After reading this article, the reader should be able to answer the following questions-What do you mean by hydrosphere, what is hydrosphere, why is the hydrosphere important.
Hydrosphere definition- Hydrosphere is one of the four domains of Earth’s natural environment which comprises all the water resources on Earth’s surface for example- oceans, rivers, sea, lakes, reservoirs, and groundwater.
Hydrosphere meaning- the word ‘hydro’ has its origination in the ancient Greek language. The sphere of water present on the earth is called the hydrosphere.
Hydrosphere images showing water cycle-
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Here are some of key points about hydrosphere-
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A hydrosphere is not a uniform sphere spread across the Earth’s surface. The hydrosphere is constituted of discontinuous and irregular water sources in any shape or form. Hydrosphere examples are all the water sources in any shape or form like oceans, lakes, rivers, groundwater, glaciers, ice, etc.
97% of the water is stored in oceans but only 3% of water is freshwater. Out of 3% freshwater about three- quarters water is stored as glaciers and ice which is not directly available to us. Glaciers are the largest reservoir of fresh water on earth.
Water can be stored in the form of solid, liquid, and gaseous. Water gets distributed around the planet by undergoing a water cycle.
Water can be stored as underground water or glaciers.
These are the few features of hydrosphere.
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Hydrosphere is one of the most crucial sphere of the earth for the sustainability of life. Earth’s Hydrosphere consists of 71% of the area out of which only 3% is present as freshwater. The rest spheres of the water is present in oceans and is unfit for human use or is stored as glaciers or ice sheets and the rest of the water as groundwater.
Many of the important energy and matter exchanges take place in this sphere of earth. The water cycle is an example of such matter exchange in which water undergoes recycling and reusing.
The water cycle helps in keeping a healthy ecosystem around us. The growth of most of the crops and plants is dependent on the waterfall. Indirectly many organisms depend on these crops for their survival.
Hydro energy is used for electricity generation. A large number of dams are built on rivers for irrigation, water storage, flood control, etc.
A large part of the earth is just water. Therefore, it is important to keep a check on the maintenance of this sphere of the earth since a variety of flora and fauna depends on it. Earth’s Hydrosphere counts all the water sources such as oceans, rivers, ponds, lakes, reservoirs, etc.
Oceans are large water sources that contain about 97% of the water of the earth. Although, the water found in the ocean is of no use to humans. However, they play a major role in maintaining a healthy ecosystem.
Oceans play a major role in the water cycle. About 97% of total evaporation takes place from oceans and cooling produced due to evaporation helps in decreasing the temperature of our planet.
Oceans are a major habitat to an uncountable species of the planet.
Oceans regulate the climate by moving warm water to the poles and cold water to the equator and thus keeping a check on global climate.
Other human activities such as trade, mineral extraction, and recreational activities are also satisfied by oceans.
There are four main spheres of earth known as atmosphere, lithosphere, hydrosphere, and biosphere. The lithosphere constitutes all the land where we live. The biosphere constitutes all living species found on earth. The atmosphere is the air around us and the hydrosphere is that sphere that makes our planet the “Blue Planet”. The largest percentage of water on Earth makes our planet the “Blue Planet”.
The hydrosphere is important because it is the sphere that sustains life.
Water is recycled and reused because it undergoes a cycle known as the water cycle.
The major component of the Hydrosphere i.e., oceans maintains a healthy ecosystem and maintains a global climate.
Oceans absorb heat from the carbon emission around the planet. Dams help in irrigation purposes, electricity generation, etc.
Apr 27, 2022 - 12:42 p.m. IST ---STATIC
Apr 27, 2022 - 12:42 p.m. IST ---STATIC
Apr 27, 2022 - 12:42 p.m. IST ---STATIC
Apr 27, 2022 - 12:42 p.m. IST ---STATIC
Apr 27, 2022 - 12:42 p.m. IST ---STATIC
Apr 27, 2022 - 12:42 p.m. IST ---STATIC
Apr 27, 2022 - 12:42 p.m. IST ---STATIC