Where is most of Earth's freshwater found?

• A. In polar ice caps and glaciers
• B. In lakes
• C. In rivers and streams
• D. In underground aquifers

Answer: (A)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand the distribution of Earth's freshwater. Freshwater is a limited resource, and its distribution is uneven across the planet. Most of Earth's freshwater is not readily accessible for human use.
2. Step 2: Recognize the major reservoirs of freshwater. Freshwater is stored in various locations, including polar ice caps and glaciers, underground aquifers, lakes, rivers, and streams.
3. Step 3: Analyze the proportion of freshwater in each reservoir. The majority of Earth's freshwater is locked in polar ice caps and glaciers, which account for approximately 68-70% of the total freshwater. Underground aquifers hold about 30%, while lakes, rivers, and streams contain a much smaller fraction.
4. Step 4: Compare accessibility. While polar ice caps and glaciers contain the most freshwater, they are not easily accessible. Underground aquifers are the second-largest reservoir and are often tapped for human use. Lakes, rivers, and streams provide a smaller but more accessible source of freshwater.
5. Step 5: Conclude that most of Earth's freshwater is found in polar ice caps and glaciers, based on the proportions of freshwater stored in different reservoirs.