HYDROSPHEREOr

Water, Water Everywhere

The Water PlanetMore than 70% of Earth’s surface is covered

with water. Because of this, Earth is called ‘the Water Planet.’It is also called this because water is found in all three forms:SolidLiquidGas

Water is a renewable resource because it is circulated in the water cycle.

The Water CycleThe water cycle consists of three main parts:Evaporation

Condensation

Precipitation

The Water CycleEvaporation – The process of liquid water

turning into water vapor (gaseous). Evaporation happens when the Sun heats any

body of water (oceans, lakes, rivers, etc). Evaporation from plants is called transpiration.

Condensation – The process of water vapor (gas) turning into liquid water. Water condensing in the air creates clouds.

Precipitation – The process of water (in the form of rain, sleet, snow, hail) falls from clouds.

The Water Cycle

Water CycleAfter precipitation has fallen, water will

accumulate in low-lying areas Rivers and streamsRavines Lakes

It can also be absorbed by the ground and accumulate underground in aquifers.

Water Distribution97% of Earth’s water is salt

water which is undrinkable.

Of the remaining fresh water, nearly all of it is locked in the polar ice caps.

This means that about 1% of Earth’s water is actually drinkable!

Water Distribution

Oceans

Earth’s OceansOceans cover about 75% of Earth’s surface.

What are the 5 oceans of the world?

Ocean WaterOcean water is a mixture of many different

chemicals that help to support the life found in it.Dissolved GasesDissolved Solids

Different properties also affect the composition of the waterSalinityTemperatureDensity

Ocean Water - GasesThere are 3 main gases that are found

dissolved in ocean waterNitrogenOxygenCarbon Dioxide

Where do these gases come from?Since these three gases are found abundantly

in the atmosphere, that is where most of the gases come from.

Other sources include:Rivers/streamsUnderwater volcanoesMarine (ocean) organisms

Underwater Volcano

Carbon SinksA carbon sink is a natural or artificial

reservoir that collects and stores a carbon compound.

Ocean water contains more than 60 times more carbon than the atmosphere.

This is important because CO2 in the atmosphere acts as greenhouse gas and too much can lead to a rise in global temperatures.

Ocean Water - ParticlesSea water is approximately 96.5% water.What makes up the rest?

Ocean Water - SolidsSea salts make up 3.5% of seawater. What is

sea salt?

Dissolved solids are composed of about 75 different chemicals, including:Chlorine (Cl)Sodium (Na)Magnesium (Mg)Calcium (Ca)Potassium (K)Trace elements (other salts and minerals)

Ocean Water - SolidsThese solids have 3 main sources:

Volcanic eruptionsErosion of rockChemical reactions between seawater and new

seafloor

SalinitySalinity is the measurement of the amount of

dissolved salts in a liquid.

Salinity can be changed by several factors:

TemperaturePrecipitationDensity(More in-depth discussion later this week)