Prelims 2021 · Geography · Question 62
With reference to the water on the planet Earth, consider the following statements:<br/>1. The amount of water in the rivers and lakes is more than the amount of groundwater.<br/>2. The amount of water in polar ice caps and glaciers is more than the amount of groundwater.<br/><br/>Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Answer
2 only
Statement 1: Incorrect. Groundwater forms a much larger share of Earth’s freshwater than rivers and lakes; surface water in rivers/lakes is only a tiny fraction.
Statement 2: Correct. Polar ice caps and glaciers store more water than groundwater; they contain the largest share of Earth’s freshwater.
Therefore: Only statement 2 is correct.