Global Distributions of Water

Question 1

Oceanic water

Answer 1

Water in the ocean
72% Earth’s surface
pH fallen

Question 2

Sea ice

Answer 2

Grows and shrinks in the summer
Does NOT raise sea level
e.g. Icebergs

Question 3

Ice Sheets

Answer 3

Bigger than 50,000 km2
WILL raise sea level
If Antarctic melted - +60m
If Greenland melted - +6m

Question 4

Ice caps

Answer 4

Smaller than 50,000 km2
Found in mountainous areas
Dome shaped
e.g. Himalayas, Rockies, Southern Alps

Question 5

Alpine glaciers

Answer 5

Thick ice masses of ice found in deep valleys
15,000 Himalaya glacier
Supports perennial rivers - Indus and Ganges

Question 6

Permafrost

Answer 6

Ground less than 0c for 2+ years

e.g. Arctic continental shelf

Question 7

Rivers

Answer 7

Act as store and transfer

e.g. Amazon River

Question 8

Lakes

Answer 8

Collections of fresh water in hollows

e.g. Canadian lakes

Question 9

Wetlands

Answer 9

Area of marsh and peat
High water saturation
e.g. Pantanal, Brazil

Question 10

Soil water

Answer 10

held together with air in saturated upper soil

Important role in development of weather patterns

Question 11

Biological water

Answer 11

Stored in biomass
Varies worldwide - (e.g. more in a rainforest than a desert)
Trees take water in through roots - lose water by transpiration

Question 12

Water vapour

Answer 12

Absorbs, reflects and scatters solar radiation
Concentration depends on temp. of air
High levels of water vapour = inc. atmospheric pressure

Question 13

Clouds

Answer 13

Visible mass of water droplets