the draining away of water (or substances carried in it) from the surface of an area of land,

water contained in oceans and seas that has a high level of dissolved salt

the area of land where surface water drains when the ground is unable to absorb it

underground rock layer that contains a vital source of water for human consumption and use

all the water on or surrounding the surface of the planet

cycling of water on Earth through a variety of processes

the area of land drained by a river and its branches

bodies of water that include lakes and ponds, rivers and streams

rain, snow, sleet, or hail that falls to the ground

valuable water resource on Earth; provides drinking water

the area of land drained by a river and its branches

the process of turning from liquid into vapor

rain, snow, sleet, or hail that falls to the ground

the process of turning from liquid into vapor

the process where plants absorb water through the roots and then give off water vapor through pores in their leaves

cycling of water on Earth through a variety of processes

The total amount of water in the hydrosphere decreases over time due to the process of evaporation.

It all goes away

The total amount of water in the hydrosphere remains the same over time, but changes form due to the water cycle.

The total amount of water in the hydrosphere both decreases and increases over time due to competing processes such as evaporation and precipitation.