Earth’s Water

Essentially stated, water is formed when three hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom join forces to form a covalent connection. Water, for all its seeming simplicity, possesses some truly surprising qualities. In addition to the fact that it grows in volume when frozen, water has a high surface tension (due to the polar character of its molecules, which causes them to adhere to one another). There is a possibility that life would never be capable of living on Earth if water were not present, and if it did, it would certainly lack the incredible level of complexity and variety that it does. The solid state, which might be ice or snow, the liquid state, which is water, and the gaseous state (water vapour).

Earth’s Atmosphere

The atmosphere of the Earth is a relatively thin layer of air that is composed of many layers differentiated by temperature. Without such a shield, there would be no life on Earth since it shields us from the heat and radiation generated by the sun and holds the air that we breathe.Even though it is absolutely necessary for life to exist on Earth, oxygen is not the predominant element in the atmosphere.

About 78 percent of the atmosphere of the Earth is composed of nitrogen, 21 percent of the atmosphere is composed of oxygen, 0.93 percent of the atmosphere is composed of argon, 0.04 percent of the atmosphere is composed of carbon dioxide, and trace levels of neon, helium, methane, krypton, ozone, as well as hydrogen are also present, along with water vapour.

Atmospheric Divisions on Planet Earth

The atmosphere around the Earth is composed of multiple layers, each of which has its own unique characteristics. 

1.Troposphere-Our atmosphere’s lowest layer is the troposphere. It rises roughly 10 kilometres (6.2 miles or 33,000 feet) from the earth.Humans dwell in the troposphere, where most weather occurs. Most clouds form here because 98% of atmospheric water vapour is in the troposphere.

2.Stratosphere-Next is the stratosphere. The stratosphere is around 50 km (31 miles) just above land. Stratosphere has the ozone layer. This layer absorbs UV light from the Sun and converts it to heat. The stratosphere warms up as you ascend, unlike the troposphere. Increasing temperatures with altitude reduce turbulence and updrafts in the stratosphere. Lower stratosphere passenger aircraft operate there because it’s less turbulent. 

3.Mesosphere-Over the stratosphere is the mesosphere. It’s 85 km (53 miles) above Earth. In the mesosphere, meteors burn up. The mesosphere is colder than the stratosphere. Near the top of this layer, temperatures reach -90° C (-130° F). Mesosphere air is too thin to breathe (air pressure at the bottom is less than 1% of sea level and drops as you go upwards).

4.The thermosphere is uncommon air above the mesosphere. Sun-generated X-rays and UV radiation heat the thermosphere to hundreds or thousands of degrees. However, this layer’s air is so thin that we’d feel very cold. The thermosphere resembles space more than the atmosphere. Satellites orbit Earth’s thermosphere. Sunlight levels affect both the height and temperature of this stratum. 

5.Exosphere- Some researchers believe the thermosphere the top layer of Earth’s atmosphere, but some others believe the exosphere the “last frontier” The exosphere’s thin “air” is much more space-like than the thermosphere. The air in Earth’s exosphere “leaks” slowly into space. There’s no definite upper barrier where the exosphere ends. 

6.Ionosphere-The ionosphere isn’t a separate layer. The ionosphere is a succession of zones in the mesosphere as well as thermosphere where solar radiation knocks electrons from atoms and molecules. In this fashion, electrical charges, atoms and molecules develop, providing the ionosphere its name & providing its particular features.

Seawater

Seawater is the type of water that is found in the world’s oceans and seas, which together cover greater than 70 % of the surface of the earth. Seawater is a complex combination that is composed primarily of water (96.5 percent), salts (2.5 percent), and minor quantities of a variety of other components, such as soluble inorganic and organic compounds, particles, as well as a little atmospheric gases.Seawater is an abundant source of a wide variety of different chemical components that are significant on a commercial scale. A significant portion of the magnesium that is used on the planet is extracted from saltwater, as are significant quantities of bromine. The process of obtaining sodium chloride, also known as table salt, by evaporating seawater is still practised in several regions of the world. In addition, seawater that has been treated to remove salt can provide an endless supply of potable water for human consumption. In order to alleviate fresh water shortages in arid regions along seacoasts in the Middle East and elsewhere, a great number of expansive desalination plants have been constructed in recent years.

Fresh water

The presence of freshwater on the ground surface is an essential component of the water cycle for human life in general. Rivers, lakes, reservoirs, creeks, and streams are all locations on the landscape that are capable of storing freshwater. The majority of the water that people consume on a daily basis originates from these many sources of water that are found on the surface of the ground.Land-based freshwater is a crucial aspect of the water cycle for all life on Earth.Earth’s surface water is considered a renewable resource because of its role in the water cycle, yet it is hugely reliant on other aspects of the water cycle. Rivers and lakes are constantly being replenished and depleted. It is expected that precipitation, overland runoff and groundwater seepage will be the primary sources of inputs to these aquatic bodies. Lake and river outflows include evaporation, water movement into the ground and human withdrawal. Surface water is heavily utilised by humans as well, putting them in the middle of the action.

Conclusion

Only three percent of the water on Earth is considered to be fresh water because the remaining ninety-seven percent of the water on the planet is found in the oceans. The huge ice sheets and glaciers of Greenland have frozen the great majority of the world’s freshwater supply. A glacier, an ocean, a lake, or perhaps the atmosphere itself might be considered reservoirs because they are all capable of storing water. A single water molecule can move very quickly across a reservoir, or it can hang around for a very long time. It is referred to as a molecule’s residence time, the length of time that it spends in a reservoir.On this planet, there is only one substance that can be found throughout all three states of matter: water may be found as a solid, as a liquid, and as a gas. And since water may exist in solid, liquid, and gaseous phases, Earth is the only planet in the universe to have this property.