Distribution of Water on Earth



Distribution of Water on EarthFrom Ivy Rechak, Schuyerville, NYWater, water everywhere……There is not as much as we think!!!! The earth’s surface is nearly 71% covered by water. How much of that is water we can use? You may be surprised. Most of the water is unusable as it is saline, or salt water.Water Distribution on EarthSalt Water in Oceans and Salt Lakes = 97%Fresh Water = 3%Supplies: Meter Stick, colored pencils, paper strips, tape, calculatorProcedure: In this activity, you will show how much water on earth is fresh water out of all of the water on earth and where the freshwater is. You will illustrate it with a scale of 1% = 1 meter = 1000 millimeters.As a class, you will walk a distance equal to the amount of water on Earth, using the scale above. Upon completion, you will follow the directions below.Working in groups of 3-4 students, you will create paper line that represents the fresh water on earth. Using the information below and paper strips, you will assemble your line and record the amount of water in the different locations that it is found. You will then use different colors to illustrate the different types and amounts of fresh water.Data: Fresh water is 3% of all water on earth = _________ meters or _____________ millimetersMake a paper strip that represents the fresh water. Make sure you tape only on the back of your strip.Breakdown of fresh water: (round answers to nearest millimeter)Water trapped in ice: 76% = .76 x 3000 millimeters = ______________ millimeters (color__White___)Deep Groundwater: 11% = .11 x 3000 mm = ___________________ millimeters (color _____________)**Shallow Groundwater: 12% = .12 x 3000 mm = ___________________mm (color _________________)**Water in Lakes and Rivers: .34% = .0034 x 3000 mm = _______________ mm (color _______________)Ground Ice and Permafrost: .28% = .0028 x 3000 mm = _________________mm (color ______________)Swamp Water: .12% = .0012 x 3000 mm = ______________________ mm (color _________________)Soil Moisture: .2% = .002 x 3000 mm = _______________________ mm (color _________________)Biological Water: .02% = .0002 x 3000 mm = ____________________ mm (color_________________)Water in the atmosphere: .04% = .0004 x 3000 mm = ________________ mm (color _______________)**Water that is usable to humansRecord your names on the back and show your teacher your completed strip and then answer the questions on the next page.Questions:36830398780001. Look at the two diagrams below: The top diagram is a map of the earth. The gray areas represent the water areas on earth. In the second diagram, the sphere represents all of the water on earth put together and placed on the earth as a sphere.4381500-381000Explain how can the water cover so much of the surface of the earth and be represented by such a small sphere?2. Explain why so little of Earth’s water is available for human use.3. Why do we worry so much about conserving water, and cleaning our water supplies?4. What are 3 ways you can conserve water at home.5. What are 3 things we can do to prevent polluting of our water supply?Water trapped in ice: 76% = .76 x 3000 millimeters = ____2280______ millimeters (color__White___)Deep Groundwater: 11% = .11 x 3000 mm = _______330_________ millimeters (color _____________)**Shallow Groundwater: 12% = .12 x 3000 mm = ________360________mm (color _________________)**Water in Lakes and Rivers: .34% = .0034 x 3000 mm = ______10_______ mm (color _______________)Ground Ice and Permafrost: .28% = .0028 x 3000 mm = ______8________mm (color ______________)Swamp Water: .12% = .0012 x 3000 mm = ________4___________ mm (color _________________)Soil Moisture: .2% = .002 x 3000 mm = ____________6__________ mm (color _________________)Biological Water: .02% = .0002 x 3000 mm = __________1_________ mm (color_________________)Water in the atmosphere: .04% = .0004 x 3000 mm = _______1________ mm (color _______________) ................
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