The hydrosphere is the layer of the Earth formed by the set of all the waters of the Earth: oceans, seas , rivers, lakes, glaciers and groundwater.
The hydrosphere covers approximately 70% of the earth's surface, in addition to the groundwater that is in the emerged areas not covered by water. The hydrosphere is of great importance in many of the processes that take place on Earth.
By Przemek Pietrak [CC BY 3.0 ], via Wikimedia Commons
As we have already seen, the origin of the Earth and that of the atmosphere were related, just as with the origin of the hydrosphere.
About 4.5 billion years ago, the Earth was formed from rocky fragments (planetesimals) that revolved around the Sun, colliding and joining and melting. The temperature of the Earth was very high, with many meteorite impacts and volcanic eruptions that expelled water vapor, among other substances, into the atmosphere.
When the Earth cooled, the water vapor in the atmosphere condensed and the first rains that would give rise to the oceans were produced, giving rise to the hydrosphere.
Earth is not the only planet in the Solar System on which the presence of water has been detected. The presence of water vapor on Venus and ice on Mars, the planets closest to Earth, have also been confirmed.
Water exists on Earth for two reasons:
Interactive activity: On which planets can we find water?.
Interactive Activity: Facts about the Hydrosphere.
Interactive activity: The origin of water on Earth.
Interactive activity: Would there be life without water?.
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