in the ground?

Another 30 percent of fresh water is trapped in the ground, accessible through drilling wells.

What is the percentage of fresh water that exists as surface water?

1.2 percent of the total fresh water exists as surface fresh water.

How much of the surface fresh water is in the form of ground ice or permafrost?

69 percent of the surface fresh water exists in the form of ground ice or permafrost.

What percentage of surface fresh water is found in Earth's lakes?

20.9 percent of surface fresh water is found in Earth's lakes.

How much of the fresh water is scattered throughout Earth's rivers, atmosphere, and other locations?

The remaining 10.1 percent of fresh water is scattered throughout Earth's rivers, atmosphere, within living things, swamps, marshes, and surface soil.

What is the actual percentage of Earth's total water that is accessible as fresh water on the surface?

A mere 0.03 percent of all the water on Earth is accessible as fresh water on the surface.

Why is the accessibility of fresh water important to discuss in the context of Earth's water distribution?

The accessibility of fresh water is important because it directly impacts the availability of water for human consumption, agriculture, and ecosystems, despite the vast amount of water present on Earth.

Outlines

00:00

🌍 Earth's Water Distribution

This paragraph discusses the distribution of water on Earth. It highlights that 96.5% of Earth's water is saltwater in the oceans, with only 2.5% being fresh water. Out of this fresh water, nearly 70% is locked as solid ice in glaciers and polar ice caps. Another 30% is trapped in the ground, and only 1.2% is surface fresh water. The paragraph emphasizes the scarcity of easily accessible fresh water, noting that of the total water on Earth, only 0.03% is accessible as surface fresh water.

Keywords

💡Earth's water

Earth's water refers to the total volume of water present on our planet. It includes all forms of water, such as oceans, ice caps, lakes, rivers, and groundwater. In the video, the focus is on the distribution of Earth's water, highlighting that 96.5% of it is saltwater, which is a crucial fact for understanding the scarcity of fresh water.

💡Salt water

Salt water is water that contains a significant concentration of dissolved salts, primarily sodium chloride. The video emphasizes that 96.5% of Earth's water is salt water, predominantly found in the oceans, which is not directly usable for human consumption or agriculture without desalination.

💡Fresh water

Fresh water is water with low concentrations of dissolved salts, making it suitable for drinking and irrigation. The video points out that only 2.5% of Earth's water is fresh water, indicating its rarity and importance for sustaining life.

💡Estuaries

Estuaries are areas where rivers meet the sea, creating a mix of fresh and salt water. The video mentions that the remaining 1% of water that is not fresh water is found in estuaries and other brackish bodies, highlighting the transitional nature of these water bodies.

💡Glaciers

Glaciers are large, slow-moving masses of ice formed by the accumulation and compaction of snow. The video states that nearly 70% of fresh water is locked in glaciers and polar ice caps, illustrating the vastness of these ice formations and their role in storing fresh water.

💡Groundwater

Groundwater is water that is stored underground in aquifers, soil, and rocks. The video explains that 30% of fresh water is trapped in the ground, accessible through wells, which is a vital source for drinking water and irrigation in many regions.

💡Surface fresh water

Surface fresh water includes water found in lakes, rivers, and other above-ground sources. The video breaks down that 1.2% of all fresh water exists as surface fresh water, emphasizing the limited amount of easily accessible fresh water.

💡Ground ice

Ground ice, also known as permafrost, is ice that remains frozen in the soil for extended periods. The video mentions that 69% of surface fresh water exists as ground ice, indicating the significant portion of fresh water that is currently inaccessible.

💡Lakes

Lakes are inland bodies of standing water. The video specifies that 20.9% of surface fresh water is found in lakes, which are important for biodiversity, recreation, and as sources of water supply.

💡Rivers

Rivers are natural flowing watercourses that often provide water for agriculture, industry, and cities. The video notes that 10.1% of surface fresh water is found in rivers, highlighting their critical role in supporting life and ecosystems.

💡Water vapor

Water vapor is the gaseous state of water, a key component of the Earth's atmosphere. The video includes water vapor in the distribution of fresh water, showing that it is part of the water cycle and contributes to the planet's hydrological system.

Highlights

96.5% of Earth's water is saltwater in the oceans.

Only 2.5% of Earth's water is fresh water.

1% of Earth's water is other salty water in estuaries and brackish bodies.

70% of fresh water is locked as solid ice in glaciers and polar ice caps.

30% of fresh water is trapped in the ground, accessible through wells.

1.2% of fresh water exists as surface fresh water.

69% of surface fresh water is in ground ice or permafrost.

20.9% of surface fresh water is found in Earth's lakes.

10.1% of surface fresh water is in rivers, atmosphere, living things, swamps, and surface soil.

Only 0.03% of Earth's water is accessible as fresh water on the surface.

The distribution of Earth's water shows a scarcity of accessible fresh water.

The majority of fresh water is not readily accessible for human use.

The importance of conserving fresh water is highlighted by its limited availability.

The majority of Earth's water is in a form that is not useful for immediate consumption or agriculture.

The water cycle's complexity is evident in the distribution of fresh water.

The video emphasizes the need for sustainable water management.

The scarcity of fresh water underscores the importance of its protection and conservation.

Transcripts

let's take a look at the distribution of

Earth's water

we'll begin with everything all of the

water that exists on Earth now of that

100 percent a staggering 96.5 percent of

it exists as salt water in our oceans

only 2.5 percent of all the water on

Earth is fresh water and the remaining

one percent is other salty water that

exists in estuaries and other brackish

bodies of water

but let's focus in on that 2.5 percent

that exists as fresh water

so we'll zero in now remember this is a

mere 2.5 percent of all the water on

Earth that exists as fresh water and

let's break that down and see where it

exists

of that fraction nearly 70 percent is

locked as solid ice in Earth's glaciers

and polar ice caps

another 30 percent exists trapped in the

ground accessible only through the

drilling of wells

and then finally 1.2 percent exists as

surface fresh water now remember this is

1.2 percent of the total 2.5 of all

water so we're already talking about a

tiny tiny fraction of Earth's water

existing as easily accessible surface

fresh water but wait we could dig into

that surface water even more

so if we take that fraction of a

fraction that exists as fresh water

69 percent of it exists in ground ice or

permafrost currently Frozen and not

really accessible

an additional 20.9 percent is found in

Earth's lakes and then the remaining

10.1 percent is scattered throughout

Earth's rivers in the atmosphere as

water vapor within living things on

earth and then in swamps and marshes and

in surface soil

the point is that of all of the water

that exists on earth a fraction of a

fraction a mere point zero three percent

of that water is actually accessible as

fresh water on the surface

thanks for watching