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Where is 90% of the World's Freshwater?

Published in Freshwater Reservoirs 1 min read

Ninety percent of the world's surface freshwater is locked up in ice sheets.

The Dominance of Ice Sheets

The vast majority of Earth's readily accessible freshwater – a staggering 90% of the world's surface freshwater – resides in the planet's ice sheets. These massive glaciers, primarily located in Greenland and Antarctica, contain an immense volume of frozen water. This equates to a potential 70-meter rise in global sea levels if all of this ice were to melt.

Understanding the Distribution:

  • Antarctica and Greenland: The Antarctic and Greenland ice sheets are by far the largest reservoirs of freshwater on Earth.
  • Glacial Ice: The term "ice sheet" refers to a permanent layer of ice covering an extensive land area.
  • Surface Freshwater: This excludes groundwater and other forms of freshwater stored beneath the Earth's surface.

Implications of Ice Sheet Melt:

The significant amount of freshwater held within these ice sheets has profound implications for global sea levels and climate change. Any significant melting of these ice sheets would lead to a substantial rise in sea levels, with potentially catastrophic consequences for coastal communities and ecosystems worldwide. The sheer scale of this freshwater reserve underscores its importance in the Earth's hydrological cycle.