Question 62
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?
AOptions
BSolution
Statement 1 is incorrect: The amount of groundwater on Earth is significantly larger than the combined amount of water in rivers and lakes. While rivers and lakes are visible freshwater sources, groundwater constitutes a much larger reservoir of accessible freshwater. Globally, groundwater accounts for approximately 30.1% of all freshwater, whereas rivers account for a mere 0.006% and lakes about 0.26% of total freshwater.
Statement 2 is correct: Polar ice caps and glaciers hold the vast majority of Earth's freshwater. Approximately 68.7% of all freshwater on Earth is locked up in glaciers and ice caps. This amount is indeed more than the amount of groundwater, which is about 30.1% of freshwater.
CStrategy
For questions on water distribution on Earth, it's essential to know the approximate percentages of water stored in different reservoirs (oceans, glaciers, groundwater, lakes, rivers, atmosphere). Focus on the relative magnitudes of these reservoirs, especially for freshwater sources, as this is a common area of testing.
DSyllabus Analysis
This question falls under Physical Geography and Environment & Ecology, specifically Hydrology and Global Water Resources.
EQuestion Analysis
Easy to Medium. Basic knowledge of global water distribution is sufficient.