The Earth and the Role of Water

The Earth and the Role of Water — page 1 — CHAPTER ONE All About Water Water from the Niagara River plunges 75 feet 23 m to form the second largest waterfall in the world Niagara Falls This river is fed by four of the five Great Lakes The lakes were carved by Ice Age glaciers and hold nearly one fifth of all the Earth's fresh water The fast moving water scours away tiny particles of rock as it rushes and falls In 12 500 years rushing water has worn away the rock The falls themselves have moved backward seven miles 11.3 km Canada The Niagara River continues for fifteen miles 24 km and empties into Lake Ontario United States Lake Superior Lake Huron Lake Ontario NIAGARA RIVER Lake Michigan Lake Erie

The Earth and the Role of Water — page 2 — Niagara Falls New York Niagara Falls is just one of the many awesome examples of the power of water Without water in all its forms people plants and animals could not survive

The Earth and the Role of Water — page 3 — Water is the only matter found naturally in three different forms solid as ice liquid as water and gas as water vapor Water freezes at 32 degrees Fahrenheit 0 degrees Celsius and boils at 212 degrees Fahrenheit 100 degrees Celsius Water changes form because of changes in temperature gas solid liquid Freezing water makes it become ice Warming ice changes it to a liquid again Boiling releases water as a gas or vapor into the air Cooling water vapor returns it to a liquid state water Water is needed for all life forms Human bodies are about 60 water People take in about two and a half quarts 2 4 liters of water per day Human brains are 70 water Blood is 83 water Cells in the human body move minerals and nutrients in water Water moves wastes from the human body

The Earth and the Role of Water — page 4 — Plants use water to transport nutrients and materials throughout the roots stems and leaves Water evaporates from plants through small openings under their leaves through transpiration They use water in photosynthesis their food transpiration water making process Transpiration pulls water upward into the plant's roots stems and leaves People use water in many different ways such as drinking cleaning and cooking Agriculture manufacturing and mining need water Water generates electricity and provides recreation Water is vital to life Yet one in eight people lack safe drinking water Careful use of the Earth's water will preserve this most needed resource People everywhere in the world need clean water Scientists think that water is the world's most important resource

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