Final answer:
The majority of Earth's water is saltwater, making up approximately 97% and is found in the oceans. Only about 3% is freshwater, and most of that is locked in glaciers and ice caps, leaving less than 1% as accessible liquid freshwater for human use.
Step-by-step explanation:
The majority of water found on Earth is saline and resides in the ocean. Specifically, Earth's oceans contain about 97% of the planet's water. Hence, the correct option for the kind of water that exists predominantly on Earth is saltwater. When considering fresh water, it comprises only approximately 3% of Earth's water. Of this small fraction, most freshwater is not readily accessible for human use as it is trapped in glaciers and ice sheets primarily in Greenland and Antarctica.
Regarding the accessibility of fresh water, less than 1% of it is available as liquid fresh water that humans and other life forms can utilize. This is mostly present in lakes, rivers, streams, and groundwater. Consequently, even though a significant percentage of Earth's surface is covered with water, the limited availability of liquid fresh water poses a critical issue for many communities worldwide, impacting drinking water supply and agriculture.