UPSC Prelims 2013·GS1·geography·climatology

On the earth planet, most of the non-saline water exists as ice caps and glaciers. The largest part of the remaining non-saline water is found as

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  1. AHumidity and clouds in the atmosphere
  2. BNon-saline water lakes and rivers
  3. CGroundwaterCorrect
  4. DSoil moisture

Explanation

Correct Answer: C) Groundwater Let's break down why: Groundwater constitutes the largest reservoir of freshwater after ice caps and glaciers. Approximately 30.1% of the world's freshwater is found underground. This is a significant amount, crucial for sustaining ecosystems and human populations. A) Humidity and clouds in the atmosphere: While atmospheric water is vital for the water cycle, the *total volume* of water held in humidity and clouds is relatively small compared to groundwater. It's a transient reservoir. B) Non-saline water lakes and rivers: Lakes and rivers hold a substantial amount of freshwater, but their combined volume is significantly less than that of groundwater – only about 0.3% of the world’s freshwater. D) Soil moisture: Soil moisture is important for plant life, but the quantity of water stored in the soil is far less than groundwater. It's a very small percentage of the total non-saline water. Therefore, after ice caps and glaciers, groundwater is the largest remaining reservoir of non-saline water on Earth.
geography: On the earth planet, most of the non-saline water exists as ice caps and glaciers. The largest part of the remaining non

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