10.1: The Hydrosphere

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Michael E. Ritter
University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point via The Physical Environment

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The hydrosphere is often called the "water sphere" as it includes all the earth's water found in the oceans, glaciers, streams, lakes, the soil, groundwater, and in the air. The hydrosphere interacts with, and is influenced by, all the other earth spheres. The water of the hydrosphere is distributed among several different stores found in the other spheres. Water is held in oceans, lakes and streams at the surface of the earth. Water is found in vapor, liquid and solid states in the atmosphere. The biosphere serves as an interface between the spheres enabling water to move between the hydrosphere, lithosphere and atmosphere as is accomplished by plant transpiration. The hydrologic cycle traces the movement of water and energy between these various stores and spheres.

spheres3.jpg (23607 bytes) — Figure \(\PageIndex{1}\): Earth Spheres/Systems

The cryosphere is the part of Earth's hydrosphere comprised of frozen water. It plays a integral role in the global climate system through its influence on surface energy budgets, atmospheric moisture, hydrology, and atmospheric and oceanic circulation. The cyrosphere is a sensitive element of the climate system providing a key indicator of climate change. The increasing loss of Arctic sea ice and breakup of Antarctic ice shelves are two harbingers of changes to the future physical geography of Earth.

Video: Tour of the Cryosphere (Courtesy NASA)

Distribution of water

The world's oceans contain 97% of the water in the hydrosphere, most of which is salt water. Ice caps, like that found covering Antarctica, and glaciers that occupy high alpine locations, compose a little more than 2% of all water found on earth. Seemingly a small amount, the water stored as ice in glaciers would have a great impact on the environment if it were to melt into a liquid. . Rising sea levels from melting ice sheets and glaciers due to global warming could devastate coastal cities, displace millions of people, and wreak havoc on freshwater systems and habitats.

Stores of water — Figure \(\PageIndex{2}\): Various stores of water in the hydrosphere

Water beneath the surface comprises the next largest store. Groundwater and soil water make up about .63% and 0.005% of all water (by volume). Soil water is the water held in pore spaces between soil particles. Soil pore spaces usually are partially void of water most of the time but fill with water after a rain storm. Groundwater is found where earth materials are saturated throughout the year. That is, the pore spaces are always occupied with water. Both soil and groundwater are very important sources of water. Soil water is available for plants to extract and use. Groundwater is an important source of water for irrigation and drinking water supplies.

Above the surface water is found stored in streams, rivers and lakes. One might expect that given the large rivers that flow across the earth and the huge numbers of lakes that this store would be rather large. Instead, freshwater streams, rivers and lakes, and saline lakes and inlands seas comprise just under .03% of all water in the earth system. In the atmosphere, only about .0001 % of the water in the hydrosphere is found.