Question

Write a short note on the different sources of water on Earth.

Answer 1

There are two main sources of water:
(I) Surface water

(II) Groundwater.

Surface Water: Surface water refers to the water found on Earth’s surface in the form of lakes, rivers, ponds, reservoirs, seas, and oceans.

• Some of the rainwater that falls on land flows into low-lying areas like ponds, rivers, lakes, etc. this water is called runoff water.
• Along with the rainwater, melted water from snow caps and glaciers also contributes to the surface water as it flows into rivers and lakes.
• Rivers flow into seas or oceans.
• All these water sources are from the surface of Earth.

Groundwater: Rainwater and surface water seep through the soil below the ground and collect above the gravel and non-porous rocks deep under the soil.

• The seepage of rainwater through the surface of the soil is called infiltration.
• The rocks that store and transmit groundwater are called aquifers.