Final answer:
The question involves matching different reservoirs with the elements or compounds they contain, taking into consideration the density and mass of substances in these reservoirs and their role in biogeochemical cycles and the water cycle.
Step-by-step explanation:
The student is asking about how to match different reservoirs to the elements and water they contain, taking into account the proportional amounts these reservoirs hold. To calculate the mass of a reservoir from its density, one needs to know both the volume of the reservoir and the density of the substance it contains. For example, given the density of water, one can calculate the mass of water in an ocean, lake, or river. Additionally, it's important to compare and contrast the densities of various substances to understand how different reservoirs can contain different amounts of elements or compounds. Substances like ice, coal, and petroleum have different densities and are part of different biogeochemical cycles. Moreover, the water cycle plays a crucial role in replenishing the Earth's freshwater supply.
In terms of water reservoirs, the oceans are the largest reservoirs containing about 97% of all water on Earth. Ice caps and glaciers are significant reservoirs of fresh water mainly located in Antarctica and Greenland, while shallow groundwater is the largest reservoir of usable fresh water. Rivers and lakes are heavily used resources but only make up a small fraction of the world's water supply. As for fossil fuels, global reserves of oil, gas, and coal can be compared in energy units (ZJ), revealing how much of these resources remain and their rate of consumption.