Water
Water is one of the most important things required for life and our planet Earth is the only planet which is having liquid water. Can you imagine your life without water? Absolutely not. If someone asks you what is water? Then probably your answer will be H2O. As per the Cambridge dictionary, water means a clear liquid, without colour or taste, that falls from the sky as rain and is necessary for animal and plant life. Water does not have a colour of its own or does not have any shape.
Here, we will be discussing the water, its various sources, and terms related to it such as surface water, groundwater, what is a sea, what are ocean waves, sea waves definition, tides and waves, different types of ocean waves, etc.
Sources of Water
There are various sources of water which are mentioned below:
Surface Water:
Surface water is the most common source of water and they provide maximum water for drinking and essential purposes. They are easily accessible in most of the regions. Mostly the water of this source is freshwater which fulfils the needs of human beings at large.
Surface water includes the following:
Rivers
Lakes
Streams
Reservoirs
Wetlands
Groundwater
There is a large source of water under our feet and this water not only helps the plants to grow but useful for human beings as well. Wells, handpumps, tubewells, etc. are used to extract the groundwater or sometimes this groundwater comes naturally on the surface then it is called a spring.
Stormwater
It is also known as runoff or rainwater. This water we get because of the change in weather or heavy weather. For example, rain, snow, hail, etc. This water is fresh but actually got polluted in the process of coming down the earth and needs filtration.
Saltwater
Our planet is made up of 70% ocean water but this water is salt water and it is very difficult to use it for human purposes and thus we depend on freshwater to survive. We are trying to use ocean water with new and modern technology which helps in removing the salt content in water to make it useful.
Icecap Water
Glaciers and Polar Ice Caps are a great source of fresh water and this freshwater floats into the ocean sometimes and sometimes with the help of rivers becomes accessible to the people but the presence of these glaciers and polar icecaps is very necessary to maintain the earth’s temperature.
Let’s Study Other Terms Related to Water:
What is the Sea?
A water body that consists of saltwater and can be a part of the ocean or can be surrounded by land as well. For example the Mediterranean sea, Arabian Sea, Black Sea, etc.
What are Sea Waves?
The movement of the water up and down on the surface because of the oceanic movements under the water are called sea waves. It is a type of ocean wave. The work of sea waves can be observed in the diagram, the lower bend is called a wave trough whereas the upper bend is called a wave crest. There are various types of sea waves such as breaking waves, shallow water waves, deep water waves, spilling waves, plunging waves, collapsing waves, surging waves, onshore waves, tidal waves, etc.
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What is a Tide?
These are short or long-period sea waves that are formed in the ocean due to the gravitational pull of the sun and the moon. There are various types of tides that are formed in the oceans. There are three types of tides according to the frequency ie. Semi-Diurnal Tides, Diurnal Tides and Mixed whereas there are two types on the basis of the position of the Earth, the Sun, and the Moon i.e. Spring Tides and Neap Tides.
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Ocean Tides or Currents
The continuous movement of water from one region to another in the ocean is called ocean tides. A number of factors play an important role in this movement such as breaking waves, winds, Coriolis force, temperature, and salinity, etc. They are also called currents such as warm currents and cold currents. Here in the diagram, red arrows represent the warm currents and blue arrows represent the cold currents. The canary current, the labrador, the Benguela, etc. are examples of cold currents whereas the Gulf stream and North Atlantic drift are examples of warm currents.
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Distribution of Water
The planet Earth is the only planet with the presence of liquid water and it is covered with almost 71% of water and most of the earth’s water is in oceans which covers almost 97% of the Earth’s water which is saltwater and the rest of the water i.e. 3% is freshwater which is present in other forms like glaciers, polar ice caps, rivers, lakes, streams, etc.
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FAQs on What is Water?
1. What is water and why is it essential for life on Earth?
Water is a transparent, odourless, and tasteless chemical substance with the formula H₂O. It is vital for all known forms of life because it acts as a universal solvent, helps regulate temperature, and is crucial for metabolic processes like photosynthesis and cellular respiration. Every living organism, from the smallest microbe to the largest animal, depends on water for survival and to transport essential nutrients.
2. How is water distributed across the planet?
The Earth's water is distributed unevenly. Approximately 97% of it is saline water found in oceans and seas. The remaining 3% is freshwater, but most of it is not easily accessible. This freshwater is found in:
- Ice caps and glaciers: About 68.7% of all freshwater.
- Groundwater: About 30.1% of all freshwater.
- Surface water: Less than 1.2% is found in lakes, rivers, and swamps, which is the primary source for human use.
3. What are the main uses of water in our daily lives and for the economy?
Water has numerous uses that are critical for both daily life and economic activities. Key examples include:
- Domestic Use: Drinking, cooking, bathing, and cleaning.
- Agricultural Use: Irrigation for growing crops, which is the largest consumer of freshwater globally.
- Industrial Use: Used in manufacturing processes, as a coolant in power plants, and for generating hydroelectric power.
- Recreational Use: Activities like swimming, boating, and fishing.
4. What is the water cycle and how does it work?
The water cycle, also known as the hydrologic cycle, is the continuous movement of water on, above, and below the surface of the Earth. It is a vital process that replenishes freshwater supplies. The main stages are:
- Evaporation: The sun's heat turns water from oceans and lakes into vapour.
- Condensation: The water vapour rises, cools, and turns into tiny droplets, forming clouds.
- Precipitation: When the droplets become too heavy, they fall back to Earth as rain, snow, or hail.
- Collection: The water collects in rivers, lakes, and oceans, or soaks into the ground, starting the cycle again.
5. What is the primary difference between ocean waves and tides?
The main difference lies in their cause. Ocean waves are surface movements primarily caused by wind blowing across the water. Their size depends on wind speed and duration. In contrast, tides are the large-scale, predictable rise and fall of the entire sea level, caused by the gravitational pull of the moon and, to a lesser extent, the sun.
6. What are ocean currents and how do they affect global climate?
Ocean currents are large streams of water flowing in a continuous, directed path within the oceans. They act like massive rivers, transporting warm water from the equator towards the poles and cold water from the poles back to the tropics. This circulation of heat plays a crucial role in regulating global climate and weather patterns by warming or cooling the air in coastal regions.
7. Why is conserving freshwater so important for our planet?
Freshwater conservation is critical because while Earth is covered in water, less than 1% of it is easily accessible for human use. Factors like population growth, pollution, and climate change are putting immense pressure on this limited resource. Conserving water ensures a sustainable supply for drinking, sanitation, and food production, helping to prevent water scarcity and protect ecosystems that depend on it.
8. If the Earth is mostly covered in ocean water, why can't we drink it?
We cannot drink ocean water due to its high salinity, or salt content. The human body requires a certain balance of salt and water to function. Drinking seawater would introduce too much salt, forcing our kidneys to use more of our existing body water to flush it out, which ultimately leads to severe dehydration rather than hydration.
