Earth's Water and Atmospheric Effects

Where is most of Earth's fresh water stored?

• In underground aquifers

• In the atmosphere

• In rivers and lakes

• In polar ice caps, snowpacks, and glaciers

What influences the rate of evaporation at the ocean surface?

• Sea surface temperature, surface winds, and air temperature

• The depth of the ocean

• Cloud cover

• The amount of rainfall

How do clouds and water vapor affect the Earth's atmosphere?

• They decrease the Earth's temperature

• They have no effect on the Earth's atmosphere

• They increase the Earth's gravity

• They act as insulators, shielding the Earth from the sun and trapping heat

What happens to most of the water that falls onto land?

• It flows directly into the ocean

• It remains stored for weeks or more

• It immediately evaporates

• It disappears

Why are NASA's satellite measurements important?

• They help predict earthquakes

• They are used to track animal migrations

• They are used to measure the Earth's magnetic field

• They help understand the availability and distribution of Earth's water