A view of a salt marsh pond on the left, and a tidal creek on the right at Plum Island, Massachusetts.
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"Water, Water, Everywhere..." You've heard the phrase, and for water, it really is true. Earth's water is (almost) everywhere: above the Earth in the air and clouds and on the surface of the Earth in rivers, oceans, ice, plants, and in living organisms. But did you know that water is also inside the Earth? Read on to learn more.
• Water Science School HOME • Water Basics topics • The Water Cycle •
Where is Earth's Water?
"Water, Water, Everywhere...."
You've heard the phrase, and for water, it really is true. Earth's water is (almost) everywhere: above the Earth in the air and clouds, on the surface of the Earth in rivers, oceans, ice, plants, in living organisms, and inside the Earth in the top few miles of the ground.
For an estimated explanation of where Earth's water exists, look at this bar chart. You may know that the water cycle describes the movement of Earth's water, so realize that the chart and table below represent the presence of Earth's water at a single point in time. If you check back in a million years, no doubt these numbers will be different!
- Left bar: All water, freshwater and saline, on, in, and above the Earth.
- Center bar: All freshwater
- Right bar: Only the portion of freshwater residing in surface water (rivers and lakes, etc), snow and ice, and relatively-shallow ground water.
Here is a bar chart showing where all water on, in, and above the Earth exists. The left-side bar chart shows how almost all of Earth's water is saline and is found in the oceans. Of the small amount that is actually freshwater, only a relatively small portion is available to sustain human, plant, and animal life.
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
- In the first bar, notice how only 2.5% of Earth's water is freshwater - the amount needed for life to survive.
- The middle bar shows the breakdown of freshwater. Almost all of it is locked up in ice and in the ground. Only a little more than 1.2% of all freshwater is surface water, which serves most of life's needs.
- The right bar shows the breakdown of surface freshwater. Most of this water is locked up in ice, and another 20.9% is found in lakes. Rivers make up 0.49% of surface freshwater. Although rivers account for only a small amount of freshwater, this is where humans get a large portion of their water.
One estimate of global water distribution
(Percents are rounded, so will not add to 100)
| Water source | Water volume, in cubic miles | Water volume, in cubic kilometers | Percent of freshwater |
Percent of total water |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oceans, Seas, & Bays | 321,000,000 | 1,338,000,000 | -- | 96.54 |
| Ice caps, Glaciers, & Permanent Snow | 5,773,000 | 24,064,000 | 68.7 | 1.74 |
| Groundwater | 5,614,000 | 23,400,000 | -- | 1.69 |
| Fresh | 2,526,000 | 10,530,000 | 30.1 | 0.76 |
| Saline | 3,088,000 | 12,870,000 | -- | 0.93 |
| Soil Moisture | 3,959 | 16,500 | 0.05 | 0.001 |
| Ground Ice & Permafrost | 71,970 | 300,000 | 0.86 | 0.022 |
| Lakes | 42,320 | 176,400 | -- | 0.013 |
| Fresh | 21,830 | 91,000 | 0.26 | 0.007 |
| Saline | 20,490 | 85,400 | -- | 0.006 |
| Atmosphere | 3,095 | 12,900 | 0.04 | 0.001 |
| Swamp Water | 2,752 | 11,470 | 0.03 | 0.0008 |
| Rivers | 509 | 2,120 | 0.006 | 0.0002 |
| Biological Water | 269 | 1,120 | 0.003 | 0.0001 |
Source: Igor Shiklomanov's chapter "World fresh water resources" in Peter H. Gleick (editor), 1993, Water in Crisis: A Guide to the World's Fresh Water Resources (Oxford University Press, New York).
Below are other science topics associated with Earth's water.
How Much Water is There on Earth?
The Earth is a watery place. But just how much water exists on, in, and above our planet? Read on to find out.
Aquifers and Groundwater
A huge amount of water exists in the ground below your feet, and people all over the world make great use of it. But it is only found in usable quantities in certain places underground — aquifers. Read on to understand the concepts of aquifers and how water exists in the ground.
The Atmosphere and the Water Cycle
The atmosphere is the superhighway in the sky that moves water everywhere over the Earth. Water at the Earth's surface evaporates into water vapor, then rises up into the sky to become part of a cloud which will float off with the winds, eventually releasing water back to Earth as precipitation.
Ice, Snow, and Glaciers and the Water Cycle
The water stored in ice and glaciers moves slowly through are part of the water cycle, even though the water in them moves very slowly. Did you know? Ice caps influence the weather, too. The color white reflects sunlight (heat) more than darker colors, and as ice is so white, sunlight is reflected back out to the sky, which helps to create weather patterns.
