Waters

Waters refers to natural bodies of water and the broader hydrosphere. It includes oceans, seas, rivers, lakes, groundwater, glaciers, ice caps, and atmospheric moisture. The term is used in geography and hydrology to describe water resources and their distribution.

The Earth's hydrosphere contains roughly 1.386 billion cubic kilometers of water. Oceans account for about 97.5% of this total; freshwater makes up about 2.5%, stored mainly in glaciers and ice caps, groundwater, lakes, and rivers, with remaining moisture in the atmosphere and soil. Water exists in three states: liquid, solid, and vapor.

Water has the chemical composition H2O. It is a polar molecule with high surface tension, solvent properties, and a high heat capacity, contributing to climate regulation and biological processes. The movement of water through the hydrological cycle—evaporation, condensation, precipitation, infiltration, runoff, and collection—transfers energy and materials around the globe.

Humans depend on waters for drinking, irrigation, sanitation, industry, and energy. Water management seeks to balance availability and quality, often involving watershed planning, infrastructure, and governance to ensure sustainable use and equitable access.

Environmental pressures include pollution, overuse, salinization, sedimentation, and climate-driven changes that alter supply and ecosystem health. Effective stewardship emphasizes conservation, pollution control, and transboundary cooperation to secure water resources for ecosystems and people.