Adventure #3:
Background Knowledge
Hello there! I'm Greg the Glaciologist. I’ll be guiding you through Adventure #3!
Today’s adventure will have us explore how and where water is stored on Earth, from oceans and lakes to frozen glaciers!
from Wikimedia Commons, utilized under the Creative Commons license
What bodies of water are near your house? Maybe you live near a pond or lake, or a small stream or canal. If it’s winter, you might see snow outside your house or on top of high mountains throughout the year. All of these features and others serve as storage locations for massive amounts of water, and are important for nearby ecosystems and neighborhoods.
How is water stored on Earth?
Water can be stored in a number of places. As a liquid, water can be found as oceans, seas, lakes, and smaller bodies of water. These water sources may have rivers or streams flowing into or out of them, or none at all! The amount of water present at a certain source depends on the flow of water in and out, as well as the amount of precipitation and evaporation that occurs.
The sum of all water on Earth is called the hydrosphere. Watch the video to the right to learn more about the hydrosphere.
"But what about water that's frozen?"
The Cryosphere
In addition to liquid water, the hydrosphere also includes all the frozen water on Earth, which is known as the cryosphere. Snow and ice can be found as snowfields, ice caps, and glaciers, massive rivers of ice that flow slowly from mountaintops downhill due to gravity. There is also evaporated water in the air which can condense into tiny ice crystals to form clouds!
When areas of the cryosphere melt, the water often flows into lakes or oceans and can raise the water level or affect how quickly rivers flow. Watch the video on the left to learn more about the cryosphere.