Global distribution and size of major stores of water – lithosphere, hydrosphere, cryosphere and atmosphere
Water on Earth sits in four giant stores: the oceans and freshwater bodies, the ice sheets and glaciers, the rocks underground, and the air. These stores vary enormously in size and location.
Real World
Antarctica's ice sheet holds about 26.5 million km³ of ice — roughly 61% of all fresh water on Earth — yet the entire atmosphere contains only about 12,900 km³ of water vapour at any given time.
Exam Focus
Learn approximate percentages for each store — mark schemes expect quantified comparisons, not just ranked lists.
Essay Framework
Use PEEL to structure every paragraph. Tap each step for guidance and an example.
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