gs1medium
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?
- A.1 only
- B.2 only
- C.Both 1 and 2
- D.Neither 1 nor 2
▶ Answer & Explanation
Correct answer: B. 2 only
The vast majority of Earth's freshwater is locked up in ice caps and glaciers. Groundwater constitutes a significant portion of freshwater reserves, but it is considerably less than the water found in polar ice and glaciers. Surface water in rivers and lakes represents a very small fraction of the total freshwater available, far less than groundwater.
Source: UPSC gs1 2021