Hydrosphere

1. Water is the most important element in our life
The cryosphere
Hydrologic cycle.
4. Impact of human activities on the hydrosphere

The hydrosphere (from Greek ὕδωρ - hudōr, "water" and σφαῖρα - sphaira, "sphere") in physical geography describes the combined mass of water found on, under, and over the surface of a planet

Approximately 75% of the Earth's surfaceApproximately 75% of the Earth's surface, an area of some 361 million square kilometers (139.5 million square miles), is covered by oceanApproximately 75% of the Earth's surface, an area of some 361 million square kilometers (139.5 million square miles), is covered by ocean. The average salinityApproximately 75% of the Earth's surface, an area of some 361 million square kilometers (139.5 million square miles), is covered by ocean. The average salinity of the Earth's oceans is about 35 grams of salt per kilogram of sea water (3.5%)

Being situated in South America, Amazon RiverBeing situated in South America, Amazon River is the largest river in the world with the combination of ten largest rivers. The world's famous river is a giant system of rivers and forests, extending to half of Brazil and neighboring countries. Amazon River featuring the largest drainage basin in the world, about 7,050,000 square kilometres (2,720,000 sq mi), accounts for about one-fifth of the world's total river flow.

The vallery of San Guang River, Fusing, Taoyuan, Taiwan

Lake Marian

На территории Орегона и Северной Калифорнии раскинулось крупное вулканическое плато, уникальные природные особенности которого позволили создать здесь два национальных парка и один монумент - Crater Lake National Park, Lava Beds National Monument и Lassen Volcanic National Park. Каждый по своему необычен

A small swamp is hidden behind the impassible thickets of the tropic jungles. By sight it is an ordinary water basin overgrown with water lilies. But look at it more attentively... This small world is just humming with life! Frogs, dragonflies and even a furious viper closely coexist near each other.

Honey Island Swamp, Louisiana, USA

Earth's Water Cycle
WaterWater is always on the move. RainWater is always on the move. Rain falling where you live may have been water in the ocean just days before. And the water you see in a river or stream may have been snow on a high mountaintop.
Water can be in the atmosphere, on the land, in the ocean, and even underground. It is recycled over and over through the water cycle. In the cycle, water changes state between liquid, solid (ice), and gas (water vapor).

Impact of human activities on the hydrosphere
The activities of modern society are having a severe impact on the hydrologic cycle. The dynamic steady state is being disturbed by the discharge of toxic chemicals, radioactive substances, and other industrial wastes and by the seepage of mineral fertilizers, herbicides, and pesticides into surface and subsurface aquatic systems. Inadvertent and deliberate discharge of petroleum, improper sewage disposal, and thermal pollution also are seriously affecting the quality of the hydrosphere.
The present discussion focuses on three major problems—eutrophication, acid rain, and the buildup of the so-called greenhouse gases. Each exemplifies human interference in the hydrologic cycle and its far-reaching effects.

Satellite observations of lake temperatures at many lakes around the world show that lakes are warming worldwide. Because lakes play such an important role in society, as a source of food, water, and recreation, these changes can have a significant impact on many aspects of our lives. Watch the NBC Learn video - Changing Planet: Warming Lakes to find out more. This is an image of the eastern shore of Lake Tanganyika, Tanzania.

As temperatures rise and soil moisture decreases, plants are stressed, which can lead to crop witheringAs temperatures rise and soil moisture decreases, plants are stressed, which can lead to crop withering. DroughtsAs temperatures rise and soil moisture decreases, plants are stressed, which can lead to crop withering. Droughts accompanied by increased temperatures can lead to famine, social and political disruptions. Scientists are helping with early identification of drought that might trigger food shortages. Watch the NBC Learn video - Changing Planet: Withering Crops to find out more.

Coral animals build reefs in warm, tropical seawater. However, seawater can be too warm for their liking. If waters get too warm, coral animals lose the algae that live within their little bodies, a process called coral bleaching. Without the algae, corals have less nutrition. Unless cooler temperatures return, allowing algae to return, the coral dies.

The Importance of Water
"Water can be without the company of humans
but
we as humans can only be
without water for a few days."

The human body consists of about 75% water and the brain about 85%. Each cell in the body depends upon water in order to function. Numerous disorders are caused by insufficient and unhealthy water. In order to maintain the various bodily functions, we need to drink up to 2-3 litres of water each day. We need our daily supply of water since we cannot maintain reserves of it in our body as we can with food. We would die within three to seven days without water.

Unknown waterfall along the west coast of Vancouver Island, flowing water running down through beautiful green lush..

Aerial photo of the large underwater base of an iceberg in the Strait of Belle Isle (Atlantic Ocean), Labrador.

Photo of the Multnomah Falls and benson Bridge in fall season, Columbia River Gorge, Oregon, USA

Photo of the beautiful Rainbow Falls waterfall in Monashee Provincial Park

Photo of a waterfall, a beautiful scenic stop
along the Catlin's Highway in New Zealand.

Photo of the snow covered Sierra Nevada mountains and a series of rock formations on Mono Lake.

Photo of two large brown bears fishing at Brooks Falls in Katmai National Park, Alaska, USA.

Photo of red fall leaves, green moss and a cascading flowing water stream on the Olympic Peninsula.

Aerial photo of the village of Vernazza, one of five in the Cinque Terre in Liguria, Italy in Europe.

Photo of sun beams hitting Virgin falls waterfall in the wilderness of Vancouver Island, BC, Canada.