Final answer:
Earth's total fresh water is primarily distributed among ice caps and glaciers (68.7%), groundwater (30.1%), and surface water (0.3%). The small percentage of surface water is further divided into lakes (87%), swamps (11%), and rivers (2%). Despite the large amount of water on Earth, less than three percent is fresh water, much of which is in ice caps, glaciers, and groundwater.
Step-by-step explanation:
Distribution of Earth's Water
The distribution of Earth's water is mainly categorized into groundwater, ice caps and glaciers, and surface water. Ice caps and glaciers constitute a significant percentage, consisting of about 68.7% of the Earth's fresh water. On the other hand, groundwater makes up approximately 30.1% of the fresh water. The remaining fresh water is categorized as 'Other', which is about 0.9%. Among the surface water, which is only 0.3% of the Earth's fresh water, 87% is in lakes, 11% in swamps, and 2% in rivers.
It is noteworthy that while over 70 percent of the Earth's surface is covered with water, less than three percent of this is fresh water. Most of the fresh water is locked in ice caps and glaciers or present as groundwater, which is crucial for supporting life. Surface water, although constituting a small fraction of the total freshwater, is vital as it is the most accessible for human use and ecological systems.