WATER IN THE WORLD

The different forms of water

Water occurs in three states: solid (ice),
liquid or gas (vapour).
Ice is frozen water. Ice is less dense (lighter) than the same volume of water. Water
molecules move further apart when it freezes.
 Liquid water is wet and fluid.

Water vapour is found in the air, where it attaches to dust particles. Water vapour
molecules combine to form water droplets. With increasing temperatures
(warmer) rain forms from water vapour molecules. With decreasing temperatures,
snow or hail form.
When water vapour cools, it condenses into tiny water droplets, which forms a
cloud.
 CONTINUATION
• Most (97%) of the water on the planet is found in the oceans and
is salty.
• Of the remaining 3% fresh water:

30,1% is ground water

68,7% is in the form of ice caps/glaciers
0,9% other and 0,3% is surface water. 0,036% of the Earth's total
water supply is found in lakes and rivers.
The hydrological cycle

• The water (hydrological) cycle is powered by energy from the Sun. It is the
exchange of moisture between the oceans, atmosphere and land.
• Evapotranspiration — water loss from lakes, oceans and plants — results in water
vapour in the air.
• Water vapour condenses to form water droplets, which form clouds.
• Moisture that cools (or gets very cold) creates precipitation (rain sleet, hail or
snow)returning water to the sea and land (ground water and runoff).
The water cycle
KEY CONCEPTS

• Evapotranspiration, condensation, freezing and precipitation (rain/ hail).

• Temperature conditions determine whether water vapour (warm), rain (cooling of
rising warm air) or hail/snow (cold) form.
• Liquid to gas — evaporation; gas to liquid — condensation; liquid to solid —
freezing.