Question

UPSC Prelims 2021 Question:

With reference to the water on the planet Earth

consider the following statements:

The amount of water in the rivers and lakes is more than the amount of groundwater.

The amount of water in polar ice caps and glaciers is more than the amount of groundwater.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2

Answer (Detailed Solution Below)

Option 2: 2 only

Detailed Solution

Explanation:

The following table gives details about Water on the Earth’s surface –

Water Body

Volume (Million Cubic km)

Percentage of the Total

Oceans

Ice Caps and Glaciers

Groundwater

Lakes

Soil Moisture

Atmosphere

Streams and Rivers

Biosphere

1,370

9.5

0.125

0.065

0.013

0.0017

0.0006

97.25

2.05

0.68

0.01

0.005

0.001

0.0001

0.00004

Thus, the correct decreasing order in terms of water retention is – Icecaps and Glaciers > Groundwater > Lakes > Soil Moisture > Streams and Rivers. So, statement 1 is not correct and statement 2 is correct.

Therefore, option (2) is the correct answer.

Subject: Geography | Water Resources

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