FRESH WATER SCARCITY

Over 70 percent of the Earth's surface is covered in water. So why is water considered such a precious resource?

• The greenhouse effect is causing most of the world's freshwater to be trapped in the atmosphere

• Only a small fraction of the Earth's water is freshwater available for drinking and irrigation

• Each year, more freshwater is being trapped in icecaps located at the North and South Poles

• Global warming caused by greenhouse gas emissions will likely cause Earth's oceans to evaporate

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What percentage of the earth's water is saline (salty) water and therefore cannot be used by humans?

• about 3%

• about 25%

• about 71%

• about 97%

We cannot drink water from oceans/seas because it is too _______________

• scarce

• salty

• cold

• plentiful

Only about 3% of Earth's water is fresh water. Of this 3% most of it cannot be used by humans because it is found in _________.

• lakes

• the atmosphere

• glaciers

• the oceans

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All areas of our planet have equal access to fresh water.

• True

• False

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Earth's oceans are saline. The word saline means

• salty

• safe to drink

• abundant

• scarce

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Earth has _____ major oceans.

• 3

• 5

• 7

• 9

Ocean water is not potable. The word potable means

• safe to drink

• salty

• abundant

• scarce

What percentage of ALL of Earth's water is available for humans to use as liquid freshwater?

• 1%

• 97%

• 3%

• 50%