SUMMARIZE:

[FIRST PARAGRAPH]

The Earth's water is part of the hydrosphere, encompassing liquid water in oceans, lakes, and rivers, as
well as groundwater, wells, and aquifers below the surface. Water also exists as vapor in clouds and fog,
and it condenses into precipitation. Additionally, frozen water is found in glaciers, ice caps, and icebergs,
collectively known as the cryosphere.

[ QUESTION ]

You learned about Earth's system in the first part of this work text. Look at Figure 3.1. Why do you think
is Earth referred to as the blue planet?

[ ANSWER ]

Earth is often referred to as the "blue planet" because when viewed from space, it appears
predominantly blue due to the vast amount of water covering its surface. This distinctive blue color
comes from the reflection and scattering of sunlight by the water in the oceans and the Earth's
atmosphere. The presence of so much liquid water is a defining characteristic of our planet and sets it
apart from other celestial bodies in our solar system, making the nickname "blue planet" a fitting
description.

[ SECOND PARAGHRAPH ]

The hydrosphere encompasses all the water on Earth in its three phases: solid (ice), liquid, and gas. The
majority of Earth's water exists in its liquid form, estimated at approximately 1.36 billion cubic
centimeters (cc). Ice represents another significant phase of water on Earth, and if all of it were to melt,
global sea levels would rise by about 70 meters.

Remember water plays a crucial role in regulating the planet's temperature and climate. The
hydrosphere acts as a heat absorber from the sun and interacts with the atmosphere, influencing the
movement of air currents across the Earth. This interconnected system helps control and stabilize the
planet's climate and temperature patterns.

How important is water?

Water is incredibly important for various reasons, and its presence is a key factor that makes Earth a
habitable planet:
NOTES: all the 7 I type are only answer "why water is important". it's up to you guys if you want to put
this in a presentation or make this a quiz.

1. Essential for Life: Water is crucial for the existence of life as we know it. Most organisms, including
humans, are composed primarily of water. It serves as a vital medium for biological processes, facilitating
chemical reactions, nutrient transport, and temperature regulation within living organisms.

2. Abundant on Earth: Approximately three-fourths of Earth's surface is covered with water, making it
readily available for various purposes.

3. Versatile Phases: Water's ability to exist in three different physical states—solid, liquid, and gas—
allows it to play diverse roles in the planet's processes and ecosystems.

4. Erosion and Shaping of Earth's Surface: Water is a powerful agent of erosion and plays a significant
role in shaping the Earth's surface over geological timescales. It carves valleys, forms canyons, and
shapes landscapes through processes like river erosion and glaciation.

5. Energy and Heat Transfer: Water is used for energy production and heat transfer in various industrial
processes. Its high heat capacity and ability to absorb and release heat slowly make it valuable for
regulating temperatures in power generation and cooling systems.

6. Agriculture and Farming: Water is a fundamental requirement for agriculture and farming. It is
essential for irrigation, livestock, and crop cultivation, contributing to food production and global food
security.

7. Industrial Applications: Water is a critical component in many industrial processes, including

8. Household and Personal Use: In everyday life, water is essential for cooking, cleaning, and personal
hygiene, highlighting its importance in maintaining a healthy and comfortable living environment.

One of the reasons why Earth is a habitable planet is the presence of water. Water can exist in three
different physical states-solid, liquid, and gas. Around three-fourths of Earth is covered with water. Life is
dependent on a supply of liquid water. Most organisms are made up of water in liquid form. The human
body is 50-60% water. Aside from survival, water has other uses. It in shaping Earth's surface as an
important agent of erosion. This will be discussed in detail in the and in the home. People use liquid
water for energy and transfer. Water also has a very significant other uses. It is necessary for all forms of
agriculture and farming, in industry, for personal

unit.

In this unit, you will explore various aspects of water, including its distribution on Earth, its origin on the
planet, and the stages of the water cycle. A significant focus of this unit will be on understanding how
human activities impact the quality of water that is suitable for human consumption.

NOTES: Again, it's up to you guys if you want to put this in a presentation or you will this as an
explanation.

Learning Outcomes:

NOTES: Please put this in ppt.

Recognize how water is distributed on Earth.

Identify the various water resources on Earth.

Explain how different activities affect the quality and availability of water for human use.

Suggest ways of conserving and protecting water resources.

Learning Outcomes:

NOTES: This will be the explanation for learning outcomes.

Recognize how water is distributed on Earth

-You will be able to identify and understand how water is distributed across the Earth's surface,
recognizing its presence in various forms such as oceans, rivers, lakes, groundwater, and polar ice caps.

Identify the various water resources on Earth

-You will gain the ability to identify and describe the diverse water resources available on Earth, including
both surface and groundwater sources.
Explain how different activities affect the quality and availability of water for human use

-You will be able to explain how different human activities can influence the quality and availability of
water for human use. This includes recognizing the potential contaminants and pollutants that can affect
water quality.

Suggest ways of conserving and protecting water resources.

-You will develop the capacity to suggest and discuss practical ways to conserve and protect water
resources. This may involve strategies for responsible water use, pollution prevention, and sustainable
management practices.

Figure 3.4. The Water Cycle

What keeps water moving through Earth's system? The sun keeps water moving by providing the energy
needed to drive this cycle. There are four main processes of the water cycle: evaporation, transpiration,
condensation, and precipitation.

Evaporation

-This process involves the conversion of liquid water into water vapor when it gains energy. It is a result
of heating, such as from the sun, causing water to change from its liquid phase to a gaseous state.

Transpiration

-Transpiration is the loss of water by plants through tiny pores on their leaves. These pores open to allow
the entry of carbon dioxide for photosynthesis, but in the process, water is lost and released as water
vapor into the air. This contributes to the movement of water from plants into the atmosphere.

