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Q41 (IAS/2013) Geography › World Physical Geography › Ocean water properties Answer Verified

On the planet earth, most of the freshwater exists as ice caps and glaciers. Out of the remaining freshwater, the largest proportion

Result
Your answer: —  Â·  Correct: C
Explanation

The distribution of Earth's freshwater is highly unequal. While approximately 97% of all water is saline, the remaining 3% is freshwater [3]. Of this freshwater, the vast majority (roughly 68.7% to 75%) is locked in ice caps and glaciers [4]. According to global hydrological data, groundwater represents the largest proportion of the remaining freshwater, accounting for approximately 30.1% of the total freshwater supply. In contrast, surface water sources such as freshwater lakes (0.26% to 0.7%), soil moisture, and atmospheric water vapor represent significantly smaller fractions [4]. Specifically, surface and atmospheric water combined make up only about 1.2% of total freshwater. Therefore, after ice caps and glaciers, groundwater is the most significant reservoir of freshwater on the planet.

Sources

  1. [3] https://www.usgs.gov/faqs/how-much-earths-water-stored-glaciers
  2. [4] https://gpm.nasa.gov/education/articles/earth-observatory-water-cycle-overview
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SIMILAR QUESTIONS

IAS · 2010 · Q102 Relevance score: 2.22

Consider the following statements: 1. On the planet Earth, the fresh water available for use amounts to about less than 1% of the total water found. 2. Of the total fresh water found on the planet Earth 95% is bound up in polar ice caps and glaciers. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

IAS · 2021 · Q72 Relevance score: 1.44

With reference to the water on the planet Earth, consider the following statements : 1. The amount of water in the rivers and lakes is more than the amount of groundwater. 2. The amount of water in polar ice caps and glaciers is more than the amount of groundwater. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

CDS-I · 2024 · Q117 Relevance score: -4.27

Which of the following statements regarding ice-cap climate is/are correct? 1. In the Koeppen climate classification, the ice-cap climate is signified by the letters EF. 2. It is the Earth's most severe climate, where the mean monthly temperature is never above 0 degree Celsius. 3. This climate is found in the Pir Panjal and the Great Himalayas. Select the correct answer using the code given below. (a) 1 only (b) 1 and 2 only (c) 2 and 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3

IAS · 2005 · Q120 Relevance score: -4.29

Consider the following statements: (1) Total land area of earth is approximately 1475 lakh square kilometers. (2) Ratio of land area to water area of earth is approximately 1.4 (3) Maximum percentage of earth’s water is in the Pacific Ocean. Which of the statements given above is are correct?