EARTH121 Chapter Notes - Chapter 15: Oxbow Lake, Mass Wasting, List Of U.S. States And Territories By Elevation
2 Sep 2016
School
Department
Course
Professor
Document Summary
Present: water requires international action, with interdisciplinary themes. The total water content of the hydrosphere is about 1. 36 billion cubic kilometres. 0. 65% divided into surface and subsurface water and atmosphere. 2. 78% freshwater, with 77. 78% being surface water, most in glaciers. Hydrologic cycle water is constantly moving among different compartments in the hydrosphere, atmosphere, geosphere, and biosphere in different reservoirs (compartments) during different residence times. Powered by the sun which the atmosphere provides vital link between oceans and continents: once precipitation falls on land, some soaks (infiltration) ultimately into surface water or the ocean. If rainfall is high, flows on surface (runoff). Evaporation and transpiration by plants cannot be distinguished so it is called evapotranspiration: precipitation in cold climates in glaciers, which can store it for a long time. Earth must be equal to the quantity of water evaporated. Running water is the single most important agent sculpting earth"s land surface.
