GEOL 100 Chapter Notes - Chapter 17.1: Water Vapor, Soil, Permafrost
29 Apr 2019
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Document Summary
Most water on earth originated during the formation of the planet or from comets and other icy celestial objects that collided with the surface. 96. 5% occurs in the oceans and seas as saline water. Less than 1% occurs as liquid surface water in lakes and rivers. Rivers: main source of drinking water for many areas, contain only a very small amount of earth"s fresh water. Lakes: most are freshwater, but those in dry climates are saline or brackish. Contain a majority of the liquid freshwater at earth"s surface. Swamps and other wetlands: constitute 11% of the liquid freshwater on the surface. Glaciers: nearly 69% of freshwater is found in ice and snow in ice caps, glaciers, and permanent snow. Small amount exists in permafrost and ground ice. Atmosphere: contains 0. 001% of earth"s water as invisible water vapor, water droplets in clouds, and as various forms of precipitation.
