Question

Hydrosphere consists of _____________.
A) Liquid and frozen surface waters
B) groundwater held in solid and rock
C) atmospheric water vapour
D) all of the above

Answer 1

Hint: The Earth has a distinct deep blue and light silvery colouration as viewed from space, distinguishing it from all other planets or celestial bodies discovered to date. The abundance of water in a very thin fluid outer area of the Earth causes this colouration.

Complete answer:
A planet's, minor planet's, or natural satellite's hydrosphere is the total mass of water located on, under, and above its surface. The Earth's hydrosphere has been changing shape for around \[4\] billion years. This is exacerbated by continental drift and seafloor spreading, which reorganises the land and ocean.
The seas, polar ice caps, rivers and lakes, groundwater, and air moisture are all part of the watery component of the Earth's crust.

One of the three main physical structures that make up the Earth's surface is the hydrosphere. Furthermore, the solid part (rocks, soils, and other sediments) is referred to as the lithosphere, while the atmosphere is the gaseous layer that surrounds the earth.

The physical part of the biosphere, the living portion of our world, is represented by these. The hydrosphere serves as a dampener on other physical systems, assisting in the preservation of a favourable atmosphere for the emergence of life.

The amount of water on Earth is estimated to be $1,386$ million cubic kilometres ($333,000,000$ cubic miles). Groundwater, seas, lakes, and streams all contain liquid and frozen water. Freshwater accounts for just $2.5$ percent of this total, while saltwater accounts for $97.5$ percent. Just $0.3$ percent of the freshwater on Earth is in readily accessible lakes, rivers, and river systems; $68.9\% $ is in the form of ice and permanent snow cover in the Arctic, Antarctica, and mountain glaciers; $30.8$ percent is in the form of fresh groundwater, and just $0.3$ percent is in the form of fresh groundwater.

Thus the correct answer is option ‘D’.

Note: Human activities have a major impact on the hydrosphere. Water diversion, human growth, and waste, for example, all have an effect on the hydrosphere and natural processes within it. At an alarming pace, humans are removing water from aquifers and diverting rivers.