Condensation is when water vapor in the air turns into liquid droplets due to cooling. These droplets
combine to form clouds, which release precipitation in the form of rain, hail, sleet, or snow back to
Earth.

Figure 3.5. Sprinkler irrigation in agriculture as an example of how humans use water

Agriculture uses a lot of water globally, with two main methods: overhead sprinklers and trench
irrigation. While overhead sprinklers are cheap, they waste about 35% of water due to evaporation and
runoff. Drip irrigation is a more efficient method that delivers water directly to plant roots, reducing
water wastage.

Industrial Water Use:

Around 15% of global water consumption is attributed to industrial usage. This encompasses various
applications such as using water to cool equipment in power plants, utilizing it for chemical processes in
oil refineries, and constructing hydroelectric power plants for energy generation.

In Unit VI, you will learn more about human activities and their effect on the environment.

Distribution of Water on Earth.

The Earth's water distribution is a critical aspect of our planet's composition. Oceans, covering 70% of
the Earth's surface, hold a staggering 97% of the planet's water. When we consider all the major ocean
basins along with surface freshwater, nearly 70% of Earth's total area is covered with water.

The planet's water is stored in various reservoirs, including oceans, glaciers, groundwater, lakes, rivers,
and the atmosphere. The majority of Earth's water, 97%, is located in the oceans, while the remaining
3% is freshwater. This freshwater is distributed among polar ice caps and glaciers (77%), groundwater
(22%), and other sources (1%). The other sources comprise lakes and rivers (61%) and the atmosphere
(39%).

The oceans play a vital role in maintaining Earth's temperature stability by absorbing heat from the sun
and distributing it through ocean currents, helping regulate both water and air temperatures. If we
didn't have oceans, our planet's temperature would experience significant fluctuations.

The ocean is a thriving ecosystem hosting a diverse range of life forms. It accommodates
microorganisms, plants, algae, invertebrates such as sea stars and jellyfish, as well as vertebrates like
reptiles and marine mammals. Within the ocean, you'll encounter producers (like algae), consumers
(various marine animals), and decomposers (organisms that break down dead matter). This intricate mix
of creatures creates a complex food web within the ocean.

Moreover, the ocean plays a pivotal role in initiating Earth's water cycle. The majority of water that
evaporates into the atmosphere originates from the ocean. This process of evaporation from the ocean's
surface is a fundamental step in the Earth's water cycle, which ultimately influences weather patterns
and the distribution of water resources worldwide.
 Places Where Water Is Found

Water on Earth can be found in various forms and locations.

Surface Water

- This is the water that exists on the Earth's surface and includes oceans, lakes, rivers, and reservoirs.
Reservoirs are artificial or natural lakes used to store water.

Frozen Water

- Frozen water is found at the Earth's poles (the north and south poles) and on mountain tops as glaciers
and ice sheets. Glaciers are massive ice masses formed on land when snow or ice accumulates faster
than it melts. Most of the planet's freshwater is in the form of glacier ice.

Groundwater

- Groundwater is freshwater that collects underground. The water table marks the upper limit of this
groundwater, and below it, all spaces are filled with groundwater. The water table level can change with
the seasons and human water use.

As for the origin of Earth's water, it's believed that our planet's location in the solar system's "Goldilocks
Zone" (not too hot and not too cold) allowed liquid water to exist. Initially, during the formation of the
solar system, it was too hot for water to condense into a liquid, so scientists theorize that water must
have been delivered to Earth after its formation by extraterrestrial sources. Some of Earth's water likely
came from comets and asteroids.

However, there's an ongoing debate among scientists about the exact sources of Earth's water. One
theory suggests that water came from both extraterrestrial sources like asteroids and from the remnants
of the solar nebula, a vast cloud of dust and gas that remained after the formation of the Sun. This solar
nebula eventually evolved into the protoplanetary disk, leading to the formation of our planet.

The Water Cycle

The amount of water on Earth has remained relatively constant for millions of years, thanks to a process
known as the water cycle. This cycle continuously moves water from one place to another on our planet.
To understand the water cycle, it's essential to recognize the different phases of water on Earth. The
water cycle transports water between the hydrosphere (water on Earth's surface), the atmosphere (the
layer of gases surrounding Earth), and the land, creating a continuous movement of water.

Gaseous water, or water vapor, resides in the atmosphere. When this moisture in the atmosphere
condenses and forms rain or snow, it returns to Earth's surface, replenishing our water supply.

You can observe this process in the diagram on the following page, which illustrates the water cycle. It
shows how water moves from the ocean to the groundwater and back to the ocean in a continuous and
interconnected loop.

Household Use

- Globally, households and individuals use about 15% of the world's water. We use water for everyday
tasks like cooking, bathing, washing dishes, doing laundry, and flushing toilets. Wastewater from homes
can be treated and reused. Sewers often transport this water to treatment plants where its quality is
improved before reuse.

Recreational Use

- Water is essential for various recreational activities like swimming, fishing, and boating. These activities
don't consume water but enhance our quality of life. Surprisingly, golf courses are one of the biggest
consumers of water for maintaining their grass. Unfortunately, much of this water is wasted through
evaporation and runoff, leading to environmental concerns.

Water Cycle Movement

- When precipitation occurs, water reaching Earth's surface can flow over the land. This flow, known as
surface runoff, carries water into lakes, rivers, and oceans. Surface runoff is closely linked to another
cycle, the rock cycle, as it collects minerals and nutrients from the soil, leading to deposition and
sedimentation in freshwater and saltwater bodies.

Water can also percolate downward through soil, a process called percolation, where it moves through
porous materials and accumulates. This water can end up in sediment and rocks, forming an aquifer,
which will be explored in more detail later in this unit, along with other crucial uses of water.