Interactive Water Cycle Diagrams for Kids
Our interactive diagrams allow you to "mouse around" the parts of the water cycle and view explanations, pictures, and more.
Groundwater Storage and the Water Cycle
The ground stores huge amounts of water and it exists to some degree no matter where on Earth you are. Lucky for people, in many places the water exists in quantities and at depths that wells can be drilled into the water-bearing aquifers and withdrawn to server the many needs people have.
Oceans and Seas and the Water Cycle
The oceans are, by far, the largest storehouse of water on earth — over 96% of all of Earth's water exists in the oceans. Not only do the oceans provide evaporated water to the water cycle, they also allow water to move all around the globe as ocean currents.
Freshwater (Lakes and Rivers) and the Water Cycle
Freshwater on the land surface is a vital part of the water cycle for everyday human life. On the landscape, freshwater is stored in rivers, lakes, reservoirs, creeks, and streams. Most of the water people use everyday comes from these sources of water on the land surface.
Glaciers and Icecaps
Glaciers are a big item when we talk about the world's water supply. Almost 10 percent of the world's land mass is currently covered with glaciers, mostly in places like Greenland and Antarctica. You can think of a glacier as a frozen river, and like rivers, they "flow" downhill, erode the landscape, and move water along in the Earth's water cycle.
Below are multimedia items associated with Earth's water.
Salt Marsh Pond and Tidal Creek, Plum Island, MA
A view of a salt marsh pond on the left, and a tidal creek on the right at Plum Island, Massachusetts.
California coastline
The U.S. west coast is an area of complex coastal geography. This photograph depicts several examples of geological features along the California coastline that are shaped by varied coastal processes. The gently sloping beach, stark bluffs, and presence of smooth rocks suggests that the coastal processes shaping this coastline are complex.
The U.S. west coast is an area of complex coastal geography. This photograph depicts several examples of geological features along the California coastline that are shaped by varied coastal processes. The gently sloping beach, stark bluffs, and presence of smooth rocks suggests that the coastal processes shaping this coastline are complex.
Imperial Geyser looking south
Imperial Geyser looking south. This hot spring pool is about 30 m (about 100 ft) across and contains alkaline-Cl waters with a steam vent in the pool and mudpots outside the pool area (in the upper right part of this photo). USGS Photo by Pat Shanks, 2019.
Imperial Geyser looking south. This hot spring pool is about 30 m (about 100 ft) across and contains alkaline-Cl waters with a steam vent in the pool and mudpots outside the pool area (in the upper right part of this photo). USGS Photo by Pat Shanks, 2019.
USGS gage 10351600 Truckee River Below Derby Dam near Wadsworth, NV
Eruption of Steamboat Geyser on July 18, 2019
Steamboat Geyser erupts in the golden light of sunrise on July 18th, 2019. The water-dominated part of a Steamboat eruption usually lasts anywhere from 3 to 90 minutes. Afterwards, a steam-dominated phase continues for many hours.
Steamboat Geyser erupts in the golden light of sunrise on July 18th, 2019. The water-dominated part of a Steamboat eruption usually lasts anywhere from 3 to 90 minutes. Afterwards, a steam-dominated phase continues for many hours.
Barry Glacier from Prince William Sound
View of Barry Glacier in Alaska, from Prince William Sound
View of Barry Glacier in Alaska, from Prince William Sound
The Androscoggin river in Maine during Fall
The Androscoggin river in Maine during Fall colors.
The Androscoggin river in Maine during Fall colors.
Postcard Falls, Allen Creek
Allen Creek, near the Town of Brighton, New York, flows over rock, creating the stunning Postcard Falls at Corbett's Glen Nature Park. Learn about the water quality of Allen Creek and other Northeast streams studied by the USGS Northeast Stream Quality Assessment here.
Allen Creek, near the Town of Brighton, New York, flows over rock, creating the stunning Postcard Falls at Corbett's Glen Nature Park. Learn about the water quality of Allen Creek and other Northeast streams studied by the USGS Northeast Stream Quality Assessment here.
Colorado River Near Moab, Utah.
Water flowing on the Colorado River near Moab, Utah.
The entire Colorado River Basin currently supports 50 million people, and that amount is expected to increase by 23 million between 2000 and 2030. A new USGS study shows more than half of the streamflow in the Upper Colorado River Basin originates as groundwater.
Water flowing on the Colorado River near Moab, Utah.
The entire Colorado River Basin currently supports 50 million people, and that amount is expected to increase by 23 million between 2000 and 2030. A new USGS study shows more than half of the streamflow in the Upper Colorado River Basin originates as groundwater.
