Fresh Water
The amount of fresh water in lakes and rivers is 1.8% of earth's total water.
Rivers and Lakes
A lot of water coming into a lake arrives from creeks and rivers that flow into it. These creeks and rivers collect and move water flowing downhill that drains into the lake. Thus, a lake's level will often rise when it rains many miles upstream from it in the watershed.
Fun Facts
Something you probably don't know, rivers also lose water through their stream-beds into the ground, and water from the ground seeps into rivers, so rivers interact with the ground. Plants, animals, and people interact with rivers, as all kinds of life seems to thrive around rivers and the land alongside them. In fact, if you look at a map of anywhere in the world, you'll see how people naturally build their cities next to rivers.
Rivers and Lakes
A lot of water coming into a lake arrives from creeks and rivers that flow into it. These creeks and rivers collect and move water flowing downhill that drains into the lake. Thus, a lake's level will often rise when it rains many miles upstream from it in the watershed.
Fun Facts
Something you probably don't know, rivers also lose water through their stream-beds into the ground, and water from the ground seeps into rivers, so rivers interact with the ground. Plants, animals, and people interact with rivers, as all kinds of life seems to thrive around rivers and the land alongside them. In fact, if you look at a map of anywhere in the world, you'll see how people naturally build their cities next to rivers.
Glaciers
The amount of water locked up in ice and snow is only about 1.7 % of all water on Earth.
Ice caps influence the weather
Just because water in an ice cap or glacier is not moving does not mean that it does not have a direct effect on other aspects of the water cycle and the weather. Ice is very white, and since white reflects sunlight (and thus, heat), large ice fields can determine weather patterns. Air temperatures can be higher a mile above ice caps than at the surface, and wind patterns, which affect weather systems, can be dramatic around ice-covered landscapes.
Fun Facts
During the last ice age (when glaciers covered more land area than today) the sea level was about 400 feet. At that time, glaciers covered almost one-third of the land.
Ice caps influence the weather
Just because water in an ice cap or glacier is not moving does not mean that it does not have a direct effect on other aspects of the water cycle and the weather. Ice is very white, and since white reflects sunlight (and thus, heat), large ice fields can determine weather patterns. Air temperatures can be higher a mile above ice caps than at the surface, and wind patterns, which affect weather systems, can be dramatic around ice-covered landscapes.
Fun Facts
During the last ice age (when glaciers covered more land area than today) the sea level was about 400 feet. At that time, glaciers covered almost one-third of the land.
Ocean
he amount of water in the oceans is 96.5% of earth total water.
Oceans in movement: TidesOf course the oceans are always in movement. The moon influences daily tides, which make the beach a more interesting place to go. Tides vary greatly around the world, and in some places can be quite dramatic. The highest tides occur in confined estuaries.
Fun Facts
If you have ever been seasick (we hope not), then you know how the ocean is never still. You might think that the water in the oceans moves around because of waves, which are driven by winds. But, actually, there are currents and "rivers" in the oceans that move massive amounts of water around the world. These movements have a great deal of influence on the water cycle.
Oceans in movement: TidesOf course the oceans are always in movement. The moon influences daily tides, which make the beach a more interesting place to go. Tides vary greatly around the world, and in some places can be quite dramatic. The highest tides occur in confined estuaries.
Fun Facts
If you have ever been seasick (we hope not), then you know how the ocean is never still. You might think that the water in the oceans moves around because of waves, which are driven by winds. But, actually, there are currents and "rivers" in the oceans that move massive amounts of water around the world. These movements have a great deal of influence on the water cycle.