Chapter 12, Problem 1TYC

To determine

To explain: The difficulty in accessibility of adequate fresh water due to the distribution of water on Earth.

Answer to Problem 1TYC

There are problems in accessing the fresh water due to the uneven distribution of water on Earth and also because of change in water levels due to the action of time.

Explanation of Solution

Earth has an abundance of water, out of which, $97.5\%$ of water is present in oceans. The rest of $2.5\%$ water of Earth is designated as fresh water. The ocean water is unfit for drinking because of high amount of salts dissolved in it.

The fresh water is mostly fixed in icecaps, aquifers, and glaciers and a little portion of fresh water is within reach of consumption. The remaining water is comparatively pure and few salts are dissolved in it.

There is an uneven distribution of remaining fresh water on Earth. Also, the fresh water availability varies with the time course. This creates major issues of water availability and in some places; there are crises of getting fresh water for their consumption.