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What parts of Earth are included in the hydrosphere?
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water
Water is the most plentiful compound on Earth and is essential to life. Although water molecules are simple in structure (H2O), the physical and chemical properties of water are extraordinarily complicated.
The hydrosphere is a discontinuous layer of water found at or near Earth’s surface, extending from approximately 15 km (9 miles) into the atmosphere to about 5 km (3 miles) into the crust.12
It encompasses all forms of water on the planet, including:
- Surface Waters: This includes the oceans, lakes, rivers, and swamps.13
- Frozen Water: This consists of glaciers, ice caps, permanent snow, and ground ice or permafrost.13
- Groundwater: Water held within the pore spaces of soil and rock.12
- Atmospheric Water: Water vapour present in the atmosphere.14
While the oceans contain the vast majority of Earth's water volume, the entire hydrosphere is interconnected through the water cycle, which facilitates the continuous movement and transformation of water between these various reservoirs.12