Environment And Road Safety Education And Violence Against Women And Children And Drug Abuse 2022 Exam With Answers

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6.

Estimated amount of water present on the earth is:

A: 1.4 billion km³
B: 2.4 billion km³
C: 6.4 billion km³
D: 6.5 billion km³

The answer is: A

Explanation

The estimated amount of water present on Earth is approximately 1.4 billion cubic kilometers (or 332.5 million cubic miles). This includes water in various forms, such as oceans, seas, lakes, rivers, groundwater, ice caps, glaciers, and atmospheric water vapor.

The majority of Earth's water, about 97.5%, is saltwater found in the oceans and seas. Only a small fraction, approximately 2.5%, is freshwater. However, most of the freshwater is not readily accessible, as a significant portion is locked up in ice caps and glaciers.

Of the accessible freshwater, the largest proportion is stored underground as groundwater. Surface water in the form of lakes, rivers, and swamps represents a smaller fraction. Only a tiny fraction of Earth's water, less than 1%, is in the form of water vapor in the atmosphere.

It's important to note that these estimates are approximations, as water distribution and availability can vary over time due to natural processes, such as the water cycle, and human activities that can impact water resources.