With reference to the water on the planet Earth, consider the following statements:
1. The amount of water in the rivers and lakes is more than the amount of groundwater.
2. The amount of water in polar ice caps and glaciers is more than the amount of groundwater.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Explanation
Examining the global distribution of freshwater resources across Earth’s hydrosphere:
– Total freshwater constitutes roughly 2.5% to 2.8% of all water on Earth.
– Of this total freshwater, polar ice caps and glaciers account for approximately 68.7% to 69%, representing the largest freshwater reservoir.
– Groundwater represents roughly 30.1% of the world’s freshwater.
– Surface freshwater residing in lakes, rivers, and atmosphere combined accounts for less than 1% (freshwater lakes hold roughly 0.26% and rivers hold about 0.006%).
– Statement 1 is incorrect: The volume of groundwater (roughly 30.1%) far exceeds the total water held in all freshwater rivers and lakes combined (less than 1%).
– Statement 2 is correct: Glaciers and polar ice caps hold roughly 68.7% of global freshwater, which is significantly more than groundwater (30.1%).
Therefore, only statement 2 is correct — Option B.