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WATER by the Numbers

WaterfallMore than two-thirds of the Earth’s surface is covered with liquid water

If you include ice, the proportion rises to more than four-fifths

Humans and most animals are ~62% water

Soft-bodied aquatic organisms like jellyfish are more than 98% water

Freezing point is 0°C and the boiling point is 100°C

The density of water is 1 kg per liter

A pinhead-sized drop of water contains 1 billion billion molecules

Seawater has about 10.8 parts per thousand (ppt) of sodium and 19.35 ppt of chloride

Freezing point of saltwater at 35ppt is -1.9°C

Of all water on Earth, approximately 3% is fresh

Almost four-fifths of freshwater is contained in the polar regions as glaciers

One-fifth of freshwater lies under the surface as groundwater

0.3% of freshwater is in liquid form on the surface (rivers, lakes, streams, wetlands, etc.)

Natural freshwater contains 25 dissolved minerals (i.e. silica, calcium, potassium, magnesium, iron)

The average mass of floating ice in the Arctic is 16-23 feet thick

The ice covering the Antarctica landmass is more than 2.8 miles thick in some places

Water is most dense at 4°C

Water represents 0.2% of Earth’s weight

9,500 cubic miles of water evaporates from the oceans and falls on land per year

Scott Artishttp://www.journowl.com
Scott serves as Director of Development & Communications for Audubon Canyon Ranch (focusing on preservation, education and conservation science) and has almost fifteen years of experience spanning for-profit and nonprofit sectors in biotech, wildlife conservation and management, communications, and philanthropy. In addition to a strong track record in organizational growth and leadership, he is the founder of Urban Bird Foundation and Burrowing Owl Conservation Network, and presided over ECHO Fund, a coastal protection and restoration organization, as President for four years. Scott holds an M.A. in Environmental Studies with a concentration in Sustainable Development and Policy, degrees in Micro & Molecular Biology and Environmental Sciences, and has complemented his studies with a Master's certificate in Environmental Resource Management.
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