Importance of Hydrosphere - Definition, Components, FAQs

Edited By Vishal kumar | Updated on Sep 24, 2024 04:50 PM IST

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.

What is Hydrosphere?

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-

Water cycle

Also read -

JEE Main 2025: Physics Formula | Study Materials | High Scoring Topics | Preparation Guide

JEE Main 2025: Syllabus | Sample Papers | Mock Tests | PYQs | Study Plan 100 Days

NEET 2025: Syllabus | High Scoring Topics | PYQs

This Story also Contains

What is Hydrosphere?
Introduction to Earth’s hydrosphere-
Components of Hydrosphere-
Importance of Hydrosphere-

Importance of Hydrosphere - Definition, Components, FAQs

Water cycle

NCERT Physics Notes:

Introduction to Earth’s hydrosphere-

Here are some of key points about hydrosphere-

Earth is the only planet where life is possible because of the availability of life sources such as water, atmosphere, and land. Of all the life sources water is present for over more than 71% of the area. Because of this reason Earth is known as a Blue planet.
The environment around us comprises biotic as well as abiotic components. Biotic components are all the components that can reflect life processes such as excretion, reproduction. Abiotic components are non-living things. Non-living things have either come to existence due to natural processes or they were constructed by human beings.
example- mountains, oceans are natural abiotic components of the environment, and plants, animals are the biotic components of the environment.
Dividing the Earth’s environment into biotic and abiotic components is one way to understand Earth’s Diversity. However, understanding Earth concerning its physical features gives a better insight into the overlap and interaction between biotic and abiotic components of the Earth.
A large percentage of the Earth’s surface i.e., 71% contains water. This 71% of water is called a hydrosphere. 97% of the water present on the surface of Earth is present in the oceans and is too salty to use. Only 3% of the rest of the water is available as groundwater, running water, ice, glaciers, and water vapor are present in the atmosphere.
However, water available for usage is a very small percentage for consumption such as drinking, washing, and irrigation. This variety of chemical and energy exchanges takes place in this sphere of the earth. Vital processes such as the water cycle take place in this sphere.
The hydrosphere is a mutual term representing all the water bodies on earth such as oceans, rivers, lakes, reservoirs, glaciers, and groundwater.
The lithosphere, Atmosphere, hydrosphere, and biosphere are the four important spheres of Earth.
The atmosphere is the gaseous envelope around us where oxygen, nitrogen, carbon- dioxide is found together.
The lithosphere is the solid portion of the earth, where we live.
The hydrosphere includes all the water found on Earth, and the biosphere is the sphere that consists of organisms through which life is sustained. The biosphere is a combined term representing all the life around us.

Related Topics Link,

JEE Main Highest Scoring Chapters & Topics

Just Study 40% Syllabus and Score upto 100%

Download E-book

Components of Hydrosphere-

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.

Importance of Hydrosphere-

Water Cycle- The water cycle also known as the hydrologic cycle is important because if it wasn’t for the water cycle, water would not be available for living organisms.
The water cycle helps in the exchange of various minerals. This natural water recycling makes the availability of clean fresh water possible for all the flora and fauna.
Although uneven, the water cycle distributes water over the Earth’s surface.
The water cycle supports the ecosystem. The growth of many crops is directly dependent on rainfall, without water these plants and crops would not survive. Organisms depending on these crops for survival would not be able to sustain either. In this way, water manages to develop a healthy ecosystem around us.
Evaporation helps in lowering the overall temperature of the planet. Cooling produced during evaporation brings a lowering in the temperature which would have otherwise led to an increase in the greenhouse effect and global warming.
Recycled water may contain nutrients, minerals, pathogens, or sediment which reach us through the four processes of the water cycle i.e., evaporation, condensation, etc.
Of all the spheres, the hydrosphere sustains the life of the biosphere.

Also check-

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is the meaning of hydrosphere?

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.

2. What is meant by hydrosphere?

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.

3. How are oceans useful to mankind?

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.

4. Write a short note on hydrosphere.

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”.

5. Why is Hydrosphere Important?

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.