The correct option is (c).
Explanation
The Hydrosphere encompasses all water on Earth, including oceans, lakes, rivers, groundwater, ice, and atmospheric vapor. The distribution of this water is heavily skewed towards saline bodies.- Statement 1 is correct: More than 97% of the Earth’s total water supply is found in the oceans. This constitutes the vast majority of the hydrosphere.
- Statement 2 is incorrect: The water found in the oceans is saline (salty) due to high concentrations of dissolved mineral salts. It is not fresh and is unfit for human consumption without desalination.
- Statement 3 is correct: Fresh water makes up only a small fraction (approximately 2.5% to 3%) of the total water on Earth. Of this fresh water, the largest proportion (nearly 68-69%) is trapped in ice sheets and glaciers. Groundwater accounts for most of the remainder, while surface water (rivers, lakes) constitutes a very small percentage.
Key Takeaway: Although water covers about 71% of the Earth's surface, over 97% of it is saline ocean water. The majority of the limited fresh water available is inaccessible, locked in ice caps and glaciers.