Cloudscape in a BLM wilderness study area.
Cloudscape in a BLM wilderness study area. Photo courtesy of BLM.
Cloudscape in a BLM wilderness study area. Photo courtesy of BLM.
Big Darby Creek flows through a heavily wooded area
Big Darby Creek is near Lake Darby, Ohio. Find out about the water quality of this stream and others in the Midwest studied by the Midwest Stream Quality Assessment.
Big Darby Creek is near Lake Darby, Ohio. Find out about the water quality of this stream and others in the Midwest studied by the Midwest Stream Quality Assessment.
Flows through intensively row-cropped land
Minnesota Valley Creek Ditch near Loess Bluffs National Wildlife Refuge flows through intensively row-cropped agricultural land. Find out more about this and other agricultural streams sampled by the USGS Midwest Stream Quality Assessment.
Minnesota Valley Creek Ditch near Loess Bluffs National Wildlife Refuge flows through intensively row-cropped agricultural land. Find out more about this and other agricultural streams sampled by the USGS Midwest Stream Quality Assessment.
Mud Geyser, Yellowstone
Steam rises from the Mud Geyser fumarole on the northeast side of the Mud Volcano thermal area in Yellowstone National Park. Gas that discharges from Mud Geyser has the most magmatic character of any sampled feature in Yellowstone.
Steam rises from the Mud Geyser fumarole on the northeast side of the Mud Volcano thermal area in Yellowstone National Park. Gas that discharges from Mud Geyser has the most magmatic character of any sampled feature in Yellowstone.
Harrington Brook near Lake Lila, New York
Harrington Brook near Lake Lila, New York
Harrington Brook near Lake Lila, New York
Mist and CLouds Along the North Fork Nooksack River
This wild stretch of the river is along the Nooksack Cirque Trail in North Cascades National Park, about 10 miles upstream of the USGS gage.
This wild stretch of the river is along the Nooksack Cirque Trail in North Cascades National Park, about 10 miles upstream of the USGS gage.
Clouds Clearing
Blue sky begins to break through the clouds over Arctic Ocean ice Sept. 9, 2009.
Blue sky begins to break through the clouds over Arctic Ocean ice Sept. 9, 2009.
"Water, Water, Everywhere..." You've heard the phrase, and for water, it really is true. Earth's water is (almost) everywhere: above the Earth in the air and clouds and on the surface of the Earth in rivers, oceans, ice, plants, and in living organisms. But did you know that water is also inside the Earth? Read on to learn more.
• Water Science School HOME • Water Basics topics • The Water Cycle •
Where is Earth's Water?
"Water, Water, Everywhere...."
You've heard the phrase, and for water, it really is true. Earth's water is (almost) everywhere: above the Earth in the air and clouds, on the surface of the Earth in rivers, oceans, ice, plants, in living organisms, and inside the Earth in the top few miles of the ground.
For an estimated explanation of where Earth's water exists, look at this bar chart. You may know that the water cycle describes the movement of Earth's water, so realize that the chart and table below represent the presence of Earth's water at a single point in time. If you check back in a million years, no doubt these numbers will be different!
- Left bar: All water, freshwater and saline, on, in, and above the Earth.
- Center bar: All freshwater
- Right bar: Only the portion of freshwater residing in surface water (rivers and lakes, etc), snow and ice, and relatively-shallow ground water.
Here is a bar chart showing where all water on, in, and above the Earth exists. The left-side bar chart shows how almost all of Earth's water is saline and is found in the oceans. Of the small amount that is actually freshwater, only a relatively small portion is available to sustain human, plant, and animal life.
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
- In the first bar, notice how only 2.5% of Earth's water is freshwater - the amount needed for life to survive.
- The middle bar shows the breakdown of freshwater. Almost all of it is locked up in ice and in the ground. Only a little more than 1.2% of all freshwater is surface water, which serves most of life's needs.
- The right bar shows the breakdown of surface freshwater. Most of this water is locked up in ice, and another 20.9% is found in lakes. Rivers make up 0.49% of surface freshwater. Although rivers account for only a small amount of freshwater, this is where humans get a large portion of their water.
