UPSC Previous Year Question | Prelims GS | 2021

With reference to the water on the planet Earth, consider the following statements: 1. The amount of water in the rivers and lakes is more than the amount of groundwater. 2. 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

Correct Answer

2 only

Explanation

Roughly two-thirds of Earth's freshwater is locked in polar ice caps and glaciers and about 30% is groundwater, while rivers and lakes hold well under 1%. Statement 1 is therefore wrong and statement 2 is correct.

Topics: distribution of freshwater on earth, geography, hydrosphere, physical geography