Water

Water is the most precious natural resource on the earth. Plants, animals, and human beings, all need water to survive. Most weather patterns are controlled by water. Oceanic tides create regular seasons for plants and crops. Even human seasons are affected by the change in seasons in the oceans. Water is crucial to the survival of life on Earth as we know it.

Before a planet’s temperature rises, water can absorb a lot of energy through its hydrosphere. Water is critical to the maintenance of life on the earth. It helps keep land masses from heating up during the day or cooling down at night. The hydrosphere, which is made up of water, keeps land masses from becoming too hot or cold.

Though 71% of the earth’s surface is covered with water, only a small proportion is drinkable, i.e., freshwater. About 97% of the water on our planet is saltwater present in oceans and sea, and only 3% is fresh water in the form of lakes, rivers, water vapors, etc., that we can use for our daily requirements and drinking. Water is useful in all aspects of life, also in industries. Water is also known as a universal solvent.

Water is crucial for healthy ecosystems and plants. Almost all life on Earth depends on water in one way or another. Water is the chief resource in agriculture. Proper irrigation facilities are very important for crops to grow well. It is estimated that around 70% of available freshwater is used in irrigation itself.

As the world’s population grows, so does the demand for water. At the same time, human activities and climate change are disrupting natural water cycles and putting freshwater ecosystems under stress. Poor water management, pollution, infrastructure development and resource depletion further compound the negative impact on our freshwater systems.

Why is water so important for life? Water supports cell functions. All organisms are made of cells, from microbes to the largest animals. All of life’s functions are completed within cells. Life needs chemical reactions to take place to gain energy, grow, and get rid of waste. Water is a liquid which allows the chemistry of life to take place.

It is also a polar molecule which allows most other molecules to be dissolved. Because of this, we call water a “solvent”. Having such a good solvent as water is critical for the functions of life. Therefore, we should use it very wisely so that our future generations do not face any water scarcity.