One estimate of global water distribution
(Percents are rounded, so will not add to 100)
| Water source | Water volume, in cubic miles | Water volume, in cubic kilometers | Percent of freshwater |
Percent of total water |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oceans, Seas, & Bays | 321,000,000 | 1,338,000,000 | -- | 96.54 |
| Ice caps, Glaciers, & Permanent Snow | 5,773,000 | 24,064,000 | 68.7 | 1.74 |
| Groundwater | 5,614,000 | 23,400,000 | -- | 1.69 |
| Fresh | 2,526,000 | 10,530,000 | 30.1 | 0.76 |
| Saline | 3,088,000 | 12,870,000 | -- | 0.93 |
| Soil Moisture | 3,959 | 16,500 | 0.05 | 0.001 |
| Ground Ice & Permafrost | 71,970 | 300,000 | 0.86 | 0.022 |
| Lakes | 42,320 | 176,400 | -- | 0.013 |
| Fresh | 21,830 | 91,000 | 0.26 | 0.007 |
| Saline | 20,490 | 85,400 | -- | 0.006 |
| Atmosphere | 3,095 | 12,900 | 0.04 | 0.001 |
| Swamp Water | 2,752 | 11,470 | 0.03 | 0.0008 |
| Rivers | 509 | 2,120 | 0.006 | 0.0002 |
| Biological Water | 269 | 1,120 | 0.003 | 0.0001 |
Source: Igor Shiklomanov's chapter "World fresh water resources" in Peter H. Gleick (editor), 1993, Water in Crisis: A Guide to the World's Fresh Water Resources (Oxford University Press, New York).
Below are other science topics associated with Earth's water.
How Much Water is There on Earth?
The Earth is a watery place. But just how much water exists on, in, and above our planet? Read on to find out.
Aquifers and Groundwater
A huge amount of water exists in the ground below your feet, and people all over the world make great use of it. But it is only found in usable quantities in certain places underground — aquifers. Read on to understand the concepts of aquifers and how water exists in the ground.
The Atmosphere and the Water Cycle
The atmosphere is the superhighway in the sky that moves water everywhere over the Earth. Water at the Earth's surface evaporates into water vapor, then rises up into the sky to become part of a cloud which will float off with the winds, eventually releasing water back to Earth as precipitation.
Ice, Snow, and Glaciers and the Water Cycle
The water stored in ice and glaciers moves slowly through are part of the water cycle, even though the water in them moves very slowly. Did you know? Ice caps influence the weather, too. The color white reflects sunlight (heat) more than darker colors, and as ice is so white, sunlight is reflected back out to the sky, which helps to create weather patterns.
Interactive Water Cycle Diagrams for Kids
Our interactive diagrams allow you to "mouse around" the parts of the water cycle and view explanations, pictures, and more.
Groundwater Storage and the Water Cycle
The ground stores huge amounts of water and it exists to some degree no matter where on Earth you are. Lucky for people, in many places the water exists in quantities and at depths that wells can be drilled into the water-bearing aquifers and withdrawn to server the many needs people have.
Oceans and Seas and the Water Cycle
The oceans are, by far, the largest storehouse of water on earth — over 96% of all of Earth's water exists in the oceans. Not only do the oceans provide evaporated water to the water cycle, they also allow water to move all around the globe as ocean currents.
Freshwater (Lakes and Rivers) and the Water Cycle
Freshwater on the land surface is a vital part of the water cycle for everyday human life. On the landscape, freshwater is stored in rivers, lakes, reservoirs, creeks, and streams. Most of the water people use everyday comes from these sources of water on the land surface.
Glaciers and Icecaps
Glaciers are a big item when we talk about the world's water supply. Almost 10 percent of the world's land mass is currently covered with glaciers, mostly in places like Greenland and Antarctica. You can think of a glacier as a frozen river, and like rivers, they "flow" downhill, erode the landscape, and move water along in the Earth's water cycle.
Below are multimedia items associated with Earth's water.
Salt Marsh Pond and Tidal Creek, Plum Island, MA
A view of a salt marsh pond on the left, and a tidal creek on the right at Plum Island, Massachusetts.
A view of a salt marsh pond on the left, and a tidal creek on the right at Plum Island, Massachusetts.
California coastline
The U.S. west coast is an area of complex coastal geography. This photograph depicts several examples of geological features along the California coastline that are shaped by varied coastal processes. The gently sloping beach, stark bluffs, and presence of smooth rocks suggests that the coastal processes shaping this coastline are complex.
The U.S. west coast is an area of complex coastal geography. This photograph depicts several examples of geological features along the California coastline that are shaped by varied coastal processes. The gently sloping beach, stark bluffs, and presence of smooth rocks suggests that the coastal processes shaping this coastline are complex.
Imperial Geyser looking south
Imperial Geyser looking south. This hot spring pool is about 30 m (about 100 ft) across and contains alkaline-Cl waters with a steam vent in the pool and mudpots outside the pool area (in the upper right part of this photo). USGS Photo by Pat Shanks, 2019.
