What does the hydrosphere include?

What does the hydrosphere include?

• A. The layer of rock that contains groundwater.
• B. The biosphere's water within organisms.
• C. The atmosphere only.
• D. All the earth's water in all states and stores.

Answer: (D)

The hydrosphere is all of Earth's water in every form and location. It includes oceans, rivers, lakes, groundwater, glaciers and ice caps, water within soils, water vapor in the atmosphere, and even the water contained in living tissues. That’s why the best description is the one that refers to all Earth’s water in all states and stores—it's the most complete picture of where water exists on our planet. Focusing on a rock layer that contains groundwater misses most of the water, since it’s about the rock rather than the water itself. Limiting to water inside organisms only covers a small part of the total; and restricting to the atmosphere ignores the vast liquid and solid reservoirs elsewhere on Earth.

The hydrosphere is all of Earth's water in every form and location. It includes oceans, rivers, lakes, groundwater, glaciers and ice caps, water within soils, water vapor in the atmosphere, and even the water contained in living tissues. That’s why the best description is the one that refers to all Earth’s water in all states and stores—it's the most complete picture of where water exists on our planet. Focusing on a rock layer that contains groundwater misses most of the water, since it’s about the rock rather than the water itself. Limiting to water inside organisms only covers a small part of the total; and restricting to the atmosphere ignores the vast liquid and solid reservoirs elsewhere on Earth.