Hydrosphere (from the Greek for water sphere) is a discontinuous layer of water on, under, and over the Earth's surface. It includes all liquid and frozen surface waters, groundwater held in soil and rock, and atmospheric water vapour. Water continuously circulates between these reservoirs in what is called the hydrologic cycle, which is driven by energy from the Sun.
Reservoir | V / 106 km3 | w / % |
---|---|---|
oceans | 1 370.0 | 97.25 |
ice caps and glaciers | 29.0 | 2.05 |
groundwater | 9.5 | 0.68 |
lakes, rivers | 0.127 | 0.01 |
soil moisture | 0.065 | 0.005 |
atmosphere (as liquid equivalent of water vapour) | 0.013 | 0.001 |
biosphere | 0.0006 | 0.00004 |
TOTAL | 1 408.7 | 100 |
Generalic, Eni. "Hydrosphere." Croatian-English Chemistry Dictionary & Glossary. 29 June 2022. KTF-Split. {Date of access}. <https://glossary.periodni.com>.
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Periodic Table