Imperial Geyser looking south. This hot spring pool is about 30 m (about 100 ft) across and contains alkaline-Cl waters with a steam vent in the pool and mudpots outside the pool area (in the upper right part of this photo). USGS Photo by Pat Shanks, 2019.
USGS gage 10351600 Truckee River Below Derby Dam near Wadsworth, NV
Eruption of Steamboat Geyser on July 18, 2019
Steamboat Geyser erupts in the golden light of sunrise on July 18th, 2019. The water-dominated part of a Steamboat eruption usually lasts anywhere from 3 to 90 minutes. Afterwards, a steam-dominated phase continues for many hours.
Steamboat Geyser erupts in the golden light of sunrise on July 18th, 2019. The water-dominated part of a Steamboat eruption usually lasts anywhere from 3 to 90 minutes. Afterwards, a steam-dominated phase continues for many hours.
Barry Glacier from Prince William Sound
View of Barry Glacier in Alaska, from Prince William Sound
View of Barry Glacier in Alaska, from Prince William Sound
The Androscoggin river in Maine during Fall
The Androscoggin river in Maine during Fall colors.
The Androscoggin river in Maine during Fall colors.
Postcard Falls, Allen Creek
Allen Creek, near the Town of Brighton, New York, flows over rock, creating the stunning Postcard Falls at Corbett's Glen Nature Park. Learn about the water quality of Allen Creek and other Northeast streams studied by the USGS Northeast Stream Quality Assessment here.
Allen Creek, near the Town of Brighton, New York, flows over rock, creating the stunning Postcard Falls at Corbett's Glen Nature Park. Learn about the water quality of Allen Creek and other Northeast streams studied by the USGS Northeast Stream Quality Assessment here.
Colorado River Near Moab, Utah.
Water flowing on the Colorado River near Moab, Utah.
The entire Colorado River Basin currently supports 50 million people, and that amount is expected to increase by 23 million between 2000 and 2030. A new USGS study shows more than half of the streamflow in the Upper Colorado River Basin originates as groundwater.
Water flowing on the Colorado River near Moab, Utah.
The entire Colorado River Basin currently supports 50 million people, and that amount is expected to increase by 23 million between 2000 and 2030. A new USGS study shows more than half of the streamflow in the Upper Colorado River Basin originates as groundwater.
Cloudscape in a BLM wilderness study area.
Cloudscape in a BLM wilderness study area. Photo courtesy of BLM.
Cloudscape in a BLM wilderness study area. Photo courtesy of BLM.
Big Darby Creek flows through a heavily wooded area
Big Darby Creek is near Lake Darby, Ohio. Find out about the water quality of this stream and others in the Midwest studied by the Midwest Stream Quality Assessment.
Big Darby Creek is near Lake Darby, Ohio. Find out about the water quality of this stream and others in the Midwest studied by the Midwest Stream Quality Assessment.
Flows through intensively row-cropped land
Minnesota Valley Creek Ditch near Loess Bluffs National Wildlife Refuge flows through intensively row-cropped agricultural land. Find out more about this and other agricultural streams sampled by the USGS Midwest Stream Quality Assessment.
Minnesota Valley Creek Ditch near Loess Bluffs National Wildlife Refuge flows through intensively row-cropped agricultural land. Find out more about this and other agricultural streams sampled by the USGS Midwest Stream Quality Assessment.
Mud Geyser, Yellowstone
Steam rises from the Mud Geyser fumarole on the northeast side of the Mud Volcano thermal area in Yellowstone National Park. Gas that discharges from Mud Geyser has the most magmatic character of any sampled feature in Yellowstone.
Steam rises from the Mud Geyser fumarole on the northeast side of the Mud Volcano thermal area in Yellowstone National Park. Gas that discharges from Mud Geyser has the most magmatic character of any sampled feature in Yellowstone.
Harrington Brook near Lake Lila, New York
Harrington Brook near Lake Lila, New York
Harrington Brook near Lake Lila, New York
Mist and CLouds Along the North Fork Nooksack River
This wild stretch of the river is along the Nooksack Cirque Trail in North Cascades National Park, about 10 miles upstream of the USGS gage.
This wild stretch of the river is along the Nooksack Cirque Trail in North Cascades National Park, about 10 miles upstream of the USGS gage.
Clouds Clearing
Blue sky begins to break through the clouds over Arctic Ocean ice Sept. 9, 2009.
Blue sky begins to break through the clouds over Arctic Ocean ice Sept. 9, 2009.